Page 58 of The Infirmary for Dragon Burns and Midair Mishaps

My stomach was empty.

I needed food and water and⁠—

I needed Eden.

Once the world stopped spinning, I went to push off the edge of the bed, and only then did I realize that my prosthesis was missing. Where had it gone? Had I lost it in the lake? Had it been damaged in the fall?

I couldn’t remember Eden mentioning anything. Then again, the only thing I could remember clearly was that kiss. There were other things to worry about at the moment, but I couldn’t help the silly smile that stretched across my face as I brushed my fingers over my lips.

I couldn’t help remembering the phantom touch.

I shook off the sensation, noting the pair of crutches that leaned against the wall.

Ah. I shifted to the very edge of the bed and reached over to take hold of the crutches. Using them as levers, I got myself up, making sure I was sturdy before moving across the room.

I made slow, deliberate movements as I navigated my way through the infirmary. It was quiet, no one else around currently, and I told myself not to slip. The last thing I needed was the rest of the staff arriving to find me sprawled out on the exam room floor. They’d toss me right back in bed, and that’s not where I wanted to be.

I wanted to be outside, where I could taste fresh air. I wanted to lay eyes on Min and reassure myself that she was okay. Mostly, I wanted to be wherever Eden was.

My best guess was Bramble Cottage, so I exited the building, navigating my way onto the path behind it. There I found Min, curled in a tight ball. Her tail twitched as I approached, one eye snapping open. The moment she spotted me, she poked her head up, releasing a high-pitched sound.

It was joy and excitement all rolled into one.

“Hiya, girl,” I said, voice thick from disuse as she surged toward me. I scratched at her head, stumbling on one foot as she accidentally knocked me off balance. “Easy,” I said. “I’m all right.” I stared into those pearly black eyes. “More importantly, how are you?”

Min purred as I scratched at the tiny scales between her nostrils.

“You’re not hurt?” She nudged me for more scratches. “I heard Cyrus stopped by.”

She flashed her teeth to tell me exactly how she felt about that.

“He sounded irritated,” I murmured. “But Eden basically tossed him out on his rear. I don’t think we’ll be hearing from him for a few days at least.”

Min made a sound of displeasure.

“I know there was no other option,” I told her. “Thanks for dropping me in the lake and not through the roof of someone’s house.” That, as much as Eden’s attention, was the reason I was still alive.

Min sniffed at me, growling as she almost nudged me off the ground.

“It’s the Bane venom,” I said. “I expect I’ll reek for a few days.”

She huffed and pulled back to blink at me. Her forked tongue flicked out in the direction of my missing prosthesis.

“I know.” I gestured to Bramble Cottage with the end of my crutch. “I’m going to find it. Why don’t you go get yourself something to eat?”

She blinked at me, and I knew the feeling. She was loath to leave my side. But starving herself, especially after all the exertion the other night, wouldn’t do either of us any good.

“I’m in safe hands,” I promised. “Eden can look after me.”

Min cocked her head in a strange way, making a sound I’d never heard before. It was a rumbling way at the back of her throat, but it wasn’t a threat. She lowered her head, then took a step back before launching into the sky.

I poked my crutches into the grass to avoid being blown over, watching Min disappear on the horizon before continuing down the trail. When I reached Bramble Cottage, I used the end of my crutch to rap on the door.

It swung open a second later like Eden had been expecting me. Perhaps she had. Or maybe she’d just spotted me coming down the trail through the window.

“Morning.” My breath hitched as I took her in. Her hair was loose today, falling in waves over her shoulders. Her brown eyes caught the sunrise, glassy and gold. She was beautiful.

“Sorry, I meant to be back before you woke,” she said. “You didn’t have to struggle all the way out here.”