Mouse is glued to my side, purring hard enough I feel it in my bones. Bob’s guarding the foot of the bed like he’s expecting someone to burst through the door. The newer shadows have parked themselves against the walls—tense, but not freaking out.
So… that’s something.
I sit up carefully.
Pain. Manageable.
I can do this.
A knock at the door.
“Kaia?” Finn’s voice. Bright. Cautious. “You decent?”
“Define decent.”
The door cracks open and Finn pokes his head in, grinning when he sees me sitting upright. His chaos magic flickers around his hands—calmer than usual. More focused than frantic.
“Look at you,” he says. “Vertical and everything.”
He steps inside, smirking. “Kaia, I know you don’tneedmy help, but—”
“I can walk by myself.”
“Sure you can, Trouble. But have youseenTorric and Aspen? Big. Scary. Very stabby when people they love get hurt. So just… let me help before they invent new ways to kill me, yeah?”
My ribs disagree loudly.
He offers his hand like he already knows I’ll cave.
Fuck it.
I take his hand.
Carl darts forward, wrapping around Finn’s ankle. Bob yanks him back with a sharp tug, snarling.
Mouse huffs.
Finn glances down. “Your shadows have opinions today.”
“They always have opinions. I don’t ask for them.”
“Fair.”
We slowly make our way out of the room, while I try, and fail to keep my breathing even.
The stairs suck.
Every step pulls at my ribs. Finn sticks close—not hovering, just… around. Annoying. Helpful. Both.
“Survival Tip #368,” he mutters as we pass a creaky step. “Don’t come between a Berserker and their Valkyrie.”
“Is that what I am now?”
He glances at me. Grin softening. “You’ve always been theirs, Trouble. They’re just gonna be less subtle about it now that you almost died… again.”
We pass people in the hallway. We’re greeted with warm nods. Respectful glances. Kieran’s people. They know him. Trust him.
“You doing okay?” Finn asks.
