Chapter 86

Megra

Nathaniel and I step into the hospital room, and immediately, the sterile smell of antiseptic fills my lungs. The lights are dim, casting long shadows that stretch across the floor, making the place feel colder than it is. I glance at Nathaniel, watching as his expression shifts from determination to something far more vulnerable. His eyes fall on Archer, lying motionless on the bed, hooked up to machines that beep steadily, keeping time with his fragile heartbeat. My own heart breaks as I see the weight of everything settle onto Nathaniel’s shoulders, his normally strong posture slumping as if the burden is too much to bear.

Nathaniel hesitates, standing in the doorway like he's rooted there, unable to take another step. The sight of his brother, so still and helpless, seems to freeze him in place. I feel a pang of sorrow, a tightness in my chest that makes it hard to breathe. I want to pull him back, to take him away from all this pain, but I know he needs to face it. We both