I woke with a start, my head throbbing and my mouth dry as sand. For a moment, I couldn't remember where I was or what had happened. Then it all came rushing back – the healing, the golden light flowing from my hands, Conner's wound knitting closed before my eyes.
"Sera?" Kaelen's voice came from beside me. I turned to find him sitting in a chair pulled close to my bed, his posture rigid with concern. "How are you feeling?"
I took inventory of my body, surprised to find the bone-deep exhaustion had mostly faded. "Better," I said, pushing myself up on my elbows. "How long was I out?"
"About four hours." He handed me a glass of water, which I gulped greedily. "You scared me," he added, his voice low.
"I scared myself," I admitted. "That was... intense."
Kaelen's expression was a complex mix of pride, worry, and something that looked like fear. "What you did was incredible. Seven people who might not have survived are now stable and recovering."
