The sky above the gorge was growing even darker. The moon was hidden by the high cliffs, and the air turned so cold it began to bite at Xiao Zhi's skin. Beside her, the man who was both a ghost and a dying king remained still.
Xiao Zhi's entire body ached. Every time she tried to move, the world spun, turning the grey stones and dark trees into a blur. She was too weak to stand, because her legs felt heavy and useless, as if they didn't belong to her anymore.
She looked at the man next to her. A big part of her wanted to scream and just scold him awake, but her throat was too dry to make a sound. Finally, she reached out and gave his shoulder a rough shake.
"Wake up," she rasped. Her voice sounded like breaking glass. "Ruhan... Khan... wake up!"
