Chapter 23

Summer's POV Morning sunlight filtered through the hospital windows as Alex and I made our way down the now-familiar corridor toward Felix's room. The antiseptic smell that had once made my stomach churn now barely registered—funny how quickly the human mind adapts to even the most clinical environments when someone you love is housed within them. What wasn't familiar was the third person walking beside us. Lyra had practically insisted on joining us this morning, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I need to meet my future nephew properly," she'd declared over breakfast, her eyes still showing traces of whatever had driven her back to her brother's territory. The sadness that clung to her like a second skin seemed temporarily pushed aside by her determination. When we entered Felix's room, his face lit up at the sight of the three of us, but his curious gaze lingered on Lyra. "Who's that?" he asked, sitting up in his bed, the bandages around his eyes slightly less bulky than befor