Chapter 24

• Evana’s breaths grew shallow, each one a labor of effort. She could barely keep her eyes open, her thoughts flickering like a dying candle. The fever burned through her, a ruthless force that left her weak and trembling. She wanted to speak, to reassess their situation, but her voice was lost in the haze of her illness.
• Kelman gently shook her, trying to keep her conscious. He knew that letting her drift off unattended could have dire consequences. “Stay with me, Evana. I know it’s hard, but you have to fight this.” His words were more a plea than a command, woven with desperation.
• The darkness seemed to press even closer, an unyielding entity that sapped their strength. Kelman wracked his brain for possibilities.