“Something’s wrong with Theo.” A hand grasped his, but he could barely make out the edges of their face.
He couldn’t focus. It was all his fault.Amaris is… Fuck, I can’t breathe. She’s…She’s fine. No…breathe. She was poisoned. It’s my fault.
“Is Amaris alright?”
“She is now.”
“It’s…fault.” Theo choked.
“Theo, it’s me. Take a deep breath for me.”
He sucked in a breath, attempting to hold the air again.
“That’s it. Now let it out.”
He released his breath, but his chest still felt as though a rope were tied around it, and his head thrummed with every possible thought. He’d ruined everything. She wouldn’t be escaping tonight in her state, but didshe even want to? She’d said she wanted to stay, and she’d kissed him. Was it only an illusion from the poison and alcohol?
“Breathe, Theo.”
He couldn’t breathe.
“Maybe…”
Theo shook his head, his hand trying to reach for his nonexistent sword as the swarm of voices filled the room.
“Everyone out, now!” a voice demanded. “Come on, Theo. Take another breath.”
Theo battled against every fiber in his body to breathe, but the ever-swarming emotions within him held their grip.
A hand circled his back. “Amaris is fine. You’re fine. Take a deep breath.”
He sucked in, holding it and pursing his lips. He followed several more cycles, the voice coaching him through each one. Swirls of color flourished in his vision, pulling him from the darkened tunnel. The feeling swept back into his fingertips. He scrunched them, dragging his nails across the firm hand that held his in its grasp. He blinked, willing his world to come back into focus and for his breaths to slow. Esaias was there.
“Inhale, exhale.”
Theo breathed again, but the sight of Amaris on the bed was too much. His breaths were ragged, increasing in a faster cadence. “Amaris was poisoned.”
“By the gods,” Esaias muttered.
“Who did she talk to?” he shouted. “Where did she get her drink?”
“It was the one she picked up off the table.” Esaias sat back on his heels.
Theo hung his head and wrapped his arms around it, curling himself into a ball and gripping his hair at the roots. “What are we going to do? My father still wants Amaris sent to Elric, and there’s no way we can get her out now.” He lifted his head, but even Amaris’s even breaths couldn’t pull him from the panic wrapping tightly around his lungs. Nothing could aidhim in the rapid pounding of his heart.
“First, you need to try to calm down.”
“I can’t!” Theo shouted.
“I can’t have an unconscious Amaris and you doped on cudweed. Try and breathe,” Esaias demanded.
No. Theo wouldn’t allow him to jab him with a needle like they’d done in the infirmary. Amaris needed him. He scrambled back. “Don’t!”
Esaias gripped his shoulder. “Then, for Amaris’s sake, pull yourself together.”
“Not again,” Theo muttered. “Not again.” He dropped his head in his hands.
“What do you meannot again?”
