Page 5

Kai

M y head pounds as pulsing pain wraps around my skull.

I try to open my eyes, but the pain is too great.

Each of my limbs feels like an iron weight is holding it down.

Fire laces across my back, and I can't take it any longer.

I roll to the side and vomit every last thing in my stomach.

Salt and bile coat my mouth, and suddenly, smooth, cool hands are on my shoulder, urging me to lie back down, but my back is in agony, and I groan, pushing against the hands.

“It’s alright, let it out. You’re safe now,” a soft, melodic voice whispers in my ear, and I feel the heat of her breath.

“A–are you an angel?” I wheeze, and talking brings a new wave of agony through my body.

A quiet huff of laughter, “No. Don’t talk, just rest.”

I crack my eyes open just enough to see a hazy outline of a woman. Her long hair seems to glow in the dim light of a nearby fire. “What happened?”

I cough and then groan as the stabbing torture intensifies along my back, and I suddenly feel too hot and too cold all at the same time.

“Your skin is burning,” the beautiful voice says, and I reach out, grabbing her and pulling her down beside me. I crave the warmth of a body beside me to stave off the chill.

She tries to get up, but her skin is like a cool breeze on a scorching summer’s day, and I hold on tight.

It chases the chill away, and I breathe in her citrus scent and some invigorating floral aroma I can't place.

Somehow her presence, the feel of her against me, and the soothing scent of her lessen the pain coursing through me.

“What are you doing?” she says, and I see her shift in front of me, even though her face is a blur.

“You smell like heaven,” I breathe.

“You’re unwell and need to stay still and rest.” There’s an urgency in her tone that has me leaning my head against hers.

“I can rest with you right here.” I wheeze, and snuggle further against her warmth. “Your skin feels like velvet.”

She lets out a sigh, and I feel her hand travel down my chest. I move to get closer, desperate to feel her heavenly lips against mine, but I stop and yell out as the skin across my back feels like it's tearing in half.

She gasps and sits up, holding me in her arms as she trails a finger just next to where the pain shoots through me, burning up my back.

“You’ve reopened your wound.” Her voice sounds like a song, every word she says weaves around me, prickling over my skin, and suddenly the pain turns to a dull ache.

A heavy exhaustion begins to take hold of me, and it takes everything to lift my head and look at her face.

It's still blurry, and I can’t make out any of her features, so I lift my hand and touch her parted lips. They are as soft as a rose petal.

"Your lips are beautiful," I croak, and then I kiss her, slow and tender.

Everything is melting away until all I can feel is her lips moving as if they are perfectly made to fit mine.

Something electric sparks between us, but then the suffocating exhaustion begins to take over me, and I fall back onto the bed mat.

The angel places a hand on my chest and says, “Get some sleep.”

As darkness takes over and I begin to slip out of consciousness, I can't help but wonder if this is a dream, and when I wake up in the morning, will I be back at the palace with the weight of leading the province on my shoulders? I hope that isn't true.