Page 112 of The Blade in the Ashes
Because there, emerging from the crevices between the densely packed trees, were four of the Undone slinking towards us, hunger in their eyes and blood lining their mouths.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Camilla
Elaina was remarkably beautiful. It was such a simple kind of beauty, but it was entirely unmatched. I’d never seen anyone shine so effervescently as she did.
It was her soul.
It practically sparkled through her eyes and smile. Such pure goodness radiated out of her that I couldn't look away. I was supposed to be working. I wassupposedto be checking bandages, but she was standing across the room, dimples in both of her cheeks as she smiled and I just couldn’t think about anything else.
Many of the wounded had started to recover, thankfully, which meant there were fewer and fewer bandages that needed my attention. In fact, life was starting to find a rhythm here. Even Elaina had started giving herself the freedom to relax.
She was sleeping more, and the extra rest had brought a new color to her skin and fullness to her hair. Now that she wasn’t constantly worried she would have to deliver the news that someone’s loved one was going to die, she smiled more.
And Gods, I loved her smile.
It was very distracting.
“How’s it going over here?” Elaina asked, stopping in front of where I was bent over Mrs. Manyki.
I cleared my throat, securing the bandage on Mrs. Manyki’s calf. The old woman grinned at me wryly as if she knew exactly how distracted I’d been and exactly who had caused that distraction. “Everything looks like it’s healing perfectly, Mrs. Manyki.”
Rising, I brushed my hands off against my thighs, trying not to shiver when Elaina tucked her arm through mine and began leading me towards the kitchen.
“Can I interest you in some lunch?” She asked, running her fingertips over my forearm. I fought against the shiver that raced up my spine from her touch alone. “It’s possible the weather is finally warm enough for us to sit outside after that awful storm.”
Yes.I would most definitely have lunch with her.
“Lunch sounds great.”
She glanced up at me with somewhat of a bashful smile and I swear my stomach did a full somersault. A single smile was enough to bring me to my knees.
“Will others be joining us?” I asked.
I sincerely hoped the answer to that question was no. Maybe it was selfish, but I wanted her attention reserved for myself. I didn’t want to share her with the world, and I didn’t want to worry that the world would turn her against me.
“Would you be upset if I said no?”
“Of course not!” The words came out in such a jumbled mess that I felt myself blushing. “I only mean that—”
I stumbled.
Blinding pain shot through my skull, so intensely that my knees buckled and the floor came racing towards me. Elaina wrapped an arm around my waist quickly, holding me steady as all other thoughts fell away. A tinglingenergy shot out of my gut, traveling through my body until stars burst in my vision.
“Camilla!” Elaina’s hand rose to cup my cheek.
She faded away.Everythingfaded away as my vision went out completely.
Absently, I was aware of screaming behind me, cries of bugs crawling over skin and bats flying in the air, but I couldn’t pay any mind to it when that unexplainable pain struck through me once more.
I grasped my head, fingers ripping through my hair as I slammed my eyes shut.
It was unimaginable, worse than any torture my grandmother, the Dragon, or Pasnia had subjected me to. Worse than those days spent on the brink of death huddled on the dirty floor of the palace dungeon. Worse than I could ever attempt to explain to another soul.
Death had returned for me. I was certain of it.
“Camilla, look at me!”
