Chapter 246

Jacob's Perspective The days that followed flowed like honey left to warm in the sun—slow, thick, and sweet enough to make a person feel lightheaded. Assuming, of course, you weren't the type to gag on sappy metaphors. The hangover crew didn't start dragging themselves off the floor and out of chairs until well past noon the next day, groaning, clutching their heads, and cursing as they hunted for water. Lily's eyes were still hazy when she spotted me, but they sharpened quickly, darting between Celena and me before her mouth stretched into a knowing grin. I ignored her, shoving a mug of strong black coffee into her hands to shut her up. Celena's condition improved visibly, day by day. It wasn't a forced, put-on cheerfulness, but a slow, steady resurgence of life from the inside out. In the mornings, she’d wake with me—not jolted from a nightmare, but naturally, to the sound of birdsong. Sometimes I’d wake first and just watch her sleep, the early li