"It's so hot," Ren moaned, thrashing on the black furs of the King's bed. Her right leg was dead weight, paralyzed by the bite, so she dragged it awkwardly as she twisted her upper body. "Why is the sun in here? Turn off the sun."
Syris hovered over her, his hands hovering helplessly. He had faced rival clans. He had fought crocodiles. But a delirious, stripping woman? He was out of his depth.
"Ren, stop," Syris ordered, trying to pull the furs back up to cover her bare legs. He brushed his hand against her arm and recoiled. "She burns. Her skin is like a fever-stone."
"Noooo!" Ren argued, kicking the blankets off with her good leg. She hooked her thumbs into the waistband of her makeshift snake-skin skirt. "These clothes are choking me. They need to go!"
"No!" Syris grabbed her wrists, pinning them gently to the mattress. He looked over his shoulder, his eyes wide with panic. "Viper! Do not look!"
