She set it on the table and turned back towards me, but before she could get another word out, the door opened and in walked Roan. He came to an abrupt halt when he saw me and then he jerked as someone behind him slammed straight into his back.
"Roan, what is—" Sorrell's irritated voice cut off as Roan stepped to the side and he realized the reason for Roan's sudden stop. "Cressida..." My full name sounded so strange to my ears, but sweet at the same time. It didn't matter that he was kind of an asshole. I was just so happy to be home that I didn't even think; I flung back the covers and dove out of the bed and straight into his arms.
Nellie squeaked as she, too, was thrown from the bed and onto the floor. Sorrell caught me readily enough and I looked down. "Sorry," I said quickly.
With an exasperated look, Nellie got up from the floor and rubbed her rear. "Well, good to know you're still the same as ever after being captured and almost killed," she said sardonically.
"Did you really think it would change me?" I shot back.
Her lips parted, but once again, before she could give out a reply, she was interrupted. "Nellie, could you give Cress and us a few minutes alone?" Roan asked.
Her lips pressed together and I could tell she wanted to argue. Instead of doing so, however, she sighed and nodded. Her hand gently touched my arm as she headed out the door. "I missed you, Cress," she said quietly. "I'm glad you're back. There's so much I have to tell you."
I reached out and snagged her fingers with my own before she could let go. "And I want to hear it all," I replied. "Soon.” Nellie looked up at me, her pale face tilting up as she smiled, and then she pulled her hand away and was gone, letting the door close behind her on the way out.
Sorrell released me and let my legs slide to the floor. Yet, when I moved to pull back, his arms encircled me, halting the movement. "Do you know how dangerous that stunt you pulled was?" he demanded, shaking me slightly.
My head jerked back as I looked up into cool, ice blue eyes full of such fury and something else … that wasn't. No. It couldn't be. "Were you … afraid for me?" I asked cautiously.
"Was I—" Sorrell's hands disappeared from my sides as he yanked himself away, turning as he stomped several paces away before turning back just as quickly and pointing a finger my way. "You are a menace!" he accused.
I blinked. "Yes? And?" Did he think I would be shocked by that little proclamation? The nuns had called me that more than once or twice. Coming from him, I wasn't surprised.
Sorrell's face registered an expression of shock and then more fury and then...
"Are you turning purple?" I asked before looking at Roan. "Roan, I think he's turning purple. Is he breathing? Make sure he's breathing."
"I'm breathing just fine!" Sorrell snapped, dropping his arm. "You, on the other hand, are lucky to be breathing at all! You could have died."
I knew that and perhaps it said something about me as a person that upon waking that wasn't my first concern. "Where's Orion?" I asked.
Sorrell frowned. "He's resting in his chambers," he said.
"What happened to the poison?" I took a step towards him. "Is it all out? Is he okay? Is he recovering? Can I see him?" With every question I asked, I took another step in his direction until I was right before him.
Roan huffed out a breath. "He's out of the initial danger," he answered, drawing my attention. "But he is severely depleted of his magic reserves. Groffet made a potion that will keep the poison at bay, but we need to get his magic back at full strength—Gods, we all do." At that last statement, he put a hand to his neck and cracked it. "It's been a few days since we rescued you from the Amnestia capital. There's more at play here and we don't know how much time we have left before we can expect another onslaught. Whatever happened at the King's castle—"
"Tyr," I said suddenly, cutting him off. "Tyr is planning something horrible. We have to stop him."
Sorrell and Roan exchanged a look. "What do you know, Cressida?" Sorrell demanded.
"Tyr is using King Felix for his own gain. He plans to have the