He woke to sunlight bleeding through the high infirmary window, warm against his eyes. Nova was still pressed firmly against his chest, exactly where she'd been when he'd fallen asleep. He hadn't moved an inch.
Jax blinked the sleep away and slowly eased himself upright, careful not to jostle her. Fin stepped out of the bathing chamber just then, rolling his sleeves up with a damp cloth in hand.
Jax swung his legs off the bed and stood.
"Did she stir at all?" Fin asked, voice clipped with fatigue.
Jax shook his head, frowning. "No."
It had been well over two days—almost three—since the Moon Goddess Saved Cael and Aeron. And Nova still hadn't woken.
He looked down at her. The bruises were gone entirely now, wiped clean as if they'd never existed. But her forehead burned hot beneath his palm.
"Did you stay up all night?" Jax asked quietly.
Fin nodded once. "I came back and checked her every few hours… but I had to handle work between. Cael being down doesn't exactly make things easier."
Jax nodded.
"What do you need?"
"No word back from Bloodmoon on Meredith," Fin said, rubbing a hand through his hair. "Check with Marra on that."
He handed Jax a folded sheet of parchment and continued, "I sent updates to the summit delegates. For Cael's duties, I've signed off on the patrol rotations and reassigned the southern watch. But I still need the eastern perimeter cleared and we need to reinforce the wardlines still. Colonel Sterling's proposal is in the warroom."
Jax nodded, already committing it to memory.
Fin glanced back at Nova, expression tight. "And if you could check on Aeron and Cael, that would be great."
"On it Alpha." Jax said, getting out of bed. He headed to his quarters. He actually felt well rested, but needed to bathe and eat.
Fin pressed the cool cloth to Nova's forehead, watching the rise and fall of her breathing. His wolf stirred, voice slipping into his mind like a low echo.
Xeon:She's dreaming again. She hasn't dreamed since the day she was poisoned.
Fin froze mid-motion.
Fin:Can you speak to her there? Reach her?
Xeon:No. I am blocked from dream-speech unless her or Seraphine's souls call. You should be able to reach her though.
Fin clenched his jaw.
Fin:So how would I reach her?
Xeon:The soul calls when the soul is needed. Normally, one appears when the other summons them. I can walk in her dreams only because Seraphine's essence lives in her.
Fin's throat tightened.
Fin: So you're saying there's no way I can do it without her calling?
Xeon: No, that's not what I'm saying.
Fin frowned, irritated and not having the patience for understanding at the moment.
Fin:Why hasn't she woken yet?
Xeon:Her magic was drained to nothing. That alone cost her a full day.
Fin exhaled slowly, fingers brushing a soft curl from her cheek.
Fin:She saved Cael and Aeron… so I suppose that's a fair trade. Still—this doesn't feel right. I'm worried.
Xeon's voice softened—rare for him.
Xeon:She will wake. Within a day, I'd wager.
Fin swallowed hard, gaze fixed on her sleeping face. Gods, he hoped Xeon was right.
Elias stepped into the room with the soft efficiency of a man who'd seen far too much chaos for one lifetime. He checked her IVs, then moved to Nova's bedside, fingers pressing gently to her pulse. He hummed under his breath—half habit, half diagnostic—then lifted her eyelid briefly, studying the reaction.
"Good," he murmured. "Color's better. Fever's shifting lower. I'm surprised she's not awake yet. It shouldn't be long."
He jotted a note on his clipboard with a curt nod. "If she twitches or glows, mindlink me. If she levitates—scream."
He didn't wait for a reply—just turned, muttering about how sleep deprivation should count as a form of magical torture, and vanished back into his office.
Fin exhaled. The second Elias was gone, he climbed gently into the bed beside her. He was dead on his feet, but he wasn't leaving—not after two days without her voice, her laugh, her eyes on him.
He slid an arm beneath her waist and pulled her carefully against his chest.
She stirred.
The faintest movement. The first sign of life.
Fin held his breath… waited… but her eyes didn't open. Still, he tucked her tighter to him, forehead resting against her hair.
"Come back to me, baby…" he whispered, kissing her shoulder, then her temple. "I miss you."
He brushed his lips to her ear, voice low and raw.
"I love you so much, Nova."
Her scent washed over him, grounding him in a way nothing else could. Sparks trailed everywhere their skin touched, faint but growing, like someone slowly relighting the world.
His eyes grew heavy. He forced them open once. Twice.
Then exhaustion finally claimed him.
Fin fell asleep with her in his arms, clinging to the fragile hope that she would wake in his.