Page 102 of Stars in Umbra
Rina glanced at the man lying in the bed.
His hand, most times so steady and sinewed, lay unmoving at his side, marred by fresh bruises and what appeared like faint burns.
‘In a manner of speaking,’ she replied, her utterance commanding.
With a reluctant nod, the medic stepped aside.
She crossed the room, careful, her pace slowing as she reached the edge of his bed.
She hesitated only a second before lifting his hand into hers, her fingers encircling his.
His skin was heated, his glyphs shifted with sluggish slowness over his pale skin.
Her heart jolted, soul keening, until, without warning, he moved.
His lean digits twitched and clamped around her own with unrelenting strength.
A groan tore from his throat, hoarse and guttural, as though dragged from some place far beneath waking consciousness.
His head rolled toward her.
‘Mo?’ she whispered.
His lashes fluttered. The seconds stretched, then his eyes opened, heavy-lidded and unfocused at first, then recognition flickered.
A hazy gleam of gold and storm-gray locked onto hers.
A weak smile played across his cracked lips.
‘Mi kaya?’ he rasped, the words just audible.
Rina’s heart jolted, then clenched.
She exhaled, holding his hand tighter.
‘You’re safe,’ she murmured, swallowing down the knot in her throat. ‘You’re on Dunia, in New Rambasa, at the General Hospital. Don’t try to move.’
He frowned, his mouth parting. ‘Thirsty,’ he croaked.
He tried to rise. She reached out, bracing a hand against his shoulder to press him back with a gentle, firm push of her palm.
‘Nada. Rest honey.’
‘Is he thirsty?’ one of the doctors called out. ‘He’s not ready for water, but I’ll get him ice to suck on.’
Moments later, Rina accepted the cup of ice with a hushed thanks and scooped out a small chip with a spoon.
She brought it to his mouth and eased it between his lips.
‘Here,’ she murmured. ‘Just this for now.’
He sucked on the frozen cube, never taking his eyes off her.
His gaze roamed her face, as if confirming she wasn’t a dream or hallucination.
She noted the disbelief, the ache beneath the fatigue.
She didn’t know what to say.
