Concern tugged at Azelon.
"Are you stable?" he asked.
Corin nodded, though his fingers trembled at his sides. "I haven't projected anything since... since it happened."
Azelon sighed. "Come in, then. But stay by the door."
Corin slipped into the room, keeping his distance from the bed as instructed. His gaze fixed on Jamie's still form, guilt washing over his features.
"I did this," he whispered.
"We all failed," Azelon corrected, wringing out the cloth and reapplying it to Jamie's forehead. "I promised I could contain your projection. I was wrong."
"Don't." Corin's voice cracked. "Don't try to share this. It's my fault. My powers. My lack of control."
Azelon moved to a shelf of medicinal herbs, selecting leaves. "Self-pity serves no one."
"It's not self-pity, it's the truth." Anger flashed across Corin's face, the first real emotion beyond guilt he'd shown in days. The air in the room thickened slightly, the first hint of his projection emerging. "You've been telling me for months how dangerous I am."
"Control yourself," Azelon warned.
"See?" Corin laughed, the sound jagged with pain. "Even now, even when I'm trying to accept responsibility…"
A soft groan from the bed silenced him. Jamie stirred, eyelids fluttering though they didn't open.
Azelon was at his side instantly, one hand on Jamie's wrist to monitor his pulse. "Jamie?"
Jamie's lips moved, forming words too faint to hear. Azelon leaned closer.
"The store," Jamie mumbled. "Is it safe?"
Something tightened in Azelon's chest. "The store is fine," he assured him. "It's repairing itself. The creatures are gone."
Jamie's eyes opened briefly, unfocused with fever. "Corin?"
Azelon hesitated, glancing toward the doorway. Corin stood frozen, tension radiating from him.
"Corin is here," Azelon finally said. "He's unharmed."
Relief softened Jamie's features. "Good," he murmured, eyes slipping closed again. "That's good."
Azelon straightened, turning to find Corin moving closer despite his earlier warning.
"He asked for me," Corin whispered, wonder mixing with the guilt in his voice. "After what I did, he still?—"
"Stay back," Azelon ordered, but Corin continued forward, drawn by something stronger than caution.
"I need to tell him I'm sorry," Corin insisted, coming to the edge of the bed. "I need to?—"
The air around him began to shimmer as emotion rose once more.
Azelon didn't think, he acted. He wrapped an arm around Corin's waist and physically lifted him away from the bed.
"No!" Corin struggled against him, but Azelon's Tideborn strength easily overcame his resistance.
"You're projecting again," Azelon growled in his ear. "Control it or leave."
"I can't—" Corin's voice broke. "I thought I could handle it but seeing him like this, knowing I caused it…"
