Chapter 430: The Price of a Beating Heart
some while ago
The moment Lysander finally drew his hands away from Tarin's hand, the world seemed to exhale with him.
Sweat streamed down his temples, soaking into the collar of his tunic, his fingers trembling faintly from the sustained precision the work had demanded. His shoulders slumped forward for just a breath—only a breath—but it was enough to show how close this case had come to slipping beyond even his reach.
Beside him, Marta straightened slowly, her own hands stained red and darkened with thick, tar-like streaks of black.
Tarin's breathing evened out.
It had settled into slow, steady rises of a fragile chest that—moments ago—had been fighting for every single breath.
Marta closed her eyes and let out a long, shuddering sigh.
Lysander did the same.
