“Good, good,” the old healer muttered. He placed his wrinkly fingers just below Neve’s jaw on his pulse. Neve glanced back at Flyka, who nudged Olwen next to her. His best friend grouched and then sat up, rubbing his eyes.
“I just got to sleep. I’m not ready to be awake yet,” he grumbled, shoving a few braids away from his strong square jaw.
Neve felt a flash of amusement when Flyka, with a glare, jabbed her elbow into Olwen’s ribs. “He’s awake.”
That got Olwen’s attention. His eyes snapped to Neve, and he practically launched to his feet. His oldest friend hastily dropped onto the edge of the bed and pulled him into a back-slapping hug.
“Gently,” Remiche chided.
Olwen scoffed, the scar on his cheek puckering. “He’s made of sterner stuff.Lae reillovcan withstand a hug.”
Flyka pulled the burly giant off of Neve and smiled at him before leaning over the edge of the bed for a quick hug. Neve couldn’t help but crack a smile. She was never one for displays of affection.
He leaned against the cool wooden headboard and frowned at the darkened room. The curtains were drawn on all the curved windows. The feeling of being watched penetrated, and he glanced around the room to find everyone awake and looking athim. The silence scratched at his skin, making his legs restless. His breath came a little faster.
It was too dark in the room. Too confining. Too crowded. It felt as if the walls were closing in on him.
“The windows,” he croaked. Neve cleared his throat as severalnonnaejumped to their feet and yanked open curtains.
Neve struggled to regulate his breathing at the view that greeted him.
Deep snow covered the Glace Lake.
It hadn’t been like that yesterday.
But was it yesterday?
“How long?” he asked, his stomach in knots.
“Almost a fortnight,Reillov,” Remiche replied.
Neve’s breathing sped up, and he squeezed his eyes shut. His fingers clenched in the bedding, their clean mint-and-lavender scent teasing his nose.
No ginger. No amber. No sweets. No wife.
Bile burned the back of his throat.
“Everyone out.” His hands began to shake as memories flooded him.
“But my lord . . .”
“Out!” he bellowed, feeling blood rush to his face. He was going to lose it any second. His mate hadlefthim. She’d tried tokillhim.
The healers filed toward the door, Flyka and Olwen not budging from his bedside. As the door clicked shut, Neve flung the covers from his body. He swung his bare legs over the side of the bed, ignoring Flyka’s hand on his shoulder.
“You’ve been in bed for many days. It’s not wise to stand. You must build your strength.”
He batted her hand away, his hearts thundering in his chest. Neve stood up, and the world wavered. Olwen caught him before he hit the floor and helped him sit on the edge of the bed.
His friends knelt before him, and Olwen placed his hand on the back of Neve’s head. “Lean your head between your knees and take deep breaths.”
Neve dropped his head and gulped air, emotions rolling through him. Tears sprang to his eyes, and a hiccupping sob slipped from his lips. He hated these attacks that came on from time to time. The panic would become just too much to bear.
He glared at the floor and struggled to breathe while drowning in feeling.
She’d betrayed him.
His little humanniliave.
