Eleanor watched Conaan, her eyes wide. His eyes were open, his lips parted as he tried to catch his breath, his fingers lightly gripping the sheets.

"Conaan?" She managed to say, her chest heaving with anticipation, tears burning at the back of her eyes. She was almost sure she had heard him call her name as he woke up. She was almost sure....

Slowly, he started to pull himself forward, to a sitting position. She moved, wrapping her hands around him, then helped him sit up. He looked up, his eyes boring into hers, their faces only a mere inch away from each other.

His lips parted as he slowly...