23. RedGold?

Lukas studies me, a soft smile on his lips. The look he's giving me makes my stomach flutter, and I brace my hand on the back of a chair.

He takes several slow, lazy steps toward me, his smile becoming a smirk. "You look a bit unsteady there."

"Stress," I murmur.

"I missed you."

"We haven't even been apart ten hours." I close my eyes as he steps close, loving the feel of his hand as it presses into my lower back.

"And in those ten hours, I missed your smile. I missed your magelights." Lukas pulls me against his firm body. "I missed you telling me I'm ridiculous."

"I missed you, too." I loop my arms around his waist, squeezing him tightly. "I'm glad you're all right."

"Let's never be apart again."

"I'm not entirely sure that's practical."

He adjusts his hold on me, curling himself into the hug like he's trying to get as close as possible. "I don't care."

I laugh against his shoulder. "You're?—"

"Ridiculous." I can hear the grin in his voice, and it warms my heart. "Yes, that's better."

After several seconds of comfortable silence, he says, "I'm exhausted."

"You should go to bed."

"I don't want to leave you."

"You know the answer to that."

"You're always trying to seduce me, Sunshine." He chuckles when I jab him in the stomach. "Maybe I'll just take a brief rest here."

"Lie down." Smiling, I jerk my head to the bed. "I don't know how either of us is still functioning at this point."

"You're an angel, Sunshine." He kisses my forehead and then pulls me to the bed.

"I have to watch the concoction," I protest halfheartedly as he tugs me down next to him, tucking himself in close.

"You said it'll take hours," he says against my neck.

Oh, this is nice.

"It will…"

"We're going to take a catnap. For just a few hours, you're all mine."

Unable to help myself, I snuggle into him and yawn. "All right. But only because you're making me."

We sleepfor more than a few hours. It's dark beyond the portholes when I wake up, and the clock on the vanity says it's one-thirty.

I sit up, groaning. As I try to stand, Lukas wraps his arm around my waist and drags me back. "Don't go."

I pull away, wishing I could stay with him. "I have to check the concoction."

Nervous, I walk to the table. A dim glow comes from the cup, but with the magelights already lighting the room, it's difficult to tell what color it is.

Please, be gold.

I close my eyes when I'm close, scared to look. Lukas comes up behind me, sliding his arms around my waist and setting his chin on my shoulder. "What are you doing?" he asks groggily.

"I don't want to look."

"Why?"

"What if it's red? What if I failed?"

"It's not red, Sunshine. That concoction is very gold."

My eyes fly open, and sure enough. I properly processed the ember carianthan.

"It's gold," I whisper.

"It is."

"It worked."

"I'm assuming." Lukas kisses my shoulder. "I really have no idea."

I grasp hold of his arm. "The coral is safe, but what if I improperly processed one of the other ingredients? What if they reacted badly in the blend and became toxic?"

"I know you." He gently pries my fingers from his arm, holding my hand. "You were careful."

"I was, but…" I shake my head. "This is daunting. I know just enough to be dangerous."

"Soleil," he says, his tone changing. It's heavy now. "Gregory's dying anyway, isn't he?"

"Yes," I whisper.

Wilder might pull through. He's young, strong, and healthy. Nico is, as well. But Gregory taxed himself while he was healing the dragon. He's older, too. Not weak, but…

"Let him decide," Lukas suggests. "Explain the risks and let him make a choice."

I swallow, my heart heavy. "All right."

"Let's take it to him now." Lukas reluctantly releases me. "Best get it over with."

Knowing he's right, I fetch a clean blue glass bottle from my pack and pour the golden medicine into it. I stop it with a cork and then nod. "All right."

The ship is quiet in these midnight hours, everyone from the bluewood camp getting their first good night's rest in too many days.

First, we visit the galley. It's warm in the space, the kitchen fire burning low. Bryan is asleep on a cot near the massive iron stove, his arms flailed above his head and his blanket half on the floor.

"I hate to wake him," I whisper to Lukas.

"I'll do it." He crosses the small space and nudges Bryan's shoulder, gently rousing him.

The boy jolts awake, his eyes widening when he spots Lukas. "Quartermaster," he says groggily. "What can I do for you?"

Lukas looks back at me.

"I need you to make a pot of tea and bring it to Gregory's quarters," I say.

He nods, blinking himself awake. "Of course, Miss Eldemyer."

Lukas clasps his shoulder. "Thank you, Bryan."

We leave the galley and turn toward Gregory's quarters, only a few short steps away. The walk isn't long enough for my nerves.

"Let me go in and prepare him first," Lukas says. "Do you mind waiting here for a moment?"

"Go ahead."

Lukas slips into the room. My palms grow slick on the glass bottle, my nerves a wreck. The concoction is pleasantly warm, the ember carianthan doing its job. Over and over, I repeat what Lukas said. Gregory will undoubtedly die if he doesn't have medicine. It's better to try than to do nothing at all.

Lukas appears a minute later, ushering me into the dimly lit room. As we enter, Jorgin rises from the chair near the mage's head. "I'll be just outside the door if you need me."

Gregory lies on the bed, covered with a lightweight sheet. He's pale, and he coughs as he turns toward us. It's a weak cough, the kind that comes from being sick too long. His stomach and chest likely ache, and though he has sickness to dispel from his lungs, his body is too tired.

"Did Lukas speak to you about the potion?" I ask him softly as I take a seat next to him. My eyes stray to his neck, where dark purple smudges mar his skin.

"He says you're not as confident as you should be," he rasps, attempting to smile.

This man is like a kindly uncle to me. Close to the Greybrows, he was always with us on our holidays. I know him as well as Captain Avery and Lady Lucia. Seeing him like this creates a dark hole in the pit of my stomach, and I blink back tears.

"I'm not a certified alchemist," I remind him. "I did the best I could with my limited knowledge and the few ingredients that were available. I cannot promise it will heal you. I can't even promise it won't kill you."

"I watched you grow an oak upon a sandy, tropical beach, Sunny. You are a gifted mage. I am more than willing to be your test subject."

The nickname wraps around me like a blanket, not unwanted, but dear. I close my eyes as tears well in them. After I compose myself, I open them again. "We asked Bryan to bring tea. The concoction is thick. I think it's best to dilute it before you try to take it."

"Do you need anything while we wait?" Lukas asks the mage.

Gregory turns his head away from us to cough again. "No."

A few minutes later, Jorgin knocks at the door, entering quietly while carrying a tray.

"Set it on the table," Lukas instructs.

After the young man leaves us, I prepare the medicine. The concoction pours from the bottle like molasses, the thick liquid glowing like a flame. The ingredients are potent, so I don't add much, hating that I'm guessing through most of this process. Then I pour the weak tea over the potion, filling the cup about a quarter of the way.

I don't know if Gregory normally uses sugar in his tea, but I add several teaspoons of the brown crystals, hoping to make the drink more palatable.

"Soleil," Lukas says gently. "I think it's mixed."

I've stirred the tea for a good minute, putting off this last step. Gulping back my fear, I place the spoon on the saucer and carry the cup to Gregory. Lukas helps him sit up, propping the pillow behind him.

"I doubt it will taste very good," I warn him.

The mage smiles. "Medicine never does."

I lower my eyes as he brings the cup to his mouth, my hands beginning to shake.

"Soleil." He pauses before drinking the tea. "If the concoction doesn't work—if I succumb to the disease or the medicine has an unexpected side effect—you must not blame yourself. You did all you could, and that's all anyone can ask of you."

I nod, unable to look up.

He then downs the drink in one go, coughing as he lowers the cup. Laughing hoarsely, he says, "It's potent."

I've either cured him or killed him, and only time will tell which it will be.

Gregory hands the cup to Lukas. "I'm going back to sleep now. I suggest you two do the same."

We shuffle out of the room, and Jorgin returns to his watch. Panic claws at my throat. As soon as Lukas closes us in my cabin, I turn to him, pressing myself against his chest.

He wraps his strong arms around me, holding me. We don't say anything, but we don't need to. He feels my anguish and fear and answers it with physical comfort.

"Let's go back to bed," he finally murmurs.

"Should you return to Davyn's cabin?" I ask miserably.

"I won't leave you tonight."

He pulls me toward the bed. We pause to remove our boots this time. Then we climb atop the covers, and I curl into Lukas's arms.

In just a few hours, we'll know the outcome.

It's going to be a very long night.