"Raith... you should've said something. You don't need to be sleeping on the floor."

"You need every comfort to get better in time for the Crucible. It's not far away."

"And you think I couldn't have been comfortable sharing a bed with you?"

"I'm a fire. I run hot. You'd sweat through your sheets all night."

"Maybe I’d like your warmth."

He's in the middle of reaching for a rag—to polish his sword, I assume—when he pauses a moment. He sets down the rag and approaches the bed to stand over me. I must not be eating fast enough, because he picks up one of the baskets and sets it on my lap.

I give him a sarcastic smile and pick up the bread, taking an oversized bite I immediately regret. I can barely find room for it in my mouth as I try to chew, both cheeks puffing out.

Raith actually smiles a little at that. "Better."

He hasn't shaved this morning, so dark stubble coats his strong jaw in a way that I think suits him. I find myself watching to reach up and run my fingertips down his cheek. Over the fullness of his lips. To touch him like he’s mine.

"Other than a stubborn reluctance to eat,” he says. “How are you feeling?"

"Better." It's mostly true, at least.

Through our tether, I feel a wave of relief from him, tinged with lingering worry. The connection between us is still tenuous, like a gossamer thread that could snap with too much pressure, but it grows slightly stronger with proximity. When he's close like this, I catch what feels like drifts of his emotions that come and go like scents on a soft breeze.

Fully formed words and thoughts seem highly uncommon. So far, I think they only leak through if he's thinking them with high amounts of emotion. Or, like the case when I sent thoughts his way, if he actually wants me to hear them.

"I spoke with your friends this morning. They'll be by again later. I told them to let you rest when they came last night."

"Good. You know... I've been missing for days now. People must be assuming I'm dead or worse."

"Most think Malakai's people finally caught up with you. Some say you were injured badly enough to be kept in isolation." His lips quirk slightly. "There's even a rumor you challenged Serena to a duel and she burnt you to ash."

"Well, that's dramatic," I say, reaching for a piece of fruit. Eating some has woken my appetite, and now I'm worried Raith hasn't brought me enough food after all.

His eyebrows crease. "I can get you more food."