She attempted to shove the blankets away but winced at the sharp ache in her muscles and joints. “Where is everyone?” she managed to croak.
Carus furrowed his brow. “You’re feeling warm?” he asked, not acknowledging her question.
“Yes. Too warm, I think.”
“Right,” he muttered. “They said that might happen next.”
“Was I cold?”
He grimaced. “Ah… Yes.”
She coughed again, choking at the wet tang of blood in the back of her throat. Darkness encapsulated her vision completely before consciousness returned with an agonizing vengeance. A door flew open, the sound of wood cracking against the wall exploding in her over-sensitive ears.
She felt herself fall forward. Carus swore, and strong arms caught her before she could hit the floor. A sudden bolt of electricity lanced up her back, and she was vaguely aware she was screaming, clawing at the arms around her.
“You didn’t need to come back,” Carus panted against her ear, and she tried to reply, not understanding what he meant. “I had it covered.”
Morgen spoke just as her muscles went limp. “I should have never left.”
“She was sleeping until five minutes ago!”
She needed to tell them she wasburning. The blaze was overcoming her from within, fissuring her skull and ravaging hermuscles and bones. She was sure she would be ash soon, but her lips would not move properly to form any words.
Fingers brushed against her forehead, and Morgen swore. “Start a cold bath. Now.”
Carus didn’t argue further, and she thought he might have left. Strong arms hooked under her legs and back, lifting her, and she braced for more pain. Although she was still burning up, the touch was almost soothing to the throb.
Morgen?
His chest expanded against her with a sigh. He carried her to the edge of the room, away from the heat of the fire. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have left. Carus insisted I go back and explain things to the others.”
The others? Did he mean his army?
She didn’t think she had spoken aloud, but he replied, “Yes.”
She wasn’t angry. She understood why he needed to address them, to let them know there wasn’t going to be a war anymore, though she had no idea where his forces would go now.
“With us,” he answered her thoughts again, voice low and quiet, as if he knew not to add to the pain in her head. “I assured them they will all have a place if they want it.”
With them? But where…
Oh.
Sol. The void. The embers.
“I would advise you to bow for your new king and queen,”Thanatos had said.
She forced her eyes open, wincing, even in the dim light. Morgen frowned at her, the embers pulsating softly in his irises.
“I understand why Carus wanted me to go,” he said, brow creased. “But I shouldn’t have listened. You weren’t sleeping, not really. It’s bad, isn’t it? The pain?”
She tried to speak again, and he shushed her, brushing his thumb against her mouth.
“Hush, I know it is.” He leaned his forehead gently against hers. “I’m sorry, Nya. I don’t know how long this will last.”
She thought she might have passed out again. The next thing she remembered, there was ice all around her, and someone was stroking her hair, then braiding it. Consciousness slipped away after that.
The low hum of voices coaxed her from sleep next. Her head felt clearer, and it was not so difficult to open her eyes. But when she saw her parents sitting a few paces away and she tried to speak, she coughed. Their attention immediately zeroed in on her.
