“Leave,” I groaned. I could feel the rash on my chest grow hotter.
Rising from the chair, Krait stretched his forearms behind his head. The flash of tight muscles of his abdomen was torture in my current state.
How dare he look attractive while I lay here, feeling like a sack of piss and sweat?
I was angry with him about something, but my thoughts were too jumbled to catch up. I took inventory of my surroundings—pretty landscape paintings of the Hussa mountains in the North Corridor hung from the walls, and a gilded vanity with lots of baubles and gems atop it sat in the corner. I thanked the Sources that the maids had brought up a cot and I hadn’t soiled El’s bed.
My curls had plastered to my forehead, and I felt too dizzy to rise. I probablylookedas weak as I felt. And he had to go and look all…sleep-tousled and dreamy.
I definitely still had a fever.
It began to come back to me. I hated the King of the Sahlms. He’d intended to impregnate me and then discard me once he had his heir. He was an insufferable prick.
Yet I was too exhausted to discuss any of that.
“Sybilla, you are sick. There’s nothing to be—”
I cut him off. “Just let me clean up, okay? Go, please.” There was no fight left in me.
He shook his head again. “No,” he grunted as he drew closer. He pulled back the covers—his eyes never leaving mine—and I groaned. “You can’t even sit up. I’m taking you to the baths.”
I didn’t have time to argue with him before his arms were beneath me. My humiliation heightened as he drew me into his chest.
“You don’t have to—”
“Can you shut up?” he retorted.
I mumbled back, “Well, that’s more in character.”
“It’s just piss,” he noted as he headed for the door with me.
When I wrapped my arms around his neck to steady myself, he looked down at me with an expression that I couldn’t place at first.
Then it hit me.He was afraid.
I’d watched fear strike people thousands of times. But it was an odd reaction from a man I was convinced didn’thavefeelings.
Letting my head fall between his neck and shoulder, I let him carry me through the halls. For as long as I could remember, no one had ever held me like this. I’d never have let them—not even Em.
We passed someone in the hall who he quietly instructed, “Bring some fresh towels and clothes down to the baths. And let the kitchen know to prepare some broth.”
My cheeks were now an inferno. I didn’t look up. Only when Elsie replied did I know it was her. “Of course. Is she alright?”
“I’m fine,” I groaned into the crook of Krait’s neck, wanting this mortifying interaction to end. I felt Elsie’s hand brush my back before she carried on away from us. I didn’t need everyone in the realm knowing that I could barely lift my head and that I’d soiled the bed.
Krait carried me down the steps to where the scent of bath salts and soaps coated the air. I could feel him kick off his boots before stepping into the lukewarm water.
I asked, “Why are you being so nice to me?”
“Because I’d like you to stay healthy enough to keep fighting with me.”
“I can take you now,” I said, although it humored even me.
He let a throaty laugh escape him. “Is that so? I’d love to see you try.”
When I reeled back to look up at him, that hint of fear remained etched into his brow. He stepped down into the pool of water, soaking his clothing and my nightgown.
“Why are you afraid of me?”
