Page 76 of A Touch of Royalty
“They won’t be able to help,” Emryn raised a hand to her throat and felt the wetness there. “I can heal it, I just need a moment.”
“I’ll call the guard,” Cas said, watching her closely. “Once you put them away, and then we can-” he reached out, steadying her as she wobbled. “Emryn?”
“It-” She swallowed against the burning in the wound. “I think there was poison on the knife.”
“What can I do?” He looked desperate, sweeping her off her feet and nearly slipping in the congealing blood on the floor. “Emryn-”
“I’ll be alright.” She managed the words over a growing weakness. “I just have to burn it out.”
“Rest,” he said, laying her down on the bed. “I’ll find Asan, and-”
“I am here,” Asan said, stepping out of the mirror. “My alarms were set off, what happened?”
“She’s been poisoned.” Cas pointed a shaking hand at Emryn. “Asan, I don’t- I didn’t-”
“Don’t panic, Cas,” Asan said sternly. “We will mend this.”
Emryn watched Cas take a shaking breath. “Can I help?”
“I have to burn it out,” Emryn choked out the words. “I need an anchor.”
Cas crossed to the bed, reaching out and taking her hands. “Use me.”
Emryn nodded, wrapping a loop of her flame around Cas and diving down into the flame that lived in the well. Somewhere down here was her soul, but she wasn’t seeking him today.
She gathered her fire, condensing it into something hard and hot before she rose and looked at her systems. They were struggling, choking on the poison, and she held the flame to her veins and released it.
It hurt beyond pain, beyond anything she had ever felt, but she wanted to live. To see the future with Cas, to be a family with him.
The poison immolated, dying to the fire in her veins, and being swept out by the tides of her blood.
She would be ill, but that was better than the alternative.
Emryn struggledup out of her head, exhausted and nauseated, but alive. She looked up at Cas and smiled.
“I’m alright.”
He slumped, sighing brokenly. “Why didn’t you wake me, Emryn?”
“There was a knife to your throat,” she said, tears rising. “I just wanted you to be safe.”
“Hush.” He reached for her, cradling her against his chest. “Hush now, let’s rest.”
Emryn curled into his warmth, shaking cold. “I’m cold,” she whispered. “I’m going to be sick for three days, Cas. Please don’t worry. I’ll be ok.”
“Double the guard,” Cas demanded as Emryn faded. “I want them posted on every door, and bring the dogs. Brutus will guard the inside, but I want them on patrol outside as well.”
“I will see it done,” was the last thing that Emryn heard before the darkness claimed her.
When she woke again,it was to pitch darkness and soreness in every muscle. But she was awake, and that meant that the poison was finally gone from her system.
She shifted in the bed and Cas was immediately awake, leaning over her in the darkness of their room, peering down at her through the dimness.
“Emryn?”
“It’s gone,” she said, reaching a shaking hand to touch his face. “I’ll be weak for another two days, but I’ll be fine.”
“Are you hungry?”
