of the bed, arms crossed over her stomach, as Barrett stretched out before her. Stripping him from the waist up, she’d examined almost every inch of him for any other unseen wounds needing tending. His chest rose and fell on deep breaths, the dark hair glistening with sweat as the muscles concaved down to his flat stomach. His head twitched back and forth as if assaulted by dreams. There would be more to come if the fever didn’t break soon and if they couldn’t keep infection from setting in.
Her throat ached from tamping down the swelling emotions. It had taken him throwing himself on the brink of death to realize her heart belonged with him, and now he was slipping from her fingers like sand. Taking her heart right along with him.
“Staring at him won’t help the recovery any sooner.” Kat turned as the madam wiped her flat hands on the edges of her black shawl. The kohl around her eyes had sunk into her crow’s feet. “Best take a rest like your sister.” She gestured to Ellie passed out in the corner, strips of linen covering her legs.
Kat shook her head, dislodging more hair from the pins barely holding it back. “A few more minutes until I know the valerian has eased his sleep.”
The woman shrugged a thick shoulder. “Suit yourself. Girls usually sleep till noon. Don’t have much to eat beyond plain porridge, but you’re welcome to it. Looks like you’ve all been through the wringer a few times.”
“You’ve been so kind. Thank you, Madame. You know, I don’t even know your name.”
“Madam will do.” Her gaze shifted to Barrett. For the first time all night, the hardness softened from their depths. “Don’t normally let girls in here, especially nice ones, as they often have a way of never leaving. This ain’t a good place for nice girls like you and your sister. I did it for him. And the memory he brings.”
“What do you mean?”
The softness fell from her eyes. “Get there right at noon or there’ll be none of the porridge left for you.”
Chapter 24
Fire burned down his throat, snaking down to smoke out his lungs. Trapped in a wooden box, he opened his mouth to scream and choked on the ashes smoldering his tongue. The heat shot out of his mouth to set the box ablaze.
In the far corner, the vapors receded to reveal a woman curled on her side. Kat.
He dragged her head to his heart, willing his breath to fuse to hers. But he was too late. He’d exposed her to this peril, and he’d failed to protect her as she perished among the flames, taking his soul with her. Tears spilled down his cheeks, dropping to her hands like ashes where they burned up her arms, across her chest, up her neck and face. His breath blew out, scattering the last bits of her into dust.
He clawed at the ashes, desperate to piece her back together. A wail, deep and primal, exploded out of his mouth to shake the fiery beams overhead. With one final burst of heat, they collapsed on top of him.
“Shh, shh, now.” A voice, soft and low, tugged him from the pyre. Cool fingers brushed his temples, tamping out the flames engulfing him. “You’re safe, Barrett. I’m here with you now.”
He grabbed at the hand to keep it from leaving him to perish. The muscles around his eyes twitched as he worked them to open. Just once, a glimpse of her to make sure she was real. They cracked open, and her face blurred before him. His free hand reached up to touch her cheek. So cool, so alive. The ashes shifted on his tongue. “Y-you’re all r-right. A-alive.”
She brought his hands to her warm lips, pressing a kiss to the fingers. “Yes, darling. We’re all right now.”
The kiss burned down his arm, igniting his head to flames once more. His eyes slipped closed. At least if he was to die, she was the last thing he would see.
* * *
Floating in darkness. The heated pain ebbed away with the cooling currents sweeping over him. Grayness circled above him. Pushing against the blackness drifting below, he surged to the surface. But instead of the anticipated face, he was greeted with dark-rimmed eyes set into a flabby face. A lantern flickered on the bedside table. No other light permeated the room due to the blackout sheets drawn tight against the window.
“Who are you?” His voice sounded rough as unsanded