Flashback ( PDFDrive )

something called shadowflux. But I’ll admit, I don’t really know how
to explain it.”
He gave Sophie a Care-to-take-it-from-here? look.
She pulled Ella from her tangled blankets, needing something to
hold on to.
“It’s weird and confusing,” she warned, then chose each word
carefully, trying to soften the blow while still making the situation
clear. The only part she glossed over was the monster, since that was
her battle. And she tried to focus on how strong his vitals were.
But Fitz still looked shadowed and pale when she’d finished.
“So . . . ,” he said, tracing a finger over the bandages covering his
chest, “there’s something wrong with my heart.”
“Not necessarily,” Elwin corrected. “All we know is that the
shadowflux left an echo there. We don’t know what that means, or
when it will fade—that’s why we kept you sedated.”
Fitz swallowed hard. “And how long have I been out?”
Elwin and Sophie shared a look.
“About two weeks,” Elwin said.
“TWO WEEKS? WHY—oh.”
He clutched his chest and rolled onto his side as much as his
bandaged leg allowed.
“What’s wrong?” Sophie asked as a strangled groan poured from
Fitz’s lips and Elwin flashed a purple orb around him.
“No idea,” Elwin admitted, flickering through several more colors
before he told Fitz, “I need you to talk to me. I can’t see this kind of
pain, so you’re going to have to tell me what you’re feeling.”
“It’s not pain,” Fitz gritted out, his hands curling into fists. “It’s
more like . . . pressure. Like my heart is pushing against my ribs.”