Everyone paced around the chamber in tight circles, tension squeezing the air. It was no longer just the queen they were waiting for; everyone had realized the truth — the queen's life was now tied to Lumina's. Only when Lumina woke would the queen return to consciousness. Only when Lumina breathed properly again would Queen Sephora rise.
But Lumina did not respond.
Not a movement.
Not a sound.
Only her shallow breathing, weak and fading.
Adam's worry grew into something ugly that twisted inside him. He paced so much that his footsteps had carved patterns into the floor. His frustration broke the room apart with every breath he took. "Why isn't she waking?" he muttered, his voice breaking. "How long is this supposed to take?"
