Chapter 58

• The air was heavy with the scent of blood and the faint tang of burnt wood. My senses stirred before my body did, pulling me out of a deep, dreamless sleep. I could feel the weight of exhaustion pressing down on me, every muscle in my body aching as if I had been through a battle myself. The familiar scent of Leo drifted close, wrapping around me like a protective shield. But something was wrong. There was an undercurrent of sorrow in the air, a tension that made my heart race even before I opened my eyes.
• When I finally forced my eyes open, the first thing I saw was Leo. He was standing beside the bed, his tall frame casting a shadow over me. But it wasn’t the comforting presence I was used to. His expression was strained, and though he smiled when he saw me awake, it was a smile devoid of any real warmth. It was a forced, hollow gesture that barely masked the pain in his eyes.
• Leo looked exhausted, his face drawn and pale, dark circles heavy under his eyes like bruises. He looked like he hadn’t slept all night, and he had alot of bruises over him, his eyes—normally so sharp and vibrant—were dull, like the life had been drained out of him. It was a look of someone who had fought a battle and lost something precious.