“Rest,” he whispered. “I’ll check on you tomorrow, and if you’re in better sorts, then we’ll start your training.”
As he rose, his hand skimmed the edge of the blanket, almost like he didn’t want to leave. It was the smallest, most unthinking gesture. But the weight of it stayed with me even after the door closed quietly behind him, even after the room fell back into bitter silence.
Sleep claimed me in fragments, shallow and uncertain. When I finally stirred again, someone was nudging my shoulder.
I expected to see Rowan again, but it was Talia standing before my bed. Her brows knitted as she studied me.
I shifted to face her, shaking. I was far too cold.
“Is everything alright?” I slurred.
I still felt incredibly weak from the transfusion.
“What’s it like?” She asked.
“What?”
“The transfusion.”
I moved to sit on the bed. My body screamed at me, and it took every bit of strength I had to pull myself up.
I didn’t know what to tell her. On one hand, I could tell her the truth, but I didn’t want to scare her. She needed to be prepared, but not terrified.
I patted the mattress beside me, and Talia sat.
“I’m sore, but I’ll live.”
“I don’t like needles,” she said, moving her thumb to her mouth and biting the nail.
“I don’t either, but they’re quick about it. I promise.”
Talia nodded, dropping her hand to her side.
“Have you had the faith sessions yet?” she asked.
“No, what are they like?”
If they were anything like the truth sessions, I’m not sure I could make it through them.
“Not bad. Dr. Holcrum just talked about our relationship to the gods. Stuff like that.”
“I thought he worked with Dr. Sinters in the infirmary?”
“He does, but he leads the faith sessions too.”
I stiffened.
“Is he anything like Adina?” I asked breathlessly, betraying my fear.
“No, she scares me.”
“She scares me, too,” I admitted.
“Dr. Holcrum is just odd, and he smells weird.”
My body relaxed, and I laughed. Talia tentatively joined in. My lungs began burning, and I coughed. Talia put her hand on my back and gently patted, like she wanted to help but didn’t know how.
After a few seconds, the coughing fit stopped. My lungs felt scratched, and my throat raw.
