The wind was coarse and chilly as Jian soared over the white dunes, it bit at the skin of Neveah's cheeks, but even the freezing wind paled in comparison to the chill Xenon exuded.
He felt cold to touch. Deathly cold.
Neveah held him close to her chest, cradling his head, her palm was splayed by the side of his face. Hoping to offer warmth she didn't feel.
She could still feel the slow rise and fall of his chest, a pace that was twice slower than the rapid beating of her own heart against her rib cage. But if she didn't feel that at least, she would have feared the worst.
Even now... the fear curled in the pit of her stomach, twisting into a knot that grew larger with each passing moment.
She could feel it with each breath, like a dagger twisting deeper into her gut. Every heart beat was painful, every sign that reminded her of a life she still held onto when Xenon's had suddenly been placed in jeopardy.
