Glaring at Xander, I pursed my lips. “I wasn’t aware that I was the onefighting. I was just asking a question. If anything, you’re the one who is fighting with me. Just tell me what is in the cup and I’ll drink it.”
“Kydona have mercy on me,” Xander hissed through clenched teeth. He slammed the cup down on the nightstand. The contents sloshed as he pushed himself off the stool. He stood, muttering something about incorrigible females as he strode towards one of the two doors. Opening it, he barked, “Morwen, your presence is required in here.”
A response came in another language, one I hadn’t heard before. Xander paused, tapping his foot on the ground before responding in the same tongue.
He can speak more than one language?
I tucked this interesting piece of information away just as a tall, slender elf entered the room. She was easily the most stunning being I’d ever seen. Her sepia skin almost glowed in the sunlight, and a pair of small, bright green wings extended from her back that fluttered as she walked into the small space. Snow-white hair fell down to the floor, covering all but the high peak of her ears.
“Ah. How wonderful to see you have finally awoken. We were quite worried there for a few moments,” Morwen said. Her voice lilted over me, sounding like music to my ears. She had a tight accent that made all of her words sound clipped. White swirling tattoos ran from the tips of her fingers all the way down her dark arms, over her collarbone, and down her face.
She sat elegantly on the stool Xander had occupied only a few minutes earlier. Her dress was slim, the blue complimenting her wings perfectly as she sat primly beside me. “How can I be of assistance?”
Xander crossed his arms, glaring at me as he stood sentry by the door. “Mywiferefuses to drink the medicine until she knows what is in it.”
“I’m not trying to cause a problem,” I interjected, choosing to focus on the elf instead of the glowering male in the corner. “As I attempted to explain to my husband, I don’t want to drink something without knowing the contents.”
“Of course not,” Morwen replied, her voice soothing. “I would be happy to explain it to you.”
And she did. Once I was satisfied that I wasn’t, in fact, going to be poisoned, I sighed. “Thank you. I’ll drink it.”
Morwen smiled, patting my hand. “You are more than welcome, my dear. Anything for Xander’s wife.”
She stood, walking over to the door. With her hand on the doorknob, she turned. “Make sure she rests,” the elf commanded. “The magic tore through her and she can’t get up yet. It’s too dangerous.”
Xander nodded curtly, stepping towards me.
“I’ll do my best,” he replied. “But trying to tell her what to do is like attempting to herd wild cats.”
The medicine worked quickly. Too quickly, perhaps. My limbs felt heavy, my head fuzzy as remaining awake was becoming more difficult by the moment.
“Maybe if you were kinder,” I forced out the words as weariness pulled at me, “I’d be nicer… to you.”
He replied, but I didn’t hear his words as sleep pulled me under.
This time, I didn’t dream.
* * *
The next three days went by in a blur of medicine and dreamless sleep. Every time I woke up, Xander was beside me. He held my elbow and helped me walk to the privy whenever I needed it, taking care to give me privacy. He brought me broth and bread to eat, alongside the daily tonics prepared by Morwen.
I didn’t think he slept at all.
Why would he keep a vigil next to someone he hated?
* * *
“I need to get out of this cabin,” I argued, crossing my arms in front of my chest. “It’s been four days since I first woke up, and I am bored!”
Xander glared at me as we rehashed the same argument we had been having for the past hour. He was standing near the only window in the small cabin. In the sunlight, he looked… gruff. Stubble dusted his jaw, and his entire face seemed to rest in shadows. “Morwen said you would need at least a week to heal.”
I sighed, running my hands through my hair. “I don’t just want to sit here doing nothing!”
“You’re not doing nothing.”
I glared at him. “What would you call this?”
“Recovering.”