Page 80 of Heat of the Everflame

And his skin...

“It’shealing,” Alixe breathed.

I struggled to find words. The gash in his side had slimmed to a thin cut surrounded by a patch of shiny pink flesh. The black veins that once splintered like lightning had receded and faded to a muted grey.

Taran sat up and tore off the bandage at his shoulder, contorting himself to get a better look. It, too, had improved remarkably. Though the wound was still large, the dark discharge had dried, and the poisonous web of veins had scaled back by half.

“This is good, isn’t it? It’s getting better?” Taran’s face was bright, pleading for permission to give in to dormant hope.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I’ve never seen a salve work like this.”

Luther crouched beside me and took the bandage from my hand to examine it. Tingles rippled where his skin brushed against mine, his nearness pulling me from my shock.

“Can you make more?” he asked.

I nodded and pulled off my rucksack to rummage for my supplies, then set to work preparing a new batch.

“It’s not over yet,” I warned, swiping away the sweat on my forehead. “The poultice is drawing out the infection, but it could spread again.”

Taran gripped Luther by the shoulder as his grin spread from ear to ear. “She’s not pretending everything’s fine. That has to be a good sign.”

Luther didn’t answer, his focus consumed by my hands, engrossed in their every move. When I turned to clean off Taran’s chest, Luther picked up the bowl to inspect it. “The Crowns have searched for a cure to godstone for centuries. If this is it—”

“It’s not,” I said. “My mother’s notes said the toxin doesn’t always respond.” I balled some of the mixture in my hands to warm it and winked up at Taran. “Perhaps the Blessed Mother granted me a favor after all.”

“The heathen repents!” he shouted gleefully.

“We are trying to stay hidden, Taran,” Alixe scolded, but even she couldn’t keep from smiling.

As my palm pressed to his chest, Taran sucked in air and winced. “Is it supposed to burn this time?”

“Burn?” I looked down at my hands. The liquid along the edges of the mixture had begun to bubble, and a light trail of steam rose from the top.

I frowned. “The water must have overheated in the canteen.” I set that portion down to cool and reached for a fresh handful, taking it straight to Taran’s chest.

Though he didn’t pull away this time, his head cocked as he studied me. “Areyoufeeling alright?”

Luther’s attention finally tore from the poultice. His eyes darted between me and Taran.

“I feel fine,” I said. “Why do you ask?”

Taran wrapped his hand around my forearm. After a moment, he let go and shook out his palm. “It wasn’t that slop that was burning. It’s you.”

Luther’s back went rod straight. He reached for my arm. His face immediately twisted into a deep frown, then his palm moved to the side of my neck.

I leaned into it with a soft sigh. His skin was deliciously cold, a refreshing reprieve from the claustrophobic heat I’d been languishing in all day.

“You’re burning up,” he said gruffly.

“First you scold me for being too cold, now I’m too warm?” I joked.

He didn’t laugh. None of them did.

Luther turned me to face him and cupped my face in his palms. He scowled at my skin like it had personally wronged him. “When did this start?”

“I’m fine. Just a bit overheated. Maybe I picked up a cold from my dip in the sea last night.” I laughed awkwardly, shrinking a bit at his scrutiny. “I didn’t know Descended could get fevers.”

“We don’t,” Alixe answered. “Unless...” She stopped herself, eying Luther.

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