With Lysander's reassurance that both he and Nicasi's family were alive and well, some of the pressure that Nicasi had been ignoring for the sake of vigilance released from his chest like steam from a kettle.
He exhaled and leaned his head against the tree trunk, partly from relief, but mostly because he could hardly hold it up anymore.
Nicasi hated to admit it, but his injury was finally catching up to him.
Aiden had stopped his bleeding, but that didn't change the fact that he'd already lost so much. His hands were cold, and his head was hot. The pain in his leg had settled into a dull throb that permeated his entire lower body.
It wasn't something that could be fixed with energy alone. He needed to sleep.
Nicasi's eyelids drooped as if to force the issue.
Lysander's voice floated through Nicasi's thoughts again. It had taken on a firmness that sounded like a command even though he wasn't giving one.
Nicasi? Did you hear me?
