My restless sleep was interrupted by a vicious spell of nausea that sent me hurtling to the bathing room. Images managed to penetrate the feverish haze that had settled over me, one after another. I saw the crossbow bolt zoom through the water and embed itself in between Dad's shoulder blades; I glimpsed the spear land in the center of Drew's back, dangerously close to his spine.

I saw the agony on the latter's face as he spoke about how he hadn't been able to save Carla and Ella; I heard the pain in his voice as it broke. His words echoed in my head, mingling with the images. "'I wake up every single night in a cold sweat, gasping for water as Carla and Ella's screams echo in my ears. Even though five years have passed, I don't think I'll ever be able to get them out of my head.'"

My head hung over the bowl as I hugged the edges of the seat. My stomach flip-flopped when the images kept coalescing in my mind, over and over, until I couldn't handle it anymore. I squeezed my eyes shut as I retched, emptying my stomach until bile and spit were all that remained. I was seriously considering falling asleep on the bathing room floor until I heard a soft voice from behind me.

"Oh, sweetie. Do you need anything?" It was only then that I recognized my surroundings. I wasn't in our bedroom; I wasn't even in Pelathas. I was in Aegrem, in Aunt Nerissa and Uncle Jay's suite. The latter had spoken, his voice low and filled with concern.

I couldn't so much as lift my head, much less respond. Opening my eyes wasn't an option, either, considering my grip on the seat was the only thing keeping me upright. I concentrated on my breathing, not flinching, as I felt steady, muscular arms on me. "Let's get you back into bed." His voice was like an anchor, stabilizing me and keeping the nausea at bay.

My voice was barely audible when he picked me up and carried me back to the bed. "I hope I didn't wake you."

He didn't respond as he swam back into the bathing room, reappearing seconds later with a cold cloth, which he placed on my forehead. When he finally spoke, his voice was weary. "No, honey. You didn't wake me."

Something in his voice caused me to crack open my eyes. When I got past the initial waves of dizziness and nausea, I was able to focus on his face. Dark shadows ringed his eyes, which had a haunted look in them. I also noticed his hair and clothes were rumpled as if he'd run his hands through the former and had the latter on for several days.

I looked down and noticed I had on a clean dress. It was a little big, but knowing it was Aunt Nerissa's comforted me. He gently took my hand and helped me sit up. "I know you want to haul tail to Beltmare and warn Izzy and Kai, but give yourself the morning to eat something and rest some more. You're exhausted. It's a miracle you could swim here, much less get to the palace."

I could tell by his voice that there was something he wasn't telling me. My suspicion was confirmed when he wouldn't meet my gaze. "What's wrong?"

Uncle Jay let out a ragged breath and rubbed his face. "Late last night, we got word from the hospital that Drew had to undergo emergency surgery." As the last word left his mouth, he shook his head. My heart stopped when I noticed the tears welling in his eyes.

I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. I could only stare at my uncle. When he finally got his emotions under control, his voice was somewhat steadier. "He's okay now, but slivers of the spear had managed to lodge in his back, dangerously close to his spinal cord. After an extensive and exhausting operation, they removed all but one sliver, which, unfortunately, was buried too deep."

He reached for my hand, squeezing it tightly. "Your parents and Jonah are at the hospital now, along with Izzy and Kai. I knew you'd want to be there as soon as possible, so if you feel up to it, we can head there now." Before the words had finished echoing, the bedroom door opened with a barely audible click.

Aunt Nerissa looked fragile. Her dress was rumpled as if she, too, had worn the same thing for several days. Her face was ashen, her eyes red-rimmed. Recalling Uncle Jay's exhausted state, I guessed that neither of them got any sleep last night. She swam to her husband and crumpled in his arms. He held her wordlessly as her heartbreaking sobs filled the silence that had fallen over us.

Tears filled my eyes and spilled down my cheeks, steady as a waterfall. I wanted to see with my own eyes that my brother was okay but simultaneously found myself hesitating. Whether he realized it or not, I was the reason he was lying in a hospital bed right now. Like a recurring nightmare, Raina's words came back to me, ominous and horrible.

"'Mark my words, Faye Mercer. You can't have everything. Sooner or later, everyone you love—either by force or choice—will eventually leave. You'll be alone, just as you should have been all along.'"

I took several slow breaths, trying to quell the tsunami of emotions inside me. "Let's go." They both nodded. Aunt Nerissa swam to me and pulled me close, her silent sobs piercing me harder than the sharpest dagger. When we finally broke apart, she gripped my hand tightly as we left the suite and made our way to the hospital. It simultaneously seemed to take forever and be over in an instant.

The minute we swam inside, a doctor approached us, her eyes kind as she looked at each of us. When she lingered on my face, I had to bite back a sob. Dr. Murphy smiled at me, obviously trying to reassure me. "Although there was a complication during the surgery, Drew will still fully recover. The rest of your family is with him now if you want to join them."

I sucked in a sharp breath as I nodded. When we swam inside Drew's room, everything—the exhaustion, the previous night's restless sleep, and the images that had haunted me during the vicious spell of nausea—returned with a vengeance. I let out an exhausted sob, covering my face with a hand. I knew that Drew would never—and didn't—blame me, but I blamed myself.

His eyes met mine the moment I pulled my hand away. The worry, pain, love, and forgiveness in them stole the water from my lungs. Pain and exhaustion lined his face as he opened his mouth. "Faye." His voice broke when he breathed my name.

I rushed into his arms, laying my head on his chest as I closed my eyes and savored the sound of his heartbeat, steady and healthy. "I'm so sorry," I cried, tears muffling my words. "I'm so sorry."

Dr. Murphy cleared her throat behind me, and I tensed. "Due to the sensitive and invasive operation, there will, unfortunately, be some lingering side effects. As I'm sure you're all aware, slivers of the spear had managed to lodge in his back, dangerously close to his spinal cord following the injury. We were able to remove most of the fragments, but there is still one remaining.

"Luckily, it is a tiny fragment, so we don't foresee any problems, but I wanted you all to be aware from now on." Her face was solemn as she met each of our gazes.

I couldn't help the sob that slipped from my lips. Jonah gently pulled me into his arms, holding me as loud, heartbreaking cries filled the silence following Dr. Murphy's words. Distantly, I realized I wasn't the only one crying.

Mom and Aunt Nerissa's cries were as heartbreaking—if not more so—than my own. I clutched my chest, feeling as though my heart was physically breaking in half. My head spun, and I was suddenly breathless. Dr. Murphy spoke again, but I couldn't hear anything besides my racing heartbeat. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the spear hurtling through the water and piercing Drew's back.

It should have been me. The thought sliced through my mind like a dagger through flesh. Guilt and shame followed, piercing my heart like the spear had pierced Drew's back. Mindlessly, I made my way out of the hospital room, tears blurring my vision. A bolt of pain suddenly shot through my tail, poisoned lightning following in its wake.

I didn't have to look down to know my tail was bleeding again. I closed my eyes and leaned against the wall for support as dizziness again overcame me. I recalled the vicious spell of nausea from earlier this morning and wondered if that had anything to do with this. My head spun as I realized I couldn't remember the last time I'd eaten or drank.

Black spots swam in my vision as I cracked my eyes open. Blurry figures floated before me, their muffled voices fading in and out of my ears. "Faye? Can... hear me?" "Bella, I think she's in..."

Mom? Dad? I wanted to ask, but my tongue suddenly became heavy as an anchor. I had no doubt I was in shock, but I couldn't so much as open my mouth. I heard a distant cry, then a muffled thud before I collapsed, that blessed darkness finally pulling me under.

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