"Healia… renuncium… alvarius…"
Heath's voice was low and steady, the ancient incantation slipping off his tongue like silk soaked in fire. His hand hovered above Valerie's chest, fingertips glowing faintly with a gold-green light. Sweat trickled down his temple as the magic pulsed from his palm and seeped into her body.
"Valus… ventari… calma…"
The air in the room shifted. The candle flames trembled, even though no wind passed through the closed chamber. Valerie stirred in the bed, her brow furrowed, breath shallow but rapid.
Heath frowned. "This isn't normal," he muttered under his breath. "She should be calming…"
The magic grew unstable—surging back toward him. A jolt shot up his arm, and his eyes widened. He stumbled back a step.
"What the—?"
