Mr. Crow paced anxiously, feathers ruffled so high he looked twice his usual size. Every time Lana swayed, he nearly lunged to steady her, but he held back.
He couldn't touch her. No one could.
He might cause a catastrophic backlash.
By nightfall, the final wave of pain had finally ebbed.
Lana's strength snapped.
She collapsed onto the cold floor, her breath a faint whisper, her body limp like a doll.
She looked like a corpse.
Lucian felt something in his chest twist violently, as if someone had reached in and ripped at his heart.
He dashed forward, but before he could reach her, Mr. Crow burst forward in a blur of feathers and fury, flaring his wings wide and blocking Lucian's path.
The tiny bird even lashed out with its wing, slapping Lucian's hand.
"Caw! Caw!" You can't touch her!
Lucian froze. Only then did realization crash into him.
If he had touched her impulsively, even a single accidental surge of his spirit energy could have killed her instantly.
