She stared at him, waiting for an answer.
Malion lifted his head slowly, eyes darkened now, pupils blown wide in a way that made her stomach clench. He didn't deny it. Didn't soften it.
"Yes," he said. "Someone poisoned it."
The words landed like a stone dropped into water.....no splash, just a deep, spreading dread.
Before she could speak again, his body betrayed him.
He lurched forward suddenly, one hand clamping over his mouth as a violent retch tore through him. Aurelia barely had time to grab the edge of the tray before he bent over it, coughing hard....then vomiting.
Not red.
The liquid that spilled from him was thick and black, smoking faintly where it hit the dirt floor of the tent, as if it resented the world it had been forced into. The smell was sharp, metallic, wrong.
Aurelia recoiled a step despite herself, horror flooding her veins.
"Oh gods....Malion...."
He lifted one hand sharply.
"Don't," he said hoarsely. "Say nothing."
