pte

d through the dimly lit streets, each step sending a sharp jolt of pain through his side. Blood seeped through his shirt,

, her voice as calm as if they

ed out in the gutter," Kieran

rd in a faint, almost amu

on banter-not with his vision swimming and his legs threatening to give out. Hi

sted steel door. The safe house was a small, two-story structure wedged between abandone

en with a low groan. Kieran stumbled inside, nearly collapsin

r-bare walls, a few pieces of mismatched furniture, and a desk pi

weeping the room. "Quaint," she

couch against the wall. He sank into it with a pain

e shifting to something almost clinical. "If you do

e pep talk," K

, her presence suddenly looming over him.

right-the blood loss was making him lightheaded, his strength rapidly fading.

ined the wound. "It's deep," she said. "The bullet grazed you, bu

'll just pop over to the n

ttention focused entirely on the

ensed, expecting pain, but instead felt a strange warmth spreading from her touch. It w

" he asked, his voice tinged

," Elira rep

elf back together. The edges of the wound closed seamlessly, leaving only a faint scar i

Kieran said, his voice

said, rising to her feet. "Bu

, his mind racing. "

omething beyond the cold detachment-something ancient and unfathom

tention to the monitor on the desk. The screen flickered to life, displa

s," Kieran said,

her movements swift and pre

eplied, grabbing hi

xpression calm but resolute. "T