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Stop. The pain is messing with me. I can find a way to fix this. Maybe not today, but once I’m feeling better, I’ll find a way to make sure the ogre knows how useful I can be.
“You’re sad again.” The vial of silver liquid in Orcus’ hand almost shimmers.
“Yeah,” I admit. “It’s not a big deal.” I eye the vial. “More pain medicine?”
He holds it out for me to take. “There are only two left. I don’t have any healing tinctures, otherwise I’d give you one of those as well.”
“I can’t take that if you’re almost out. What if you need it?” Scrunching my nose, I lean forward and gently run my fingers over my aching ankle. “With rest, it’ll be okay.”
“Here.” Orcus taps my hand with the vial. “Take it.”
“It’s okay—”
A snap of anger shoots through the bond and my fingers curl into fists. “Stop saying it’s okay,” he growls. “You’re in pain and I can feel it and I need you to take the damn medicine.” Clenching his jaw, he squints and taps my hand with the vial again.
“All right, all right. I’ll take it.” Uncurling my fist, I snatch the vial from his palm, fingers brushing over his skin. A tingle shoots down my spine at the contact. I ignore it and quickly drink the pain medicine. “There, are you happy?”
He nods. “You should rest.”
I’m getting a little tired of being told what to do, but he’s right. The only way I’ll be able to make my way back to Edgar is by getting well. The last thing I want is for Edgar to think I abandoned him. I rub at my chest.
The ogre releases a harsh exhale.
Right. My emotions.
“I’m fine,” I lie again.
The funny thing is, I’ve been telling myself that same lie for most of my life. Maybe someday it’ll be true. One can hope.
EIGHT
The beast meets his match
ORCUS
I recognize stubbornness when I see it. Daisy, the infuriating creature, tries to walk more than she should. The pain-relieving potion helped with the inflammation, but it also made her brave. On the second day, I regret giving her the final vial. Maybe if she felt the pain, she’d realize her limits and stop pushing herself. I watch her walk to the pitcher of water and try to hide the slight give in her gait. She’s not fooling me. My stomach has been in knots because of how much of her pain is shared through the bond.
Setting my book aside, I stand and join her at the counter.
“Thirsty?” she asks, handing me the cup she filled.
I push it toward her. “No.”
She searches my face. “You don’t have to stay, you know. I’m sure you have better things to do than glare at me all day.”
I scowl. “I’m not glaring.”
“This,” she runs her finger between her eyebrows and I become increasingly aware of the hard line between mine, “hasn’t gone away.”
Because she’s not taking care of herself.
“I don’t have anything else to do,” I tell her instead, which isn’t true at all. Ihadplanned a trip to the magic village for supplies and to see if there was a way to seek the furies’ forgiveness, an offering of some sort, but that can wait a few more days. The furies are immortal and one thing about the immortals is they like to play with their prey before they go for the kill. They’ve only just begun messing with my father’s kingdom.
“Well, the least you can do is let me help with something.”
“No.”
She scoffs. “Now who’s being stubborn?” Shaking her head, she sets the cup aside and gives me a pleading look. “I’m so bored.”
