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“Hear what?”

“The whispers. They get so loud I can’t block them out.”

“The only thing I hear is you.”

“Great.” She drops her head onto my arm. “Even in my mind, my mind is fucked.”

“Does this happen every time your head hurts?”

“Yes, but it’s rare. I take a daily medication for it on Oculus Nine.”

She’s still so pale when she looks up at me. Wet tracks cover her cheeks from the tears that keep streaming from her eyes.

“I’m going to try to bring you out with me, is that okay?”

“Can you do that?”

“I’ve never tried it before. But I never fail either.”

I stand and offer her my hand. She looks at me as she tentatively accepts my help up. I don’t release hers as she gets to her feet, and she doesn’t seem to want to let go of mine either.

Good.

I guide her in the same direction that I entered from. I should just be able to walk back out the same way I came in. At least I hope so.

The barrier of her consciousness puts up the barest hint of resistance, but I push through, dragging her with me. Then I open my eyes.

* * *

My fingers are still in her hair when I’m back in the med bay. I watch as her eyes flutter beneath her eyelids. Hyva says something, but I ignore him, staying entirely focused on Neev.

I can finally breathe again when her silver- and violet-flecked eyes open. They immediately lock on me. I didn’t realize how close I was leaning in toward her until I feel the warmth of her breath brush my lips. I should back up, remove my fingers from her hair.

But I don’t. I’m locked in this moment with her.

She breaks it when she looks around in confusion. “How did I get here?”

“Altis found you. He was going to give you a medicinal tea that helps relieve his headaches.”

“Oh. That was kind of him.”

“Is this something that happens frequently?” Hyva asks.

“No, but I’ve been taking medication regularly for as long as I can remember. I get headaches when I forget to take it.”

Hyva leans back against the edge of the empty bed beside her. “Do you know the name of the medication?”

“No. I’ve been taking it for as long as I can remember. There would always be a little cup with the pill in it when I’d get dinner. I never really questioned it.”

She sits up, causing my fingers to fall from her hair. I miss the softness immediately but back up to a more proper distance.

“It’s okay.” Hyva gently pushes her back down against the pillow. “Rest for a little while, and then I’ll release you to go back to your quarters.” He looks at me and then his office.

I take the cue and follow him, walking into the bright space while he presses the button to have the doors slide close behind us.

“Contacting the Order is out of the question?—”

He holds a hand up, silencing me. “I don’t want to do that. I mean, I dowantto know what they were giving her, but I think something else was going on.”