‘I remember …’ Luna trailed off, her face twisting.
‘What?’
‘I was dying,’ she said quietly.
Pain pricked Bisma’s heart. Luna looked so afraid.
‘I wouldn’t have let anything happen to you,’ Bisma said, trying to keep her voice strong.
‘Baji, I wasdying.’ Luna’s eyes welled with tears, and she blinked them away rapidly, though they only came back. ‘I felt it,’ she continued. ‘And there was nothing I could do. Everything hurt so much!’
‘Lu,’ Bisma said, wrapping her sister in a hug.
What Luna had gone through was a traumatic experience. Guilt needled Bisma; how could she have let this happen? Bisma wouldn’t have let anything happen to her sister, but what if it had, anyway? What if Lunahaddied? She’d clearly come close.
‘I’ll give you a moment alone,’ Xander said, quietly stepping back.
Luna cried, and Bisma held her tight. When it seemed Luna’s tears had subsided, she let go, and pulled back to face Bisma.
‘Do you haveanyidea how this could have happened?’ Bisma asked. ‘Something you ate? Touched?’
Luna shook her head. ‘I don’t know. I was at home all day. I didn’t leave the Forest.’
Bisma didn’t understand. Something was getting into their home, poisoning them right under their noses—underherwatch—but what?
And by whom?
‘Can we go home?’ Luna asked, sniffling. She brushed her messy hair aside.
‘Of course.’ Bisma helped her stand, but as Luna swayed, she had her sit down again. ‘Why don’t you drink some water first?’
Bisma saw the tray of food Xander had brought earlier; there was a pitcher of water and glasses on it. She poured Luna a glass, then handed it to her.
Xander watched from a corner of the greenhouse, agitated, running a hand through his hair; she could see he did not approach because he did not wish to intrude.
‘Just a second,’ Bisma told Luna. She went toward Xander, and he immediately went to meet her.
‘Anything I can do?’ he asked. He was bouncing on his feet, restless. ‘I can ask my mother for help, as well. She wouldn’t mind.’
‘It’s alright,’ Bisma replied. Eleanora would clearly do anything for her beloved son, but Bisma didn’t want her help. She didn’t quite know if she trusted Eleanora, and besides, even asking for Xander’s help was already too much. ‘I’ll draw up strengthening potions and give her something for the pain.’
She shuffled on her feet, feeling awkward and unsure. She wished to go back to the mindless bliss of a few minutes ago, Xander’s hand on her waist.
‘If there’s anything I can do, please let me know,’ Xander said, his eyes kind.
She nodded. ‘I’ll send over payment soon; it’ll just take me a while to arrange it.’
Anger flared on Xander’s face. ‘You can’t be serious,’ he said, making a sound of disbelief.
Bisma was taken aback; it was the first time he’d been truly upset with her. ‘I—I’m sorry.’
Xander exhaled, his face immediately melting. ‘No, I’m sorry for snapping,’ he said, his voice gentle. ‘I … I’m just—sorry.’
Bisma’s composure shook. ‘If there’s anyone who’s sorry, it’s me,’ she whispered. ‘I don’t know how I could have let this happen.’
‘No, Bis, it’s not your fault.’ Xander brushed his thumb across her cheek, and she was unsettled to find it wet; she didn’t even know a tear had slipped out. She didn’t have the strength to push him away.
Instead, she shook her head. For once, she didn’t have anything to say.
