chapter sixty seven

Days bled into weeks as Damian hovered between life and death. Maya, the wizened woman with emerald eyes, possessed a potent blend of herbal remedies and ancient healing techniques that kept him tethered to the world. Hagrid, the gentle giant of a bear, remained a constant presence, his guttural growls a comforting rumble in the otherwise tense silence of the cabin.

As for me, I remained glued to Damian's side, a silent vigil against the encroaching darkness. The revelation of my true heritage had sent my world into a tailspin, but the fight for Damian's life eclipsed everything else. I sponged his feverish brow, held his hand, and whispered words of encouragement that I desperately needed to hear.

The first sign of improvement was a flicker of movement beneath his eyelids. A faint groan escaped his lips, a sound that sent a jolt of joy through me. He opened his eyes, their familiar blue clouded with confusion.