Page 68 of Ignite the Infernos

“I could be wrong,” she says with a grimace, “but I’m pretty sure I’ve been poisoned.”

Chapter 30

Ever

I PITCH FORWARD AND AESON catches me. I feel so heavy all of a sudden, and my blood can’t decide if it wants to boil or flash freeze. Pins and needles crawl all over me, and I can’t help the whimper that escapes when Aeson collects me in his lap and tries to examine me in search of what’s wrong.

“What’s happening, Claws? Tell me what you’re feeling, exactly.”

I start to shiver and Aeson presses his hand to my forehead and then my cheek.

“Herm!” he bellows, alarm ringing in his voice. “Tell me, Ever . . . tell me what’s wrong,” Aeson pleads, panic setting in his features.

I groan, but it comes out in pieces thanks to my chattering teeth. “It’s crawling under my skin, stealing my strength,” I finally grit out. “It’s everywhere. This gnawing ache, like my bones are grinding together.”

“Shit,” Aeson snaps, and then we’re moving.

I close my eyes and press my face to his chest, inhaling his scent like it’s the antidote to whatever’s wrong with me.

“Was it the Healer or the food?” I ask, trying to figure out how I missed it. I didn’t feel amazing after the injection, but it definitely got worse after I ate. I thought I’d built up a tolerance to a number of poisons, thanks to Iker and the other wyverns. It’s just my luck someone would hit the mark on their first try.

“It’s not poison,” Aeson declares, like he’s reading my mind.

“Feels like poison,” I grunt, my breaths too fast and too shallow.

“Start the water,” Aeson orders, and I open my eyes to see who he’s talking to.

“Why are we in the bathroom?” I mewl, distracted and confused. Shouldn’t we be running for the infirmary? Unless . . . “Dammit, I knew I shouldn’t have let that Healer bitch give me a shot,” I growl, but I’m feeling too shitty to properly berate myself.

“You weren’t poisoned, Claws. Your affinity is indurating your scale armor,” Aeson tells me calmly, and I grunt an objection.

“My affinity would never; we run a classy joint up in here,” I argue weakly, gesturing to myself.

Herm chuckles and steps away from the giant tub that’s now filling with water. “It’s probably too late for the herbs, but I can send Jori for them if you want.”

“No, I’ll use the bond. I’ll call if I need anything else,” Aeson instructs.

“I’ll be here if you need anything,” Herm reassures, and the comforting look he offers Aeson makes my chest ache.

My thoughts drift to Enslee, and I try to recall a time we were ever like that. There’s always been love—and we’ve been there for each other as much as we could—but the days of only supporting one another died when our kindred did. After that, it was all about surviving, and carrying everyone else on our shoulders. The love didn’t die, but life started pulling us in all kinds of directions, and I think we lost something along the way.

“Ever?” Aeson calls, pulling me from my thoughts. “Can I take your clothes off? You’ll be more comfortable as soon as we’re in the water.”

I nod, and in a flash of heat, Aeson and I are skin to skin. “Did you just burn my clothes off again?” I complain, and the smile that spreads across his lush mouth would send my heart into hyperdrive if it weren’t already flip-flopping around in my chest thanks to my affinity undulating at my scale armor, or whatever Aeson called it.

“It took me a long time to learn how to burn without destroying,” he tells me as he steps down into the steaming water that now fills the massive inground tub. “I promise to only use it when absolutely necessary.”

Aeson lowers us until my head is the only thing sticking out of the water, and the instant relief almost makes me cry.

“Fuck the stars,” I groan as the aching discomfort drops from bone-gnawing to lightly sore. I close my eyes and take a moment to revel in the respite.

“That should help,” Aeson assures, and I tilt my head back into the water until I’m weightless and floating.

Deft fingers release my bun, and I moan at the welcome release of pressure at the back of my head. “Thank you,” I sigh tranquilly, and Aeson guides me deeper into the water.

“I should have anticipated this might happen,” he rumbles, and I can hear the censure he’s aiming at himself. “The Healer said you’re metabolizing magic faster than she’s ever seen. I should have realized that meant things would hit you harder than the average drake.”

I open my eyes. “What do you mean?”