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He’s not amused. “I’m serious. I’m supposed to be taking care of you, and I’ve failed miserably.”
“This is just a little hiccup.” I spread my hands, indicating our less-than-ideal location. “It’ll get better. You’ll make it up to me once you recover.”
“Why are you like this?” Anger sparks in his eyes.
“Like what?”
“Optimistic. Cheerful. You shouldn’t be trying to comfort me when I so royally fucked up.”
Raising an eyebrow, I tilt my head. “Really, Ellister? You spent days trying to win me over, and now that you have, you’re trying to change my mind? I think the better question is, why areyoulike this?”
Pause. “I won you over?”
Pursing my lips, I tilt my head. “I think that’s pretty obvious.”
“Just so you know, I didn’t mean you’re not pretty. You’re as gorgeous as ever. You look the way you do because you sacrificed for me. Nothing is more beautiful than that.”
Blushing at his sincere compliment, I tuck a chunk of wild hair behind my ear. “I really could use a shower, though. And a cold drink. How much longer until you’ll be able to vortex us out of here?”
“Half a day, maybe.”
That seems like an eternity. In the grand scheme of things, twelve hours isn’t much, but right now, it’s daunting.
I take the honeycomb out of the cup. “Would eating something speed your healing up?”
“Probably, but I can’t chew yet,” he says. “I can only swallow.”
I frown and mutter, “I should’ve saved some honey for you.”
“Nonsense. You’ll eat the honeycomb now.” It’s funny how Ellister manages to sound so bossy when he’s out of commission.
But he doesn’t need to order me twice. Like a ravenous animal, I bite into the network of hexagonal shapes, thoroughly enjoying the chewy texture and the sweetness. Briefly, I recognize the slight taste differences from the honeycomb I’m used to. I don’t know if it’s because I’m starving, but I swear this stuff is even better than what I get from my hives.
When I’m down to the last inch-by-inch square, I realize I should leave a bit for Ellister, but as I start to put it back in the cup, he demands, “All of it. Right now.”
“Fine.” I pop the last piece into my mouth, my eyes locked with Ellister’s pleased stare.
As I lie back down, I rest my head on his shoulder, knowing I need to save my energy. And I get back to thinking, wishing there were more I could do to improve his condition faster.
The honeycomb was delicious, but thirst roars its ugly head as my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
I just want a drink so bad.
Next time I close my eyes, instead of seeing water, I’m envisioning something else.
Red.
The rivers and streams in my fantasies are suddenly filled with blood.
Not the scary kind.
The tasty kind.
I remember sensing the satisfaction Ellister got when he drank from me in the meadow. I could feel his enjoyment during the siphoning, the fulfillment he received from me, and how it satiated a hunger inside him.
I could give that to him again, and it might get us out of here sooner.
“Ellister?”
