The silence inside the cave was thick, broken only by the shallow rasp of Kael's breathing. Nerine knelt beside him, fingers trembling as they brushed his forehead. His skin was burning up, unnaturally hot, like embers searing beneath his flesh.
Her heart drummed painfully. "What am I supposed to do with you?" she whispered, voice shaky. "You save me, then collapse like this…you reckless vampire demon man."
His identity was confusing her.
The heat rolling off him was unbearable. Nerine bit her lip and glanced toward the cave's mouth. She couldn't just sit here. He needed something to cool him down. Water.
She rose, casting one more look at Kael sprawled against the cold stone, then hurried out into the forest. The night air was damp, a ghostly mist curling low across the ground. Nerine's bare feet carried her quickly over roots and stones until she reached the lake glimmering silver beneath the evening light.
