A chair creaked in the corner, and Arianna shot up in bed again, heart pounding. A wave of dizziness rocked through herfrom the sudden movement, but upon spotting the dark-skinned female reclined in the far chair, Arianna let her magic evaporate.
Holy gods above.
Raevina just stared at her, those golden eyes piercing even in the dim light. Her legs were crossed at the knee, the female’s face grim. A book rested in her hands, the pages flipped open to the center.
“You aren’t going to have another fit, are you?” Arianna’s face heated as she realized Raevina had been watching her the entire time. She couldn’t even remember everything she’d done.
Arianna ignored the question. “What time is it?”
The book snapped shut and Arianna winced at the noise. “Late morning.”
Late morning … another day wasted when they should be moving, getting her sister to safety. That was another problem yet to be resolved.
Arianna glanced at Raevina again, still debating whether the female from Fiadh could be trusted.
Zylah had done her best to convince Arianna that Talon wasn’t a traitor. None of them were, but something wouldn’t let her believe it. Not after she’d see him—Arianna clamped a hand over her mouth, trying to hold back the rolling nausea.
Raevina suddenly sat straighter. “Please tell me you’re not—”
Arianna leaned over the edge of the bed and vomited all over the wooden floor. She coughed up bile along with the remnants of last night’s dinner.
Another wave rolled through her body, and Arianna’s stomach clenched again. She was hanging off the edge, clutching the blankets with both hands. The feeling slowly dissipated, but her back was throbbing now and the headache—
“I’ll get Zylah.”
Arianna didn’t move. She just lay there, gasping for breath, trying to prevent her body from dry heaving again. She hated this. Vulnerable. She was far too vulnerable among people she wasn’t even certain could be trusted.
Silence engulfed the room. Moments later, light footsteps padded across the floor, then a warm hand drew familiar lines across her back. Icy relief eased the ache enough for Arianna to sit up.
Zylah sat on the edge of the bed, concern etched all over her face. Tierney, the female who owned the home, stood in the doorway with a bowl of water and a rag in hand.
“Better?” Zylah asked. Arianna only nodded, still struggling to catch her breath. Zylah drew another mark over Arianna’s chest, then moved up to her neck. Tierney walked slowly into the room, keeping an eye on them both.
Arianna tried to push Zylah aside. “I can clean it.”
“You most certainly will not,” Zylah protested.
“Don’t worry,” Tierney said, a look of wonderment on her face despite the task she was about to undertake. “I’m glad we’re able to care for you.” She moved around the bed, and Arianna looked away, embarrassment heating her face.
“Are you still in pain?” Zylah asked.
“Only a lot.”
The female grimaced, then helped Arianna sit forward a little more before drawing more runes down her spine. “How are the headaches?”
“Just as bad as before.”
Zylah was silent for a time, but her fingers never stopped moving. The runes were still such a strange concept. Magic created from nothing more than a symbol and the energy of the world. But was that energy endless? Did it have consequences? They had so much to learn about their world once the war ended. Provided it ended in their favor.
“Let me try something.” Zylah’s hands moved up Arianna’s neck, her fingertips light and cool. The female drew a few more runes, these smaller than the last. Ice flew up her spine like a dam being released, the sensation stretching all the way to her temples.
“There,” Arianna said, finally able to relax her shoulders.
Zylah scooted closer, fingers prodding Arianna’s vertebrae, drawing symbol after symbol. The tension unraveled like a spool of thread, and a web in her mind finally cleared. She breathed a bit easier. Progress. Just a bit more and maybe she’d be able to gather her thoughts. Formulate a plan. Protect her sister.
“Better?”
“Much.” Gods above, she could finally breathe.
