“When will we know whether she’s safe?” Sunny asked. Her voice was thick, like she was speaking through a lump that had formed in her throat.

“If we make it through the night. Now you should eat something, both of you. You need to keep your strength up for whatever is to come.”

Sunny didn’t want to leave Seela’s side, but eventually Soraya managed to convince her to visit the kitchen for some sustenance. She made a point of catching her outside the room in the hallway as she returned with a tray of food and drinks. “What’s wrong?” the woman said, expression furrowing as if expecting bad news.

“Nothing,” Soraya said. “I just wanted to see how you’re doing with it all.”

“How I’m doing?” The woman failed to hold back a scornful laugh. “I’m not the one who’s suffering. Seela is.”

“That’s not true. When someone is ill, those who love them also suffer.”

“You know this from experience?”

Soraya looked down at her feet.

“Oh gods, I’m sorry. You’re talking about Shim. I’m so focused on Seela that I didn’t think about what you must be going through.”

Soraya met her eyes, feeling something strange pass between them. Almost supernatural. Like their shared suffering bonded them together in a way that no amount of joy could. Could suffering really bring people together more completely than happiness? “It’s fine. I am young, I know. And I haven’t suffered much in this lifetime. Not until now. But seeing Shim like that, a man who has always been strong, something of a mentor to me…it’s heartbreaking.”

“He’s still strong. You might not be able to see it, but somewhere deep inside he’s fighting. Just like Seela.”

Sunny reached out to grasp her hand, but Soraya pulled back. She wanted so badly to hold this woman’s hand, to feel the strength in her grip, the warmth. It was the first time her Ability had ever really felt like a curse. “I—I can’t. I’m sorry. But thank you.”

Sunny drew her hand back and said, “It’s alright. Did you know I met Seela when she hired me to be her security guard at The Naughty Minx?”

Soraya shook her head. “I didn’t.”

Sunny smiled broadly, as if basking in the memory. “The first time I ever saw her perform one of her acts, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was mesmerizing. I can see why the men of the village flock to our tavern just for a glimpse of her. But then one of the bastards tried to reach out and touch her.” She raised a stern eyebrow.

“What did you do?”