Azelon's hands stilled momentarily. "He's giving you space to recover. And keeping his emotions contained."
"Is he okay?"
"He blames himself for your injuries," Azelon answered honestly. "He believes his lack of control caused this."
"It wasn't his fault," Jamie frowned. "He was trying to protect the store. Protect us."
"I know." Azelon applied a fresh herbal paste to the wound. "But Corin is emotional." Wasn't that the whole problem?
"You need to talk to him," Jamie said. "He listens to you, even when he pretends not to."
Azelon raised an eyebrow. "You've known him three days and you believe you understand our dynamic?"
"Sometimes an outside perspective sees things more clearly." Jamie winced slightly as Azelon began wrapping fresh bandages around his torso. "Besides, during the healing, I saw... fragments. Memories."
Azelon's hands faltered. "What did you see?"
"Not enough to piece everything together," Jamie admitted. "But enough to know you care about Corin more than you let on. And enough to know that whatever happened in your past is still haunting you."
Azelon secured the bandage with practiced efficiency, then stepped back. "The connection should have been one-way," he said stiffly. "I apologize for the intrusion into your mind."
"I don't mind," Jamie replied, surprising him. "But I think you do."
Before Azelon could respond, the door to the healing chamber swung open. Corin stood in the threshold, amber eyes wide as they took in the scene: Jamie half-sitting up in bed, Azelon standing shirtless beside him, bandages and healing supplies scattered around them.
"I felt something," Corin said, his voice unusually subdued. "Magic. Your magic." His gaze fixed on Azelon's uncovered markings, which pulsed slightly brighter under his scrutiny.
"Jamie's fever worsened," Azelon explained, reaching for his discarded tunic. "I used Tideborn healing techniques."
Corin stepped further into the room. "The ones you told me only bonded pairs used?"
Azelon stiffened. He'd shared too much with Corin over their months together. "The situation was dire."
Corin's gaze moved to Jamie, a complex mix of emotions crossing his face. Relief, guilt, and something more vulnerable. "You're better?"
Jamie nodded. "Much. Thanks to Azelon."
Corin took another step forward, his usual dramatic flair subdued but not entirely absent. "Well, that makes two of us he's rescued, doesn't it? Forms a bond, that sort of thing."
Jamie shot Azelon a look that clearly asked whether he'd told Corin about the literal bond formed during the healing ritual. Azelon gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head.
"How are you feeling?" Jamie asked Corin, changing the subject.
"Working on my control," Corin replied, holding up a hand that emitted a soft, controlled glow of emotional projection. "See? No explosions. No chaos. Just a nice, tidy little ball of feelings that won't hurt anyone."
The demonstration was impressive. More control than Azelon had seen from him before. But there was something brittle in Corin's voice, a forced lightness that didn't reach his eyes.
"You must have worked hard on that," Azelon observed.
"Had to," Corin shrugged. "Can't have another incident, can we? One near-death experience is probably enough for our human friend."
"It wasn't your fault," Jamie said firmly.
"Sweet of you to say, but we both know that's not true." Corin moved to the foot of the bed, keeping a carefully measured distance from both of them. "Anyway, I just came to check on you. I felt the magic and wanted to make sure everything was alright."
"I was about to prepare a bath," Azelon said. "The healing ritual leaves residue that needs to be cleansed."
Corin's eyebrows rose. "A bath? How intimate."
