Page 55 of The Infirmary for Dragon Burns and Midair Mishaps

She was there, floating in and out of sight. I suppose I could have been imagining it as sparks of pain shot down my side.

I winced, curling away from the sharpness, but it followed me, shifting across my ribs and down my arm like a static shock that wouldn’t stop.

“Vaela?”

Yes? I wanted to say. Are you really here? What’s happening?

“Sleep.”

I didn’t want to sleep, dammit. I wanted to understand what was happening. I wanted this cursed pain to cease. Why couldn’t she help me?

Eden faded from view, her shape disappearing among all the others. I didn’t want her to go. When she returned later, my vision was a little clearer, and I could make out the distinct features of her face.

“How is the pain?” she asked.

I opened my mouth to tell her it was bloody annoying, but no words came out. I couldn’t make my throat work, and that scared me. The yellow at the edges of my vision ebbed.

“Shh,” Eden whispered. I didn’t like the way she looked at me, with such fear in her eyes.

It’s okay, I wanted to say. It’s not that bad.

I’d tell a lie a thousand times over to ease her burden. Just don’t look so sad.

I tried to lift my hand to stroke the worry from between her eyebrows. But lifting my hand felt like trying to prop Min on my shoulders. It was an impossible task.

I tensed, fighting for control of my muscles. My fingers twitched, and immediately the burning ache returned.

It flared so hot that I felt my eyes roll into the back of my head. I clamped my molars together, praying that someone would quench the fire.

Eden, help me.

* * *

“Where is she?” a voice bellowed.

I was wrenched from the fog of sleep but struggled to open my eyes. It felt like they’d been crusted over and glued shut with salve. I needed someone to wipe them.

Stars, was that smell me? I clearly needed a bath, too. I reeked like stagnant water. The kind that had algae growing on the surface.

“They were in my lake! That blasted scaly beast!”

Cyrus? What did he want? Also, where was I again? I shifted. Or, at least, I thought I did, touching something soft with my fingertips. This didn’t feel like my bed. The sheets were worn and pilled, and the pillow was too hard. Cyrus’s voice cut through my musings.

What the bloody hell did he want? I was too tired for his nonsense.

“I found the wrangler’s dragon asleep on the bank!”

Cyrus again. Was he talking about Min? What was she doing that close to the lake? She knew better than to get caught over there.

“You’ve seen Min?” a voice asked. It sounded like Matty. Ah, yes. I was at the infirmary. “Is she okay?”

The way he asked the question concerned me. I tried to open my eyes again, tried to pull my body from this strange, heavy fog, but my muscles refused to be roused. Curse the stars! What was going on? Min! I needed to see my dragon.

“She skulked off into the trees,” Cyrus snarled. “But don’t think I’m going to let them get away with this. I have half a mind to summon the kingsguard this very minute. Where is that bloody dragon wrangler?”

My pulse hammered in my throat, and with the surge came a strange, aching burn. It flickered beneath my ribs, and I hissed, wanting to stamp out the pain.

Min? I tried to say. Are you okay?