"He shares them."
Another long silence followed.
"And if she cannot find her way back..."
The older physician slowly closed his eyes.
"Neither can he."
The corridor seemed colder after those words.
Marcus stood motionless near the doors, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly.
"I've heard stories," he said quietly.
The physicians turned toward him.
Marcus continued without looking away from the chamber.
"Some Alphas never woke again."
The senior physician nodded once.
"And those who did..."
His voice had become almost a whisper.
"...were rarely the same men who entered."
No one spoke after that.
Beyond the closed doors, the Alpha of Lioreth slept with the woman cradled safely in his arms, while outside, everyone waited in silence, knowing that before the night was over, Thessian might willingly walk into the same darkness from which they had spent five days trying to bring Liora back.
