Page 77 of Fall into Place

“How long will it take to work?” Nantale snapped at Sylvie.

“I’ve never done this before,” Sylvie replied evenly. “We’ll just have to wait.”

“Fine,” Nantale said curtly, removing her hands from Callum’s ankles and standing up. “Alert me when something changes.”

Nantale looked down at Callum once more, her hands clasped tightly together, before she turned and swept out of the room.

“Tess?” Callum asked softly.

His eyes fluttered open, his thick lashes wet with sweat and tears.

“I’m here,” she whispered. She squeezed his hand, and he looked into her eyes. “What do you need?”

“I need…” His eyelids were heavy; he was struggling to stay awake. “I need…”

“You need to rest.” Sylvie put one hand on Callum’s shoulder and the other on Tess’s back. “And Tess probably needs to eat something, am I right?”

“Oh.” Tess looked up at Sylvie. “No, I’m fine. I can stay here.”

“I know you want to, mamaleh.” Sylvie rubbed Tess’s back gently. “But he needs to sleep, let the medicine work. And you’ll feel so much better after a meal and a shower. I’ll watch him, I promise.”

“Is that okay, Callum?” Tess turned to Callum.

“ ’Course.” He nodded—his breath already seemed easier, and he looked more relaxed.

“See?” Sylvie smiled at Tess. “Go ahead, we’ll be fine. Do you need anything? Do you want me to make you some food?”

“No, there’s plenty in my room,” Tess said—then something occurred to her. “Actually, I have a question. Does this compound have a library?”

After Tess left, Callum asked Sylvie for some more clove tea, so she put on a kettle.

“So,” she said, her voice a little too casual. “Tess spent the night here?”

“Sleeping,” Callum emphasized. “Do I look like I’m in any fit state to do more than that?”

“Not really,” Sylvie conceded. “But you want to?”

Callum laughed softly. Just hours ago, he hadn’t thought he’d live through the night. The pain of Sylvie applying the poultice was excruciating, but it was already dulling, and he could feel the antidote working within him. He knew it wouldn’t be long until his strength returned—and all he could fucking think about was getting that woman back in his bed. God, he was so predictable.

“Doesn’t matter what I want,” he said gruffly. “She’s afraid of me.”

Sylvie’s face softened. “If that were true, she wouldn’t have shared a bed with you.”

“Sure, when I could barely move.” Callum sighed. Sylvie looked at him shrewdly.

“Is she afraid, or are you?”

“Me?” Callum scoffed. “Afraid of her? What, you think she’s gonna stake me when I’m all postcoital and glowy? She just saved my life.”

“And have you ever stopped to wonder why she did that?” Sylvie rolled her eyes. “Do you think it’s possible the two of you might need each other, and that’s why you’re both so scared?”

“I know you look like a wise grandma, but I’m actually much, much older than you.”

“Doesn’t mean you’re not an idiot,” Sylvie said frankly.

“Well—what do I do then?” His tone was grumpy, but he still felt vulnerable.

“Feh, what do I know?” The kettle whistled, and Sylvie poured some steaming water into a mug. “If it was me, I’d show her you’re not afraid and she doesn’t have to be.”