25. Kiera
TWENTY-FIVE
KIERA
I was too warm and comfortable to wake up, like my bed was giving me a hug. But I could hear Gran shuffling about my room and knew it was only a matter of time before she whipped open my curtains and bullied me out of bed to go on some foraging expedition with her. I screwed my eyes shut, ready for the invasion of light, but it never came. I waited until I couldn’t stand the anticipation anymore.
“I don’t wanna get up yet Gran, we can go later.” I mumbled, surprised how thick with sleep my voice sounded.
“Oh, thank the merciful Goddess! Shhh, it’s okay.”
The voice was soft and whispered but didn’t sound much like Gran.
I tried to open my eyes, but it was hard. Then my bed hugged me tighter and kissed my temple.
I didn’t think beds could do that .
There was a soft chuckle and the bed kind of shook.
“Kiera?” the bed asked. What magic was Gran messing with?
“Gran?” I croaked.
“No.”
I frowned. If not Gran, then—“Bed?”
The bed laughed again, brushing my cheek with its fingers.
“Why are you laughing?” I asked.
“Because you’re adorable. But Kiera, I need you to open your eyes for me. I need to know you’re okay.”
This bed was too demanding. I just wanted to sleep.
The laughter was louder this time. “Why are you laughing at me? You’re a bed.” I grumbled. I was going to have words with Gran about this.
“Kiera, It’s me, Jaxus, not your bed,” the amused voice replied.
I pried one eye open, scowling. Sure enough, Jaxus was wrapped around me, holding me to him. He was the source of the warmth. But why? I inhaled deeply, trying to get some oxygen to wake up my brain and make sense of this. Jaxus’ scent filled my nose and instead of clear thoughts, I made a sound of pure need. What in the?
Jaxus was trembling, and I turned my face slightly and found him fighting a laugh. “What in all the kingdoms is so funny?” My voice still croaked from sleep.
“I’m sorry, but your walls are down for the first time, probably because you were actually relaxed for once. I can hear everything that’s going through that brilliant mind of yours.”
I took a minute to fully process what he was saying. My thoughts? How was he hearing them?
“You aren’t shielding them because you’re weakened.”
“Weakened?” I asked, finally blinking away the sleep enough to take in my surroundings.
I was in the healer’s wing. In a bed! Had I fallen asleep working? I tried to sit up with a start, but my body was slow to respond, and I barely got my head off the pillow.
“Shhh, it’s alright. You’re going to be okay.” Jaxus soothed, wrapping himself further around me as if to hold me in place.
I weakly pushed at his chest. “What’s going on?”
“You came into contact with Dragon’s Bane at the festival and had a pretty severe case of poisoning,” he said softly.
I started again.
“Kiera, stop trying to get up, you’ve been very sick and you’ll be in bed for a few days.”
“I don’t understand.”
“We think you touched it while you were shopping for ingredients.”
“But I don’t have a reaction to Dragon’s Bane. I’ve healed dozens of dragons poisoned with it over the years.”
“Yes, but you are a ryder now. You are bonded to me. Ryders are as vulnerable to Dragon’s Bane as their flyers.”
I closed my eyes. Goddess, no.
“I’m sorry.”
I opened my eyes again at the defeat in his voice. “It’s not your fault.”
I wished I could blame him but it was no one’s fault, other than the fae who brought Dragon’s Bane into the festival.
“We are looking into it,” Jaxus informed me, letting me know I was still allowing my thoughts to escape my head to his.
This was a nightmare. I knew how long a severe poisoning was going to set me back. I’d never catch up on my work. I had to get up.
“I’m going to tell you right now that you are not leaving this bed. You are not in any state to heal others while you need healing yourself. Do you want to make this worse and be here longer?”
I sighed. “No.” I felt like a youngling being scolded at school .
“So you’ll agree to be a good patient and do as the healers say?”
I rolled my eyes. “I guess.”
“Good,” he sighed with a measure of relief and gave me a squeeze.
“There’s something else I don’t understand.” I side-eyed him.
“What is it?”
“Why are you in bed with me?”
Jaxus huffed out a laugh and peeled his arms off, stretching out. I regretted the loss of his warmth instantly.
“I sat in that chair for hours holding your hand because your father said that being in contact with your flyer would help you heal faster. Then, I got tired and decided that full-body contact would be even better.”
My eyes went wide and I tried to glance under the covers. Jaxus put his hand on them, keeping them down. “Don’t worry. We are both clothed.”
Thank the Goddess for that! I’d hate to be sleeping and miss a night skin-to-skin with that hard, beautiful body.
“Thoughts are still coming in loud and clear. Just thought you should know.” He winced, then smirked, adding, “And thank you for that.”
I pulled the covers over my face and groaned. It was a huge effort. My whole body was weak and ached down to the roots of my hair. Jaxus peeled them back and placed a kiss on my forehead, then rose from the bed and tucked me back into the cocoon of covers to keep in his warmth.
“I’m going to let your father know you’re awake.”
I nodded and closed my eyes. It was still so warm and cozy, but I preferred it when my bed hugged me.