First, I heal his swollen eye, then the other cuts and bruises marring his face. I even heal his swollen nose from where I headbutted him. Within minutes, his face returns to its normal, handsome state.
Heishandsome. Objectively. Irritatingly.
Doesn’t mean I hate him any less.
With his face healed, I’m left with a dilemma.
To heal his leg, I need contact with his skin. Which means asking him to take off his pants. I reallydo notwant to do that.
Or I could keep touching his neck and channel my power through his entire body until I reach his leg. Messy. Draining. But possible.
I bite my lip. His gaze drops to my mouth, lingering a second too long.
That decides it.
I return my palms to his neck.
Power hums from my hands, flowing through his muscles, bones, tissue. Every battered, aching inch of him.
He better remember this next time he thinks about tying me up.
When my power hits his leg, I focus—soothing the inflammation, mending the damage. When I draw back, a quiet gasp escapes me. My limbs are heavy, my head light.
Zevayr studies me with narrowed eyes. “That drained you.”
Not a question.
He’s right. My reserves are low, and between the battle, travel, hunger, and now this, I’m running on fumes.
“Thank you,” he adds quietly.
I blink. Did he just—?
“Eat another piece of jerky. Then, sleep. I’ll take first watch.”
I’m already lying down on the far side of the blanket before he finishes the sentence.
It feels like I’ve just closed my eyes when he’s shaking me awake.
“Mayah,” he whispers. I ignore him. “Mayah.” Louder. “You’re shivering. Come sleep beside me.”
That gets my attention.
My eyes snap open, and I glare into the darkness.
“Absolutely … not.”
“Don’t be difficult.”
“I’m not getting … anywhere … near … you.”
“Your teeth are literally chattering. Do you want to freeze to death? Or did they skip basic survival training at your precious palace?”
“I—I don’t…” I try to argue, but my voice stutters with every word.
“Lightning strike me,” he swears under his breath.
Then, before I can blink, he scoops me up and drags me to his side of the blanket. His muscled arms wrap around me like a furnace, and he drapes his heavy cloak over us both. My frozen nose presses against his chest, and—Tides drown me—he’ssowarm.
