"I won't know my limits unless I test them," I say, offering a smile I hope appears more confident than I feel. "Just a small exercise. And you'll be right here if anything goes wrong."

He hesitates, then nods reluctantly. "Something small," he concedes.

I release his hand, closing my eyes to center myself. I reach for water, the element that comes most naturally to me despite my unbound status. I can sense it everywhere—in the air, in our bodies, in the basin across the room. I draw it toward me, coaxing rather than commanding, and feel the familiar tingle of magic flowing through my fingertips.

A small sphere of water forms above my palm, wobbling slightly but holding its shape. It's nowhere near what I could do at full strength, but it's something. I open my eyes to find Raith watching with undisguised fascination.

"It's still there," I say, relief flooding through me. "My control."

"Did you doubt it?" he asks.

"After what happened with the siphon... yes." I let the water dissipate, the droplets returning to the air. The small exercise has left me more tired than I'd like to admit, but I count it as progress nonetheless. "That void magic is drawn to whatever lets us channel. I think if it stayed in our bodies long enough, it could completely cut us off from our abilities. It would⁠—"

I sway slightly, and Raith is there immediately, his arm returning to my waist. The sudden movement brings us chest to chest, his face inches from mine. I can feel his heartbeat accelerating, matching the quickening of my own pulse.

"Nessa..." he begins, his voice rough.

Someone knocks at the door, dragging Raith’s focus from me. He guides me to sit on the edge of the bed again, taking time to make sure I'm settled before he moves to answer the door.

I hear him stopping each person before they can enter and see them whispering what I assume is the daily passcode in his ear.

Mireen bursts in first, Beck and Ambrose close behind her. Brunhild brings up the rear, her massive frame filling the doorway as she surveys the room with obvious curiosity.

"You're looking better," Mireen says, assessing me with a critical eye. "There's actually some color in your face now, though you still look like you could use about three more days of sleep."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I say dryly, but I can't keep the smile from my face. Despite seeing them just yesterday, the sight of my friends brings comfort. "I'm getting stronger by the hour."

"Looks like you could already get on your feet and give us a run for our money," Beck notes, dropping into Raith's desk chair and immediately putting his feet up on the small writing desk.

"Get your feet off my desk," Raith says, voice low and deadly.