The heavy silence of the courtyard pressed against Derek's ears. For a brief second, he could not move. He just stared at the melted snow and the dark, dry dust that used to be his own blood. Then, his eyes dropped to the center of the carved circle.
Marissa lay completely still on the wet ground.
Derek forgot about the pain in his back. He forgot about his bleeding hand. He scrambled forward on his knees, crawling frantically across the snow until he reached her side.
He hovered over her. He was terrified. What if the magic had failed? What if Colton had died for nothing?
Derek reached out with his uninjured left hand. His fingers were shaking violently. He gently placed the back of his hand against Marissa's pale cheek.
Derek let out a sharp gasp.
She was not freezing cold anymore.
