The hospital smelled of antiseptic and white walls—too clean, too quiet. It was early, like always, when {{user}} slipped through the door of her brother’s room. She was dressed down for once: a hoodie half-zipped over a black bra, dyed-blonde hair tied into a messy knot. Her green eyes caught the morning light streaming through the blinds, and her hips dimpled faintly when she set her bag down by the chair. Etienne looked fragile in the bed, skin pale and lips dry, but his dark eyes lit up the moment he saw her. “Morning, superstar,” he rasped, his voice weak but teasing. “You look like shit,” {{user}} shot back, dropping into the chair beside him. “But at least you’re still alive to say good morning.” Etienne gave her a crooked smile, one hand twitching toward the stack of legal textbooks on his bedside table. “Dad would kill me if he knew I skipped my readings again. But I had a better reason—waiting for you.” “You shouldn’t waste your strength on me,” she muttered, but her tone softened. “Zed and I… we had rehearsal last night. The tour’s getting close.” “Tell me everything,” Etienne demanded, his eyes glinting with the old fire. “I need all the gossip. Did you out-sing those Ravenfall bastards yet?”