She sliced open a mushroom with a knife and proceeded to examine it.
“I didnae even see him drop the muffin…” Ava trailed off, her eyes wide.
A few moments later, Thalia looked up from the table, solemn and grave. “I believe this is what caused his sickness. I’m so sorry.”
Ava buried her face in her hands, sobbing. “This is me fault.”
Caden ached to console her as tears dripped through her fingers.
“Ye couldnae have ken, Ava.” Finlay rested a gentle hand on her shoulder.
Caden’s stomach twisted. It should be him comforting his wife. Yet he notremained rooted to the spot.
“What do we do, Thalia?” he asked. “Is there a cure?”
Thalia sadly shook her head. “All we can do is wait, me Laird.”
CHAPTER 27
The days blurred together.
Nathan drifted in and out of consciousness, sometimes crying out, sometimes whimpering. Ava held him the whole while, singing until her voice became hoarse, her tears soaking into his wavy brown hair.
Caden brought water, changed the boy’s clothes, and forced himself to remain calm, even though fear clawed at his throat. Tension grew with every passing day.
Once, in the grey light before dawn, Ava snapped at him for letting the fire burn too hot.
“He’ll burn up even more!” she hissed.
Thalia, who was grinding more yarrow and willowbark, gave her a reproachful look, as if to say,Ye’re nae helping.
Ava clamped her mouth shut.
After three days of no improvement, she still had not slept. Caden had nodded off in his chair on the other side of Nathan’s bed, but she refused to sleep.
He handed her a glass of water and suggested she get some sleep.
“I cannae leave him, even to rest,” she insisted.
“Ye are exhaustin’ yerself!” Caden barked. “Ye are nay use to him when ye cannae even function, Ava!” He tossed his hands up in frustration.
“Daenae tell me what to do, Caden! Ye promised me freedom,” she shot back.
“All right, that’s enough.” Finlay stepped between them, his expression hard. “Save it. He needs ye both to be level-headed.”
“Out, both of ye.” Thalia crossed her arms over her chest.
“I’m nae leaving,” they said in unison.
“Ye are doing more harm than good to me patient. I’m the healer here. Now, do ye want the boy to get better or nae?” Thalia bit out.
Ava had never seen her sister so assertive.
“Ye two need sleep and food. Ye are nay good to him or me by staying here. Now, I’m orderin’ ye both to leave this room for four hours.”
Both started to argue, but Thalia held up a hand to shush them.
“Ye will leave. Ye will sleep, eat, bathe, go outside—I daenae care. But ye willnae come back until the four hours are up or I send for ye. Is that understood?” She arched an eyebrow, daring them to defy her.
