Page 16 of Ash and Feather

Rieta’s hand rested upon Karys’s notes, fingertips drumming thoughtfully against the parchment. “Forgiving one’s self is a difficult thing to do, isn’t it?”

I felt her gaze slide toward me, but I ignored it as Karys stirred again, clearly unable to get truly comfortable against the hard desk.

I still had not made up my mind about leaving for the mortal realm, but I was done talking about it. For now, I focused on picking Karys up, gently cradling her against my chest and carrying her toward a more comfortable bed.

She felt feverishly warm, and a thin sheen of sweat coated her skin—a side effect of unsettled magic? Or of nightmares that were trying to push through?

“The balam potion should keep her at peace through the night, at least,” Rieta called to my retreating back.

The unspoken meaning was clear enough:Go do what you need to do and be back before she wakes up.

I pulled her more securely against me and trudged onward without another word to Rieta.

Karys seemed to get even warmer as I walked, as if the fire contained in her skin was rising up and trying to reach mine. Her eyes blinked open as we reached the stairs that led to my private chambers. She appeared disoriented for a moment, body squirming, hands fumbling for purchase among the folds of my shirt, until her gaze finally found mine. “Where are we going?”

“I’m carrying you to bed.”

Her hold on my shirt tightened. A grip of panic—likely at the thought of sleep and the nightmares waiting for her there.

“I’m not tired,” she protested, words slurring, eyelids fluttering and fighting against closing. “I’m wide awake.”

“Yes,” I said with a touch of amusement. “Clearly wide awake.”

She nodded and half-yawned, half-mumbled a response that was fully lost as she buried her face against my chest.

After a few more steps, her fingers relaxed, and she made no more protests. Even as I opened the heavy bedroom door, sending a rush of warmer, smoky, wood-scented air flowing over us, she still did not stir.

Concern gnawed at my insides as I wondered at the amount of the Healing God’s potion currently flowing through her veins. But I trusted Rieta—she’d nursed me back to health often enough—and I knew she wouldn’t have given Karys anything she didn’t feel was completely safe.

Karys had her own room, her own bed, but I much preferred her in mine. There were several reasons why, but tonight it was mainly because of the tower it was located in; the wards surrounding said tower were older and ran deeper than anywhere else in my territory.

I wanted to believe she would be safe here, even if I disappeared for awhile.

You once thought your family was safe in their guarded tower, too,came a faint voice in the back of my mind—the too-familiar voice of a monster that seemed to always be lingering at the edges of my thoughts here lately, waiting for an opportunity to creep in.

I gave my head a shake, tossing the monster as I’d done before. Then, as carefully as I could, trying not to wake her again, I settled Karys onto the bed and drew the covers up over her.

I remained at her side for several minutes afterward, watching to make certain the Healing God’s potion was truly doing its job.

I wanted to stay longer. To crawl into bed beside her and pull her close, let the feverish heat of her skin transfer to me, along with her nightmares, her pain, her fear—all of it. I would have carried it all for her if only there was some spell to make such a thing possible.

But our magic was capable of nothing like that.

There were other problems to see to this night, too, whether I liked it or not. And if she trulywasresting peacefully for the next few hours…

Holding in a sigh, I rose soundlessly and started toward the door.

Ramoth slipped through that door at the same moment, tail swishing and talons scratching softly along the wood floor.

“There you are,” I mumbled. “Finished stealing and hoarding your fill of baked goods, have you?”

He wiggled his shoulders and puffed out his chest—clearly proud of all he’d collected this evening—before trotting his way over to the bed and pausing next to it. His tail ceased its swishing as he took in the sight of Karys lying motionless on the bed. An uncertain purr rumbled in his throat as he cocked his head back toward me.

I nodded to the empty space near Karys’s feet, granting him permission—though the little shit likely would have ended up in the bed even if I hadn’t.

“Gently,” I warned. “Don’t disturb her.”

He gave his tail a haughty flick, but he obeyed, softening his steps before taking a flying leap and landing gently on the mattress. He burrowed under the covers, looking positively smug about how warm and comfortable he was.

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