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Sion entered the cave and came back out almost immediately. “It's all clear.”

“Told you,” Selenia said under her breath. Sion just shook his head. That was the Selenia he remembered. Quick to argue, quick to anger, and even quicker to forgive. He ignored her comment and began to unpack the saddle bags. Selenia started to help, carrying a small trunk over to the cave.

As if in slow motion, he watched Selenia drop the trunk, close her eyes and then fall into the desert sand.

“Selenia!” he yelled, dropping the supplies he was carrying and rushing over to her. He felt her face, and noticed she was incredibly clammy and even paler than usual. He bent down and scooped her up, careful to support her head. Once he was inside the cave, he laid her down carefully on the floor.

“Selenia, wake up!” Sion patted her cheeks gently, and then ran back to the horses to grab the water pouches. He hurried back to the cave, and felt her forehead again. She was sweating profusely and needed to cool down.

Gods, forgive me for this, he thought, as he undid the buttons at her collar. He continued unbuttoning until her silk shirt was completely open. He averted his eyes, trying hard not to notice the skimpy bralette she wore. He said a silent prayer, hoping that Grayden would never find out that he saw his sister in her undergarments.

He removed her shirt completely and soaked it in water from one of the water skins, and then began wiping her face gently with the damp shirt. “Selenia, come on. Wake up,” he whispered gently. “Please!” He untied her sunhat and removed it. Her hair was silky smooth under his fingers, so much different than Cressida's coarse hair.

Finally, one of her eyelids began to flutter. “Thank the Fates!” he exclaimed, relief flooding through him.

“What happened?” Selenia asked, her voice a dry whisper as she regained consciousness.

“You got overheated and fainted. You can't travel in those clothes, at least not through the desert.”

She looked down, realizing she was exposed. Her hands went to cover herself, but Sion shook his head. “No time to be modest, Selenia. You need to cool down fast and drink. Now.”

He pressed one of the water pouches to her lips and she drank greedily. After a few sips, he took it away from her.

“More,” she said, her lips patched and cracked.

“I'm sorry, Selenia. You need to rehydrate slowly.”

She nodded weakly and attempted to sit up, struggling.

“Stay here, I'll go get the sleeping rolls.”

“Where am I going to go?” she teased, weakly, but with a slight smile.

Sion's breathing finally returned to normal. Grayden would have killed him if something happened to her. Fates, he would kill himself. Selenia was sweet and innocent, and needed to live a full life.

He grabbed the trunk she dropped, as well as the sleeping rolls. He brought them back to the cave, setting the trunk in the corner and unrolling the sleeping rolls. Once he was satisfied with their arrangement, he walked over to Selenia, and picked her up in his arms.

“Sion, I can walk!” she protested, but rested her head on his shoulder.

“I'm not going to take any chances with you,” he said, and laid her down carefully on the bed roll. He grabbed the water skin and pressed it to her lips again, allowing her a few sips.

“How are you feeling?”

“I have a pretty bad headache, and my shoulder hurts from where I fell.”

Sion frowned. “Let me look at your shoulder. It might need to be wrapped.”

Selenia obeyed, and turned her back so Sion could examine her. He tried to be gentle, but she winced sharply as he palpated her shoulder. His fingers brushed against her bare skin, and he felt a jolt of electricity run through him. He quickly pulled his hand away, confused by his reaction.

“I'm so sorry, Selenia. I think it might be dislocated. I could pop it back into place, but with your fainting spell, I'm afraid it will be too painful and you'll lose consciousness again. I'd rather wait until we are home and have Almory look at it. He can give you something for the pain.”

She nodded, trying to pull her shirt back on.

“It's too hot for that blouse, Selenia. Do you have anything else?”

“I have...a nightgown. It's in the trunk.”

Sion wasted no time, and started rifling through her belongings. He pulled out a lightweight silk nightgown. It only had thin straps to hold it up, and Sion felt guilty that she'd have to be dressed so immodestly in front of him. But, survival was more important, he told himself.