Esme digs her elbow into his side. She hesitates, eyeing me, but nods down to the main deck. “Sol oversees the water rations.”
The thought of asking him for anything is almost enough to put me off. But my breathing is deepening, growing harsher. I back away from their concerned faces.
“Selene?” Esme moves to follow, but I throw out my hand.
“I’m fine,” I force out. “I will speak to Sol.”
Spinning, I almost dart away from them and down the stairs, gripping my wrist to stop from scratching any more. Sol andCallan have their heads together. Sol sees me first, dark brows drawing together when I come to a lingering stop in front of him. “What?”
My mouth opens, but nothing comes out. My throat threatens to close.
Sol rolls his eyes. “Spit it out. We’re having a discussion.”
But my voice refuses to answer. I can taste it. Taste the mud, the filth, filling my nose, my mouth. Drowning me.
Ask.
“I— I need water. Please.”
Chapter twenty-two
Callan
Sol pulls up a stool beside me as I swing myself into the hammock. My head barely touches the canvas before I pull myself upright with a hissed curse. At his look, I shake my head. “Just an ache.”
A pounding, stabbing ache burrows viciously into the back of my skull, accompanied by the disgusting trickle of blood flowing down my throat. Laying down is out, at least until we get back.
Gods. I rub a hand over my face, trying to rub away the exhaustion. It plucks at my arms, my legs, drags my eyelids down. The macra tea has worn off much faster than it usually does.
Sol vanishes, reappearing moments later with another canteen. “Merrick made extra. Drink up.”
Merrick sees far more than he lets on. I’m actually grateful for once, grateful that everyone is watching more than I want them to, grateful for the vile taste as I swill it down.
Sol eyes me closely. “How are you doing? And don’t lie to me.”
I consider it. More than I have allowed myself to do this last day or two. “It’s going to be bad, Sol. I’ll make it back, I’m sure of that much. Get you all back. But…”
But after that, my fate will be in Caelum’s hands. I refuse to accept that my maegis will fail me, will run dry before we reach the shore. My mind traces over the threads again. Some of them flicker.
Sol leans forward. His hand grips my knee. “Matthias worked this out before. We’ll fix it again.”
I have to smile. “He’s a stubborn bastard.”
“And so are you. A match made in Ellas. We know what to do, Callan. We’ve done it before.”
They’ll have to be quick. I have a feeling I’ll be dead before we get back to the castle. The temple, as it used to be.Selene’stemple.
Soft footsteps have Sol glancing up. “What?”
I turn. Selene stands in front of us. Her lips are almost bloodless as she stares. My eyes tighten as they sweep over her.
And then I notice the lack of stars.
Sol has little patience. “Spit it out. We’re having a discussion.”
Her eyes are bottomless pits of darkness, blending with the air around us. “I—I need water. Please.”
“Of course. Sol will fill up your canteen.” But she doesn’t seem to hear me. My eyes lower to her hands. Trembling, shaking fingers grip her wrist, and I frown at the traces of red beneath. The bandage I placed there still sits on her other wrist. “Are you alright?”
