Faye's POV
I had no memory of losing consciousness. What remained clear was the sensation of being cradled against Hardy's chest. Time seemed suspended as I lay there, pressed into his warmth while the world around us faded into nothing. Something deep within me awakened, an inexplicable magnetism that made my body respond to his presence before my thoughts could catch up. When I finally raised my head, his crimson gaze captured mine.
The intensity hit me like lightning. My chest, which had felt hollow and dead moments before, suddenly burst with renewed vitality. The crushing sorrow that had been devouring me from within began to dissolve, piece by piece, overtaken by the thunderous rhythm of my own pulse.
The oppressive force that had thrown everyone to the ground earlier seemed to have vanished completely. I glanced down at my palms, finding them bare. The stone had disappeared without a trace.