I paid for the consequences of my actions even before I was conscious.
I woke to a headache that felt like an arrow was lodged in my temple, and my mouth tasted as if I had been chewing on a ball of sand soaked in alcohol. My own breath made my stomach churn. Sunlight filtered through the shutters; each beam another arrow aimed at my eyes. I groaned and turned my face into the pillow, reminded of Daemon by the faint trace of his scent still lingering there.
Memories crashed into my aching head. If someone saw me right now, they would think I was still drunk from how red I turned. My hand reaching for his. The kiss. Gods, the kiss. His embrace. The pleasure. The desire I felt from him when he gave in.
I sat up a bit too fast in panic. The room tilted sideways and my stomach lurched. I stumbled toward the sink and vomited. It was as far as I could make it. Heat flooded my face despite the throbbing pain in my head.
What was I thinking?
To be honest, I don’t think I was thinking at all. I had simply acted on my urges. My mind replayed the memories like a movieI couldn’t look away from. With my hands gripping the sink to keep myself upright, I let the scene play. The only comfort was the ending. Daemon had enough self-control to stop both of us. I was glad, but the anxiety and tangled emotions didn’t fade.
Daemon had a point. Do I feel this way about him because of the soul bond? Was it the alcohol? The alcohol was easy to dismiss. I had felt this pull toward him since the night at the watchtower. It was as if I orbited him like a moon around its planet.
Before I could spiral further, I heard footsteps.
They were nearly silent, but my pounding head made me sensitive to every movement around me. The steps stopped. Someone was waiting in the living space.
By now, most of the dinner and wine from last night had gone down the drain. I turned on the water and rinsed the rest away. Then I brushed my teeth and washed my face.
I moved carefully toward the wardrobe and pulled out a set of clothes. Changing made my stomach churn with every movement. Considering how much I had eaten the night before, I wasn’t surprised I hadn’t thrown everything up yet. My hands shook as I fastened the laces of the dress.
I forced myself to move, pushing open the door on legs that felt unfamiliar. I held my breath, bracing myself to face Daemon.
Luckily, it was Lyralei.
“Good morning, child,” she said, her voice carrying its usual musical cadence. “How do you feel?”
“Like I drowned in wine last night.” I slowly sank into the seat across from her.
Lyralei covered her mouth as she giggled. She rose and walked to the kitchen, returning with a glass of fresh water. She placed it in front of me and took her seat again.
I took careful sips, afraid that more liquid would send me running back to the sink. When my throat no longer felt likesandpaper, I let my head fall against the couch. My neck bent awkwardly to the side, but I didn’t have the energy to move it.
The sight earned another round of amusement from Lyralei.
“The more I see you, the more you remind me of your mother,” she said warmly. “Lyanna couldn’t handle her alcohol either. This brings back memories of our youth.”
If I had the strength, I would have asked her more about my mother. But at the moment, all I could manage was existing and breathing.
“Here,” Lyralei continued. “Let me make you the same meal I used to prepare for your mother after a night of drinking.”
“Yes, please.” I didn’t care what it was. I just wanted to feel like I wasn’t about to die anymore.
“Daemon is at the infirmary, by the way. His team has come to and are doing much better now.”
Despite the pain, relief washed over me like a warm bath on a cold night.
“Thank you.”
“Of course. I’ll be right back.” With that, Lyralei was out the door.
After she left, my eyelids grew heavy once more.
When I woke again, Lyralei was in the kitchen wearing a beige apron. A pot on the stove was steaming, filling the lodge with moisture and a delicious aroma. Lyralei lifted a ladle and tasted the soup. She nodded to herself with quiet contentment.
As she walked over to the sink to place the ladle inside, she noticed I was awake.
“Good. Just in time. The food’s ready. Come sit.”
