The voices had woken him. Although woken was not the right word since he wasn’t truly awake. Roused—yes, better, there were voices that had roused him. Females. He tried to make out what they were saying. “I need to see him for myself.” Her voice was far away. Like it was being projected through water or even something more viscous. Like molasses or syryp. Who was the female that spoke? He knew that voice. Just as an image began to form in his mind he lost it. It wafted away like smoke and a light breeze.

Torrent felt warm. He was so tired. More tired than he’d ever felt before.

There was more chatter but it was too far away. He buried himself deeper in the covers. Breathed in her sweet scent and allowed himself to be drawn back into sleep. There was a scratching on the edge of his mind. Something his subconcious was trying to make him remember but he was too exhausted to even try and think what that something could be.

“Let me in.” More insistant.

“He needs his rest.” A mere whisper but closer this time.

“I won’t disturb him. I saw how he looked when he”—her voice broke—“saved me.” The nagging redoubled. The prickling sensation grew. It made his head hurt. It made his gut churn.

Candy.

If she was speaking to someone then she wasn’t in bed with him. Why wasn’t she in bed with him?

“The healers said that he needs his rest. Try to understand.” The voice was laced with concern, it held a soothing tone.

“Please.” His female. It was her. His Candy.

Torrent tried to call her name. He made a croaking sound and his hands gripped the covers.

“Oh no!” The female whispered. “You must go. You can come back later.”

No! He needed his female. Something bad had happened. Something terrible. He couldn’t remember what. Calling on all his strength he possessed, he tried to will his eyes to open, to make his body move. His legs jerked and there was a ripping noise.

“I’m not going anywhere. I need to be sure that he’s going to be okay.” Candy whispered. “Let me sit with him a while, at least until he calms down.”

“You’re aggravating him. Just look at him.” It was Sky.

“Candy!” Torrent roared her name as he finally managed to break from his deep sleep. He felt groggy. Every muscle ached. His chest burned with every breath and it hurt to turn his head.

It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the dim candle light.

“No. Let me go.” Sky was in the process of dragging Candy out of the room.

“Let her go.” His voice was a dry rasp, hardly recognizable as his own.

Sky turned her head. “My lord,” she all but whispered. “You should be sleeping. The healers gave you a draught.”