I eased myself onto the seat and cleared the large lump in my throat, or I tried to. The damned thing was so huge that I ended up choking on my own spittle. I broke into a coughing fit that forced me to bend over and try to heave the persistent shivers out of me.

  “Take this.”

  A glass of water came into my view. I managed to lift my eyes and beheld Dadan holding out the cup. His angelic face so close to mind and his obvious care in the way he offered me the glass made me freeze, even against the wishes of my coughing.

  Why’d he have to look so handsome? Even when he was bedridden and slightly mauled by a short sword?

  “Do you not want it?”

  His question rattled me out of my reverie and I furiously shook my head. “N-no,” I managed to hoarsely whisper as I took the glass. “Thank you.” A stifled cough escaped me and I took that opportunity to shove the glass into my mouth.

  Dadan continued to stare at me, so much so that I became distracted and tipped too much water into my mouth. Now I was choking on my salvation and little droplets dribbled down my chin. I looked for something to wipe off the water and my eyes fell on the bed covers.

  He drew the sheets away and nodded at my forehead. “You might use the scarf on your head to clean yourself.”

  I froze. The bandanna that covered my crescent-shaped, um, thingy. I couldn’t recall him ever seeing me sport such a token of identity but I didn’t want to take any chances.

  I set the glass in my lap and clasped it in both shaking hands. “I’m fine. The water is, um, is nice. It’s cleaning some of my clothes.”

  He leaned back against the headboard and inspected my person. “You were the woman in the Tianfeld, were you not?”

  That shame again. I turned my face away and my heart fell. “Yeah. It’s because of me that you were hurt.”

  “Did you not look different?”

  There was a strange and unexpected hope in his voice. I whipped my head up and found him searching my face. He raised his dancing firelight to me again and narrowed his eyes. “Was your hair not different?”

  I tightened my grip on the glass and reluctantly shook my head. “N-no. Maybe it was the mist playing tricks on you.”

  He stared at me a moment longer before the look of hope died. My heart fell as I understood that my words had been what killed it. “I see. That must be the reason.”

  I leaned in close. “What do you think you saw?”

  Dadan turned his face away and his familiar stoic expression returned. He set his fireball hand in his lap again and the flame dwindled a little, allowing the shadows to stretch toward us. “I was mistaken.”

  Damn. So close to learning if he thought it had been me or someone else.

  Who else would it be? my internal voice wondered.

  I rolled my eyes up and glared at the ceiling. What about Shian? She’s still up there and probably still trying to eliminate the competition to woo him.

  “Are you feeling well?”

  I stiffened before I rolled my eyes back down to my companion. He had turned his head just far enough to stare at me with one bright red eye.

  I fidgeted in my seat before I slapped a smile on my face. “S-sorry about that. I, um, tend to let my mind wander.” I lifted the glass and beheld that it was empty. Most of the water was drying on my person. “Did you want me to get you any more water?”

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “I will be fine.”

  He didn’t look fine. His cheeks had lost some of their luster and the hand atop the sheets trembled. Instinct disregarded propriety and I set my hand over his to comfort him. He stiffened and one bright eye popped open where it settled on me.

  I blushed and jerked my hand away. “Sorry.”

  His hand no longer trembled but it did twitch, and his sharp eye continued to stare at me. “There is no need to apologize. You were merely trying to soothe me.”

  A smile slipped onto my lips as I thought back to our interactions in the heaven realm. “I thought you were all pomp and circumstance when it came to that stuff.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. That’s when I knew I’d messed up. “What would you know about me?”

  The color drained from my face and my rain cells sparked to life. “I, um, I heard about you. I mean, doesn’t everyone know about Lord Eastwei and his stoic attitude?”

  The corners of Dadan’s lips twitched down and he dropped his eyes to his bandaged arm. “I did believe that once. A naive idea that immortality would bring immortal honor.”

  My heart fell at the sorrow-filled words. There was something touchingly bitter about the last part. I slapped a smile on his face and leaned in. “But I know you, and you’re not forgotten around here.”

  He cast his curious eyes back to me and I tried not to shrink beneath that imposing gaze. “And have you traveled so greatly that you would be an authority on my fame?”

  I grasped my hands together in my lap and shrugged. “I’ve gone a few places.”

  Dadan adjusted his position on the pillows and looked me straight in the eyes. “Such as where?”

  I fidgeted beneath his imposing stare and handsome face. “Um, well, I’ve been to the heaven realm, and here.” And with you to the turtles.

  He looked me up and down. “When were you at the heaven realm?”

  “I, um, that is, I was there-”

  The door behind me creaked open. I couldn’t have been any happier for the intrusion as I whipped my head around. Prince Yushir peeked his head inside and smiled at us. “Ah! I see I was not mistaken in seeing a light beneath the door. You both are both finally awake.” He slipped into the room and closed the door behind him. A teasing smile lay on his lips as he sauntered to the bed. “I had checked on you both several hours ago but found you were both, ahem, sleeping.” His gaze took a noticeable turn to the edge of the bed upon which I’d awoken.

  I blushed beneath his gentle accusation and I noticed his lips curled up just slightly higher.

  Dadan narrowed his eyes slightly at his friend. “Did you need something?”

  “Merely to see how well you have improved,” Yushir commented as he looked over his acquaintance. “Your pallor has improved but is not as far along as one would hope.” He clapped his hand onto the top of the chair, making me jump. “Shall I leave you alone for a few more hours with your lovely nurse and hope I will see more improvement?”

  “I will be well in a few hours,” Dadan insisted.

  “Then I shall take this lovely woman back to her own room,” Yushir proposed as he dipped his hand down and grasped one of mine. He practically yanked me to my feet and, with a Cheshire smile on his lips, bowed his head to Dadan. “I will see you again in a few hours.”

  Yushir pulled me close and turned us toward the door. I scurried along beside him and we neared the entrance. Dadan’s stiff voice made us pause just as Yushir reached for the door handle.

  “Fei.”

  I twisted my head around and saw that Dadan stared ahead at the wall opposite his bed.

  “You may come later if you so desire.”

  I blinked at him before I stabbed a finger at myself. “Me?”

  The corners of Dadan’s lips twitched. “I see no one else in this room I desre to see later.”

  Yushir’s mouth dropped open. “No one else? A fine thing to say to one of your oldest friends!”

  Dadan’s twinkling eyes gave up the game. He closed them to hide his amusement and kept his tone soft and even. “I must rest. Please remember to close the door behind you.”

  The prince glared at his former friend a moment longer before he yanked open the door. He scooted me out and stepped into the hall behind me. Yushir leaned in with his hand wrapped around the handle and narrowed his eyes at the ‘resting’ lord. “I will see you later, whether you desire me or not!”