"UGH," Asher groaned as consciousness dragged him back to the waking world like a reluctant fish on a hook.
"Finally awake, sleeping beauty?" came a crisp voice from across the room.
He tilted his head to find Jenny seated at the small dining table, looking quite the picture in an elegant outdoor gown of cream-colored silk that seemed to shimmer in the morning light. A wide-brimmed sun hat with delicate lace trim sat perched on her head, casting artistic shadows across her face.
"Y-yeah," he managed to croak out, though he felt anything but fine. His whole body was burning up, and a bone-deep exhaustion made even breathing feel like work. Don't tell me I fell ill, he thought with growing alarm. Given his naturally weak constitution, he was more vulnerable to these things than most people. Maybe yesterday's healing session had something to do with it too.
