“You don’t need to apologize.” He slipped a finger beneath my chin and pulled my focus to him. There was a sadness to his smile that softened his features and properly chastised me for rushing to conclusions. I nodded, and he brushed a strand of hair away from my face. “Get some rest. We’ll see how you feel in the morning.”
He planted a gentle kiss on my cheek and then slipped out of bed. I blinked at the sudden absence of his presence, at the cool nip of air against my skin, and I pulled the sheets tight around my chest. “You can’t stay?”
“If I do, you won’t sleep.” He shot me a smirk as he pulled on his pants.
“Again, I fail to see how that’s a problem.”
“Edira.” He came back to the bed and leaned over me. Just the nearness of him, of his glorious bare chest, was enough to make my mouth water. “Rest. You’re still human. Give your body a break.”
I’d never wanted to be an Ever more than in that moment. In fact, I’d never really thought about being immortal at all. But the idea of recuperating faster, of living longer... Suddenly I was all too aware of my shortened lifespan and the few opportunities I’d have to enjoy what I’d just unearthed with Orin.
I didn’t want to die. Not yet. Not anytime soon.
Orin placed one last kiss on my forehead before bidding me good night. I hadn’t realized how much time we’d spent together. One look out the windows, though, confirmed it was already late. I’d gained so much in the span of a handful of hours, and alreadythe day was lost. And I only had so many left. A chill trickled through my limbs as I watched Orin close the door behind him.
You’re still human.Lucky me. I blew out a frustrated breath. I couldn’t bring myself to sleep just yet. I moved toward the attached bathroom, stopping by my apothecary cases to snag a few salts and oils, and then made for the claw-footed tub. I’d do as Orin said. Rest. Recuperate. Give my body a break. And then, when the morning came, I’d see to my brothers.
A smile tugged at my lips as the water began to fill before my eyes. I couldn’t wait to show Noam and Nohr all the things I’d accomplished. I couldn’t wait to show them what I’d become.
Twenty-Two
I rose with the sun the following morning. In a matter of minutes, I’d dressed, scrubbed my face, and braided my hair back, and the manor was just beginning to stir. But try as I might, I couldn’t still my nerves or convince myself to stay put. I’d spent most of the night staring at the ceiling, wondering whether to cure Noam or Nohr first, and settled on Nohr. Then I’d written a letter explaining the situation and begging him to behave while I recovered. I wasn’t sure how long I’d be out, and while I knew Orin would look after him, there was no telling what the other family members would do. With his letter in hand, I exited my room and entered their quarters. I placed it on the nightstand beside them before glancing at their slumbering forms, and hope swelled in my chest.
“Soon,” I murmured as I rested my hands on their caskets. I couldn’t wait to see their eyes light up again, to hear the timbre of their voices as they balked at everything that’d happened since they fell ill. My eyes traveled over Nohr’s face before sliding to his chest. And then I went stock-still.
“Nohr?” I knew he couldn’t hear me, but his name fell from my lips just the same. The blight had increased tenfold in the span of a day, and black veins were wrapping his neck like a stranglehold that threatened to choke him. Fresh pustules had formed and ruptured across his sternum, and there were several places where gaping wounds had carved divots right out of his muscles. Blight birthed from his bones and spilled across his skin in the form of yellow loam and black sludge, and my gut churned at the sight.
I needed to cure himnow.
Turning on my heel, I raced from the room and bolted down the stairs. I passed a few wide-eyed attendants who were opening windows and setting the table for breakfast. Every minute felt like an eternity as I searched for Orin. I ran through the halls and burst into his study, only to find his chair empty.
“Orin!” I shouted, whirling in place as panic clawed at my throat. Where was he? Why was this happening now?
I sprinted back the way I came until I finally found him in the library with Rorik. They were locked in a low conversation, each one of them glaring at the other, and they both snapped their gazes to me as I skidded to a halt.
“Edira?” Orin tilted his head to the side. “What’s going on?”
“It’s Nohr. He’s dying.” I didn’t wait to see if he’d follow. I simply took off up the stairs and headed for my brothers’ quarters. Both Orin and Rorik followed, their rushed footsteps pounding against the floor until we all came to a collective stop inside Noam and Nohr’s room. With a shaky hand, I pointed to Nohr. “Look.”
Orin gently moved me to the side and stood before my brother. He narrowed his eyes as he inspected him from head to toe. Sadness crept into Orin’s features with every passing breath, and I wanted both to hear him speak and for him to stay silent. Because in that moment, everything was fine. Manageable. Nohr was alive, and I could cure him. Nohr was still here. Nohr. A quiet, strangled sob fractured my chest.
Rorik’s hand found the small of my back. “Breathe.”
I wanted to tear that word up and burn it from his mind so he could never speak it again.
But he did, just to spite me. “Breathe, Edira.”
With a shuddering inhale, I did as he said. It did nothing to alleviate the fear gnawing at my gut, but the tingling in my fingers subsided, if only a little. Pursing my lips together, I forced another deep breath through my nose. The ringing in my ears dulled. Slowly, I looked up at him. His features were tight, his expression masked. The only thing he couldn’t keep hidden was the emotion in his eyes. They raged with fear and anger and despair and so many things at once that I wondered how he kept it all together. How he managed to breathe his way through that kind of maelstrom. Only when his gaze softened did he pull his hand away. He brought it to his shoulder where Ywena was perched, and she crawled over his fingers. Gingerly, he brought her to me.
“For comfort, not training.”
I could barely hold back the tears as I welcomed Ywena’s gentle touch. She nestled in the crook of my neck, and something about her presence grounded me. I was able to wrangle the last of my fear and grip it tight as I waited for Orin to speak. When he finally turned his attention to us, his gaze slid first to Ywena. Something hardened in his eyes before he met my stare.
“He’s alive but deteriorating quickly.” Orin gripped the back of his neck. “Edira, I know you want to cure him, but—”
All the panic I’d battled into submission sprang up again, and I took a quick step forward. “No. You have to help me. Get rid of the barrier.”
“Edira...” He stepped between me and Nohr.
