“And no healer can heal without touching, and touching you would have been deadly.”

I blinked. “Why?”

“Because the forces you called down continued to roil through you.”

“I remember the sensation of burning—was that in fact a reality?”

“Other than the entry and exit points of the lightning, your skin wasn’t actually burning. But you were so hot that touching you would have almost instantly melted her skin.”

“If I couldn’t be touched, how did I get here?”

“Via the wind. I heard your call to the storm and had her sweep me to your location. We brought you here once it was safe to do so.”

She used storms as a means of transport? That was interesting—and handy if it was a skill I could master. Though mastering anything right now was still some ways off, given my somewhat tenuous control over the wind.

“Shouldn’t the fact that I’m the daughter of a storm god have provided me at least some protection?”

“It did, because you’re alive to tell the tale when most others wouldn’t have even survived that initial blast. But eventually your insides would have boiled away because you’ve not the knowledge to dissipate the force you’d gathered. You’re here now because I was close enough to reach you and do that for you.”

“Well, thanks.”

“As I said, it would be rather inconvenient if you died just yet.” She lowered her legs and pushed upright. “Now that you’re awake and as sensible as you’re ever likely to get, I’d best be going. Just remember, don’t call on the lightning again until you’ve gone to Beinn Nibheis.”

“Is it safe to call the wind?”

“Yes, as you definitely need the practice. But do not, under any circumstances, reach for anything else. I don’t need to be skedaddling across the countryside siphoning heat to save your life. I do have other matters to attend to, you know.”

I was tempted to ask what matters, but her expression made me think better of it. There were obviously some things a mere pixie—even one with the blood of a god running through her veins—should not enquire about.

“I’ll inform your brother you’re awake. And don’t forget, the Eye is a weapon you must use in this fight, even if you’re scared of it.”

She marched out without waiting for a response. I stared after her. How the fuck had she known I was afraid to use the Eye? Was it simply a guess thanks to my lack of usage, or was there a deeper connection to between my Eye and theirs than what they’d said?

Knowing Beira, the latter was probably true.

The floorboards hummed with movement, the depth of the song telling me it was Lugh. He ducked into the room and stopped beside the bed, his hands shoved deep in his pockets. It made me suspect he was battling the urge to reach for me just in case I was still heat fragile.

“Good to see you finally awake,” he said. “I really thought I’d lost you for a while there.”