Chapter 40. Trepidation

[At Chemora]

Kilian sprang out of that tub holding his chest and throat.

Sitara rubbed his back as he coughed blood on the floor. The color of the liquid in that tub had just changed to turquoise as Kilian reappeared.

“Breathe…” Sitara instructed, hitting the back of his lungs.

Kilian struggled for several minutes before finally letting out a very loud gasp and collapsing on the floor.

Sitara carried him to bed. Put him down and then pulled his hands and legs up off it as well.

She administered several injections after which Kilian’s breath finally normalized and he slowly opened his eyes.

“Thank you…” his voice was hoarse as he pressed Sitara’s arm in appreciation.

Sitara looked away and pretended to organize the syringes.

“It’s good to see you come back alive…” Then she turned at him and asked, “how did it go?”

“They believe me.” Kilian smiled.

“I finally got to see the girl for whom I had to leave my wife behind… m