The hollow was deathly quiet, save for the sound of Taryn's uneven breathing. Darkness pressed in from every direction, broken only by slivers of moonlight filtering through the twisted branches above. The rough bark of the hollowed tree dug into her back, grounding her in the present even as her exhaustion threatened to drag her under.
"Taryn," Lucien's voice broke through the haze. It wasn't sharp, as it usually was, but taut and stretched thin, like he was holding something back.
She forced her eyes open, the blurry world around her spinning before it came into focus. Lucien crouched beside her, his hair catching the faint light. His silver eyes scanned her face, his expression tight with something that looked suspiciously like concern.
"You with me?" he asked, his tone brisk but not unkind.
"I'm fine," she muttered, though the words came out weak and slurred.
Lucien's lips tightened. "You don't get to lie to me right now."
