The Source (Creasan #1)

Chapter 12

 Thea stared unblinkingly at Carac as he slept.

The ogres had a room fashioned to human size—probably due to their dealings with the royal family—and that is where the group gathered. Carac's eyes were covered by a damp black cloth and his chest rose and fell sporadically. Peronell sat directly beside him, head bowed and hand clutching his love's. They'd been frozen like this all day and into the night.

Peronell and Thea were the only ones awake.

She clasped her hands together and prayed harder than she ever had. She could not be responsible for Carac's death. She simply couldn't.

She'd apologized profusely to Peronell, and he had accepted it reluctantly. Thea could see in his eyes that he blamed her, and she didn't fault him for it.

They'd been issued strict instructions not to remove the piece of fabric from Carac's eyes, even if he awoke. They wouldn't know for several days whether or not the fire would reignite within him. It was for his safety as well as their own.

When Peronell spoke—for the first time since her apology—it surprised Thea. "While everyone is asleep," he said, his voice gruff, "I want your honesty."

"Of course." She tried to offer a kind smile but he didn't raise his eyes from Carac's face.

"Do you think he will die?"

Thea didn't answer immediately. Several different answers ran through her head but she didn't know which one to say without crushing them both. Licking her lips, she offered, "The healers are doing everything they can."

"That's not what I asked." Now he did look up at her, and she felt her heart twinge at the dullness in his eyes. "Is he going to die?"

"Most mirka victims perish on sight." She rested her hand on the bed and looked down fondly at her friend. "The fact that he is still breathing is a good sign."

"Still not an answer."

Thea glanced up at him and felt the air drain out of her slowly. She was utterly helpless. She loathed the feeling.

Very softly, he reiterated what they all already knew. "No one has survived a mirka."

She didn't even hesitate as she said, "Carac will be the first."

He didn't look away from her or even blink. His hooded eyes remained resolutely on hers. "I asked for honesty."

Frustration—not at Peronell but at the situation—bubbled up inside her and she clutched at her braid, yanking it hard enough to hurt. "I don't know what you want from me, Peronell. I can't predict the future. I'm trying to reassure—"

"What I want from you is protection," he snapped back, "like you promised us when we joined your blasted cult."

"I have done all I can," she hissed, trying to maintain a low volume so as not to wake the others. "I have kept you safe for years and I am trying to save everyone in Creasan—"

"But you didn't keep Carac safe." Peronell's nostrils flared as he breathed hard. He needed someone to blame, someone to take out his aggression. Thea was the most obvious target.

Except Thea wasn't good at being a target.

"Ungrateful," she burst. "The lot of you. I am risking my life to try and save this entire kingdom, and you are blaming me because your beau couldn't keep his eyes shut! Like I told him to!"

"We are all risking our lives for the kingdom, Thea. Carac more than you." Peronell's knuckles turned white from how hard he clenched Carac's hand. "Do not, for one second, act as if you are the only one who is working towards the good of the kingdom."