“So, so beautiful.”
It was satisfying, in an agonizing sort of way, to say these things to her in the dark. Like pulling shrapnel from a wound so that it could finally be sutured shut.
“I think of you.” My voice was jagged. Guttural. “Always.”
Lualhati did not think of me.
She slumbered on.
I hoped she dreamed of better things than prison worlds and wardens.
18
LUALHATI
When I woke up, I was both extremely confused and extremely thirsty. I blinked at the unfamiliar room around me, willing my sluggish brain to cooperate and tell me where the heck I was. I turned my head, taking in the window, the small desk.
This room wasn’t unfamiliar at all. I just didn’t recognize it from this angle.
I’m in Warden Hallum’s bed.
I bolted upright and immediately regretted it. My head felt like it weighed about a billion pounds. I was surprised it didn’t go shooting right off my neck like a bowling ball.
Hangover. Great.
At least it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I remembered eating a solid dinner, and some snacks at the saloon. I didn’t feel nauseous – at least, not yet. Just tired and headachey and Jesus Christ, so fucking thirsty.
Knowing that I wouldn’t be able to just magically will water to appear in front of me, I got gingerly to my feet. I was still wearing all my clothes, though my dress was more like a shirtnow, having ridden up around my hips during the night. My pants were still on.
Why the heck had I slept here? Had something bad happened to my bed? I remembered the dance. I remembered talking to Rivven and learning about why Warden Hallum had come here. I remembered… Oh, God. We slow danced.
After that, things were foggy.
Please, sweet baby Jesus, let me not have done anything too humiliating.
OK. Now I was nauseous. What if I’d tried to, like, force myself on him? Had I followed the poor man to his bed, and he’d felt too bad for me to send me back to my own?
Oh no. What if I’d puked in my bed? Or peed?
I really don’t think I was that drunk!
I ignored my thirst and went to my room first. My bed looked like it usually did. Unmade, but ultimately clean. Free from any unacceptable bodily fluids.
Huh.
We obviously hadn’t swapped beds, either. No way Warden Hallum would have left the blankets and sheets in this rumpled state if he’d slept here.
I didn’t think I could wait until he got back to ask him. I chugged some water in the kitchen, brushed my teeth, and then had a quick dunk in the laundry/bath tub to freshen up. After putting on some clean, comfy clothes, I had a quick bite to eat. It stayed down alright, so I decided to venture out in search of Warden Hallum. I found my jacket hung neatly by the door. My knee-high boots were arranged tidily together. I didn’t even remember taking them off. I certainly couldn’t imagine that I’d lined them up so perfectly in my likely less-than-coordinated state last night.
After putting on my jacket, gloves, and more practical boots, I exited the house, emerging into beautiful sunshine. Today feltwarmer than yesterday, though not quite mild enough to cause a bunch of melting like that first morning I woke up.
There was no doubt about it, though. Spring was definitely on its way.
The hospital could be ready in a matter of weeks.
I blew out a raspberry between chapped lips. Oh, well. At least once I was all moved into my new hospital digs, I wouldn’t have any inexplicable waking-up-in-Warden-Hallum’s-bed moments.
Hopefully.
