The morning sun didn't rise so much as it bled through the velvet curtains of Zaliyah's chambers, staining the floor a deep gold.
As the light touched the bed, Zaliyah stirred. His eyelids felt like they were made of lead. He raised a slender, trembling hand to cover his eyes, the sun feeling like a physical assault on his senses. With a pained groan, he rolled out of the heavy furs, his feet hitting the cold floor as he stumbled toward the window.
He yanked the curtains shut with a violent snap, plunging the room back into a dim twilight.
But the silence didn't bring peace.
A sudden, spike of agony lanced through his skull, originating from the center of his forehead where the celestial energy had gathered the day before. It felt as though someone was driving a wedge of ice into his brain. Zaliyah collapsed to his knees, his fingers digging into his scalp, his back arching as a raw loud scream escape from his throat.
The sound shattered the quiet of the private wing.
