Chapter 147

Gilly’s pale face was the first thing I saw as I entered the medical wing. She lay propped up against pillows. It was sad to see her usually vibrant energy diminished. Yet her eyes—were open and clear. I was relieved but then quickly as the relief came, it was accompanied by concern. I had waited so long to see her awake, but the shadows beneath her eyes told me her ordeal wasn’t over. Rachel, Ardan, Zone, and I surrounded her, as though we feared she might vanish again if we blinked. His hands shook as he bent closer to embrace her and felt her body safe against his, fragile as delicate glass. “Gilly, you’re awake,” he whispered. “How are you feeling?” Gilly returned his hug weakly. Though her arms were thin, they were steady around his back. “I don’t know,” she answered finally and roughly. “I began to feel like I was imprisoned at a particular place I couldn’t escape from.” Her eyes darted from me to him and back again. “It was my own personal hell. The witches made sure of that.” I