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I take it from his hand, my trembling fingers accidentally brushing against his before the packet slips from them.
He shakes his head. ‘Humans,’ he mutters.
‘Only mostly,’ I whisper, with a watery grin.
He ignores me, picks it up, and tears it open.
He holds it over my mouth, and, my eyes not leaving his, I part my cracked lips for him.
He tips the contents of the sachet in, and when I struggle to swallow it, he takes the cup off the tray and pours a little water into my mouth.
I close my eyes when it’s finished.
‘There isn’t time for you to sleep.’
‘I’m not sleeping,’ I reply, not opening my eyes to look at him. ‘I’m just …’
Listening to Dane and Grey.
‘You think he’ll say yes?’ Grey is asking.
‘Aye, he wants the Gate open as much as the traders do,’ Dane replies. ‘His research is at a standstill, and all the students here are from this realm. This is hardly the hub of knowledge he wanted to be in charge of. That, and he’s got his fingers in pies that could become very lucrative once the Gate is open. He’s poised at just the right place to swoop in and access the trade routes practically exclusively. He had me make sure of that. Looks like we hardly need to do anything to make this go our way. He’s got two of the council members on his side already. But the last thing he needs is a human murderer reminding everyone why the city was shielded and the Breach closed in the first place.’
‘You already have a plan for that,’ Grey guesses, his voice sounding a little louder, so I know he’s looking at me now.
‘Already done,’ Dane answers. ‘The guards have been paid to forget they caught a human at all. Lucky for us, Pikerd needed the coin. Gambling debts. As for Yeith, I have a witness who swears it was a drunken accident near the market square, which would corroborate where he was found.’
‘Good.’
I try to piece together what they’re talking about, but my mind is too sluggish. A moment later, a hand grips the front of the sack I’m wearing, lifting my shoulder off the bed. An arm snakes under me, and I groan as I’m drawn up to sitting.
I open my eyes, giving Kallum, who’s now much too close for comfort, a long-suffering look.
‘I have my orders,’ is all he says as he makes sure I’m not going to sink back into the bed.
‘Do you always do what they tell you?’ I goad, looking to where Grey and Dane were standing before, only to find them gone.
He snorts. ‘Some of us understand rules, Harbinger.’
‘That’s quite a mouthful,’ I mutter as my juddering hand reaches for the bowl. ‘Lia is fine.’
His lip curls in slight disgust even though he pushes it closer so I can grab it.
‘Pretend all you like, but we all know what you are now,’ he snarls. However, his tone holds little actual venom.
I pick up the bowl and bring it close. The scent of chicken wafts up to my nose, and I realize how hungry I am.
He hands me a spoon and smirks when I give him a questioning look.
‘No weapons,’ he says.
I try using it, but my hands are shaking too much, and I end up drinking the thick gravy from the rim of the bowl and then using my fingers to drag the pieces of chicken and potatoes out. I shovel them into my mouth, ignoring Kallum, who’s still standing close by.
When I’m finished, I put the bowl back on the tray just as Grey walks back in. He surveys me for just a moment before he turns to Kallum.
‘It’s time.’
Kallum motions for me to stand, but it takes me three tries before I can, vertigo making me stagger a little. He offers me his arm, and I grimace at it, suddenly finding deeper reserves than I knew I had simply so that I don’t have to accept any more help from someone who hates me as much as he does.
