"But he didn't." Ilianna rose suddenly from the bed. "And on that cheery note, I'm off to the canteen to grab a bite to eat. Don't do anything daft while I'm gone."
"Damn," I muttered, "there goes my idea of line dancing down the hall with all the other reapers."
She laughed, collected her purse, then headed out into the hall.
"That," I said, amusement teasing my lips, "was a very obvious exit. Your doing?"
"Yes." He sat down on the bed and caught my hand in his, entwining our fingers. Heat pressed into my skin, and warmed far more than it should have. "I'm sorry."
I frowned. "What for? It's not like you could have done anything to help me on the astral plane."
"No, but if I had not been so foolishly stubborn, I could have done something once your astral being had returned to flesh."
I stared at him, confused. "But what? It's not like you can heal me anymore."
"Ah, but that's not entirely the truth."
I closed my eyes for a moment. Though I wasn't really surprised that he hadn't been honest with me—even with something as simple as that—it still hurt. I thought we'd at least gotten past the lies—
"I did not entirely lie," he interrupted. "I currently cannot fully heal you. Not against major wounds or the infection the hounds caused."
"Then what—"
"I cannot heal because I no longer have the energy."
I blinked. "What?"
"I need to recharge," he said softly. "I have gone a long time without doing so, and it is beginning to show."