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A hand touched my shoulder. More than a touch. A caress. From someone who obviously cared for me.
I moaned. Wake? Seren? What’s going on? “My head…” It throbbed with vehemence. I fumbled beside myself, pushing with my wrists, but my head lolled to the side like a dying runt’s.
You’ve been in good hands, Seren said. Owein’s watching over you, but I did worry.
“You said you’d faint,” a man said. “You said you’d sleep it off…” Hands slipped under my armpits and hoisted me onto softness. Pillows. My head hung slack, but I cracked my eyes.
The healing was more intense than I expected, I said to Seren.
Owein was frowning at me.
I answered him. “That’s not what happened?”
He lifted a cup to my lips. Cold water rushed down my dry throat. My hands curled around his, and I tipped the cup farther.
“Not so much!” Owein pulled the drink away.
“How long have I been out? The queen, how is she? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what? Like I’ve been sitting at your bedside for three days, panicking, and praying you’ll wake.” He cupped my cheek. “Three days! You collapsed beside the queen after healing her for six hours! I scooped you into my arms and tried to revive you, but that eager prince took you from me and brought you here.”
I imagined Owein patting my cheeks and clutching my limp form. Then I imagined Prince Kenrik lifting me into his arms with my limbs dangling and my head drooping while he cradled me to his chest. For mercy’s sake. Heat seared through my cheeks and down my neck.
That’s about how the events happened, Seren said. Only Owein wouldn’t quite let you go. Prince Kenrik insisted. Then Sieffre convinced Owein to allow you to be taken to a room.
“I was going to accuse the queen of killing you,” Owein continued. “After three days of being unresponsive, most people die from dehydration.”
I blushed. I kept forgetting—emrys. Owein didn’t know I wouldn’t die. “Dying of dehydration takes much longer. Unending life. Remember? I’d need a fatal wound, one too severe for my light to heal in a swift enough fashion, or several months of starvation and dehydration to do me in.”
“Doesn’t sound pretty.”
I grimaced. “I don’t really know. I suppose. I just know we eat and drink far less than I’ve observed you humans do.”
Owein set the cup on a lacquered side table. My surroundings were lavish. Rich. Mahogany furnishings covered in linens and tapestries. My bed, my body, buried under a silken blanket. Light hid behind blue velvet curtains. Its flames low, a fire waved against the opposite wall underneath a stately mantle.
Seren, have you been well? I’m sorry I haven’t seen you. I don’t like to leave you alone.
“I want to see the queen,” I mumbled.
I’m getting used to it, Seren said.
You sound upset.
I’m not. Just concerned.
“One thing at a time.” Owein stood, searching the room with his eyes.
“Does she live?” I asked. “Did I succeed in healing the queen? What are you looking for?”
It was Owein’s turn to brighten. “Your clothes. Yes, she’s well. In fact… I’ll just call a maid. If you’re strong enough…”
Owein was acting peculiar. My eyes focused on him. “Look at you!” A cream-colored shirt with fancy puffed sleeves peeked from under a crisp linen vest. New pressed trousers settled over highly polished boots. A surcoat in a lime green fabric was draped over the back of his vacated chair. “You’re dressed as if you’re headed to a feast.”
“I am.”
“When?”
“In a few hours,” he said. “Will you be recovered enough to join me?” He was clearly nervous.
