Page 36 of Room for Three
"Azelon."
The sound of his name in Jamie's mouth sent an unexpected shiver down Azelon's spine. The human somehow imbued it with meaning—with understanding. With a request for trust that Azelon wasn't prepared to give.
"Sleep," Azelon said firmly. "We can talk when you're stronger."
Jamie watched him for a long moment, then exhaustion did claim him. His eyes drifted closed, but his breathing was easier now, his color improving with each passing minute.
The healing had worked.
Azelon slumped into the chair beside the bed. Tideborn healing took a toll on the healer as well as the patient. He would need to rest soon, to replenish his energy.
But not yet. Not until he was certain Jamie was stable.
The store creaked around him, a subtle shifting of walls and floorboards that felt almost like gratitude.
"You're welcome," Azelon murmured to the building.
Chapter
Eleven
Jamie slept fitfully as night deepened. Azelon remained vigilant, watching for any signs that the healing had been insufficient.
His own body ached with exhaustion. The sacred ritual had drained him more than he'd expected, his markings now dimmed to their faintest glow. He should rest, should replenish his strength.
But Jamie's occasional whimpers kept him rooted to the chair.
The human's fever had broken, but his dreams appeared troubled. His head turned on the pillow, brow furrowing as if fending off unpleasant visions. The connection forged during the healing ritual lingered—faint now, but enough for Azelon to sense echoes of Jamie's distress.
Flickers of the human's dreams seeped into Azelon's awareness. A frantic search through endless corridors. A brother's face, just out of reach. A sense of responsibility so heavy it threatened to crush him.
Azelon's chest tightened. The weight of duty was something he understood all too well.
"Daniel," Jamie murmured, reaching for something unseen. "Wait."
Azelon hesitated, then leaned forward. "It's just a dream," he said softly.
Jamie didn't wake, but his fingers clutched at the blanket, knuckles white with tension.
Azelon moved from the chair to perch on the edge of the bed. He placed a hand on Jamie's shoulder, careful to avoid aggravating any injuries.
"Your brother is not here," he said, keeping his voice low and steady. "But you are safe. The store is safe."
Jamie's eyes flew open, disoriented and still clouded with the remnants of his nightmare. He stared at Azelon for a long moment, as if struggling to place him.
"The creatures," he gasped, trying to sit up. "Corin…"
"Everyone is safe," Azelon assured him, gently pressing him back against the pillows. "The creatures are gone. Corin is resting."
Jamie blinked, awareness gradually returning to his features. "You healed me," he recalled. "With your markings."
Azelon nodded once, withdrawing his hand. "A Tideborn technique. Unconventional, but effective."
"Forbidden, you mean," Jamie said, his gaze surprisingly shrewd despite his weakened state. "For someone who's exiled."
The observation caught Azelon off guard. How much had Jamie gleaned from their connection?
"The methods were... not meant for outsiders," he admitted.
