Page 65 of Between Smoke and Shadow

“My prince,” Joran says. He steps over Rune to get to me, and something about the movement awakens my magic again. It’s a hard pulse, an echo of the transfer’s pain.

“Get her into bed,” I say, batting at his outstretched hands. My breaths are ragged. “Call for a healer. A female servant too. She needs dry clothes.”

“Yes, my prince,” Joran says, making no motion to leave. Instead, he places the back of his hand against my forehead. “What happened?”

“Get her into bed,” I repeat. My voice is so weak, as if I might be using my last breaths for this command.

This simple command that Joranstilldoesn’t do.

“You’re burning up,” he says instead. “We need?—”

“Get her into my bed. Now.” I try to scream the command, but it comes out like a broken sentence. “That’s an order, guard.”

Joran makes an unpleasant grunt, like he’s tempted to disobey. I open my mouth to threaten him, with what I don’t know, when he finally lurches to his feet. He scoops Rune into his arms, without half the care I’d managed while fighting a blackout. Within seconds, he’s back, calling not for extra blankets but for as many medics as the Chapter Building can offer.

TWENTY-ONE

RUNE

I wake in a luxurious bed with a feathery blanket and multiple fluffy pillows. I’ve never felt this comfortable in my life. My body feels powerful. My joints don’t hurt. My head doesn’t ache. I feelwonderful, and that’s not a word I ever thought I’d use to describe myself.

I open my eyes, blinking up at a white ceiling. Despite the comfort hugging my body, I jolt into a panic. I am back in the Chapter Building, tucked into the bed of Harrick’s master suite, but I have no idea how I got here. I steady my breaths and try to remember, but memories don’t rush back to me like I expect. I have to search the corners of my mind, pulling them one agonizing piece at a time.

Alven and I snuck into the City of Mirrors.

A hunter saw us and attacked.

Alven left me.

The hunter—no, Sorace—caught me.

He—

My face is wet, and it takes me a second to realize I’m crying. He degraded, violated, hurt me. Hekilledme. At least, I was sure he did. That pain was unlike anything I’d ever suffered. But if Sorace didn’t kill me…

I sit up, surveying the room, only to startle when I notice Harrick at the foot of the bed. He’s slouched over in a dining room chair, his eyes closed, breaths even. I have no idea how long he’s been there—how long I’ve been asleep. I almost don’t want to wake him, but I have too many questions to let him sleep.

“Harrick,” I whisper.

His eyes snap open, and he’s instantly on his feet, striding for me. I’m not wearing a mask, but I don’t flinch from his gaze as he cups my face. His hands are warm and gentle, but purposeful too. He tilts my chin, leaning closer.

“You’re awake,” he says. He lets out a shaky breath, as if he thought I might not wake at all. “How do you feel?”

His fingers trail over my skin, drawing an unexpected shudder from my spine. I can’t help it. I’ve never felt so comfortable, so healthy in my life. Despite all the questions rattling through my mind, I’m tempted to kiss him.

“How did I get here?” I ask, resisting the urge. “I don’t—you saved my life. You did, didn’t you?”

“I carried you here,” he says. I notice he doesn’t address my other question, but I assume I’m right. “How are you feeling, Rune? Do you feel weak? Have a headache? Anything at all, I need to know.”

“I’m wonderful,” I say. I can’t keep the smile from my face. “I’ve never felt this good in my life. Truly.”

“Good,” he whispers. His lips tilt into a gentle smile, and I can almost feel physical relief rolling off his shoulders. “That’s so good.”

He kisses me then, as if it’s taken all his effort to wait this long. With his hands still cupped around my jaw, he leans into me, kissing with more desperation than the last few times. His tongue impatiently presses against my mouth, and as soon as mylips part, he’s devouring me. Kissing me until my head is dizzy and I realize I’ve forgotten to breathe.

I pull back, satisfied by the glossy haze in his eyes. He’s looking at me like I’m the most beautiful woman in the world, and for the moment, I let myself believe it.

“I don’t understand,” I say quietly. “Sorace…I thought he was going to kill me.”

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