His nearness is… nice. It’s comfortable and full of unspoken tension at the same time. I'm acutely aware of every point where our bodies almost touch, the scant inches between his hand and mine on the blanket. The memory of our kiss yesterday flashes through my mind, and his eyes darken, suggesting the same thought has occurred to him.

A subtle echo through the tether confirms as much a moment later. He feels it too. The tension. The wanting. The desire.

"I brought books," he says abruptly, gesturing to the stack on the desk. "Thought you might be bored."

"Thank you." I reach out impulsively, covering his hand with mine. The contact sends a now-familiar surge of fire magic into my body, but alongside it comes something else—clear emotions passing through the tether. Protectiveness so fierce it takes my breath away.

"I'm really okay," I tell him softly.

He turns his hand beneath mine, intertwining our fingers. "I know," he says, but the worry doesn't leave his eyes. "I just... when I saw you collapse after saving me..." He trails off, jaw tightening.

"It was my choice," I remind him. "And I'd do it again."

His gaze drops to our joined hands. "That's what worries me."

I pull myself to standing, using his strength to steady myself. The room sways slightly but settles as I find my balance. "I can't stay in bed all day. I need to move, rebuild my strength."

Raith rises with me, his hand still holding mine, his other arm slipping around my waist to support me. "Slow," he murmurs, the word more breath than sound against my temple.

We move together, a careful dance across the room. Each step feels more certain than the last as my body remembers its capabilities. By the time we reach the window, I'm standing mostly on my own, though Raith's arm remains at my waist.

Our "training" yesterday was an exercise in futility. I mostly stumbled around and needed Raith to keep me upright. Today, with a little time, I think I could actually manage a rough approximation of a sparring match.

Maybe...

Outside, Confluence continues its daily rhythms. I can see it all from Raith's window, which faces inward, giving a clear view of nearly the entire campus. Students cross the courtyard, their black uniforms stark against the snow, their colored affinity markings and occasional elemental visible even from this distance. Looking at the castle's majesty from here, it's hard to believe a predator stalks its halls, that in a few days many of those students will be fighting for their lives in the Crucible.

"Can I try something?" I ask, turning to face Raith.

"What?"

"I want to see if I can channel. Just a little."

His brow furrows. "You're still recovering."