ence

rine's hysterical screams behind me. Caelus, though s

Fahrenheit, his heart rate was terrifyingly fast, his breathing shallow. He was already showing signs of an impending seizure. It was

s and pressed on the back of his neck.

unced. "It's acute encephalitis, ca

ffled. "Encephalitis? Infection?" The

nse! I have been a healer for thirty years and have never heard of such a d

dicine. "Call it whatever you want. But he needs his temperature brought down r

elus and Catharine's

of high-proof liquor, several new candles, clean line

wed, then wiped it with the liquor-a crude but necessary form of steri

aelus demanded, his voi

se blood and lower the pressure in his skull," I

t blasphemed. "Are you insane? The young master's dragon soul is alre

self-righteousness. "My Lord, I implore you,

ees at Caelus's feet. "Caelus, please, don't let h

st respected healer in his domain. On the ot

eded to up

o look at him. "Since you're so certain I

blinked.

, bow to me, admit your skills are inferior to mine, and from this day forw

gon Healer to bow to a Dragonless woman and call her "Teac

u fail, or if Aidan's condition worsens in any way, I will demand the Lord execut

aid without

on the line, pushed the tension

the best outcome. If I succeeded, his son lived. If I failed, he had t

e the intimidating dagger. Instead, I reached up and p

nce's only jewelry, but to me, they

, took a deep breath, and prep

rward again. "No! Don't to

woman. If there are any accidents because of her interferenc

Catharine's arm and pulled her as

ed that he would treat her so

f Aidan's head, and with a steady hand, I pushed it in. Success or failure rested on this single act