Chapter 40

Still dazed from our passion, I studied Remy as he rose from the bed and covered his hard, lean body with clothing. He was an even more attentive lover than I had expected, and I fiercely regretted the need to deal with the Eye right now. I wanted to pull him back to the cot and lose myself in his strong embrace and warm body forever. Even the knowledge that he was incapable of commitment and would ultimately break my heart couldn't stop me from wanting more.

I refused to believe anything would go wrong during another vision, but I couldn't stop myself from memorizing everything about him, just in case. From his casual, swept-back hair to his muscled abs to his brilliant blue eyes. I drank him in.

Giving me a crooked smile, he sat on the edge of the bed. "Stop acting like you're going to a funeral."

I nodded and plastered a fake smile on my face. Pulling on my own clothes, I sat next to him and took his hand, threading my fingers through his.

"Better not touch me," he said. "Who knows if it can reach through me and get to you."

I dropped his hand like it was on fire, and he laughed. Pulling the shielded box that held the Eye from one of his vest's pockets, he stuck it between his knees and opened the lid. The blue and violet light that erupted from the box highlighted the chiseled angles of his face, and he closed his eyes. "Here goes."

His body stiffened as he placed his palm on the Eye.

The previous time I'd watched him touch the Eye, it only lasted for a minute or two. But unlike before, this time I could actually see his cheekbones become more prominent as his cheeks drew in. Remy had no body fat to spare, so the changes were alarming. He was shriveling before my eyes.

Panicking, I pulled my sleeves down over my hands so no skin was exposed, and was about to knock the box away when Remy opened his eyes. They were dull and vacant and seemed to have sunk deep into his head.

"Remy?" I whispered.

When he didn't respond or even acknowledge me, I realized that his hand was still on the Eye. With a cry, I grabbed his arm and pulled it away from the box. He fought me, and for a moment I wasn't sure I could take it from him. We had severely underestimated the power of the Eye's lure, and I wished we had stayed downstairs where Ralph could have helped. Remy snarled, clawed, and kicked. Only the fact that he was so depleted allowed me to wrench it from his hands.

Panting, I jumped to my feet and fled across the room clutching the Eye. With violently trembling fingers, I finally got the lid secured. As soon as its otherworldly light was extinguished, Remy collapsed on the bed, twitching and gasping. I threw the Eye in the room's small wardrobe and slammed the door shut. Snatching one of the food baskets off the table, I raced to sit next to him on the bed.

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I pulled him close and cradled his head in my lap, stroking his damp hair from his forehead. Strong, confident, independent Remy felt as fragile as a baby bird in my arms, and I thought my heart might break. This had been a horrible idea: one I was determined we'd never repeat.

When his shuddering subsided, I pulled him up to sit and offered him a piece of cheese. At first, Remy ignored it, his breathing shallow and his eyes closed. Then his nose twitched, and his eyes popped open, focusing on the food. He lunged for the cheese, and I barely got my fingers out of the way before his teeth snapped over it. I wasn't sure he even chewed before swallowing and casting around for more.

When the contents of both baskets were empty, Remy was limp but lucid—even if he still appeared dreadful. I raced downstairs for more food and discovered that Ralph had two more full baskets and a pitcher of ale waiting.

"How is he?" Ralph asked.

"Bad," I said, and my voice caught in my throat. "Without Ellia's herbs, I think he'd be dead."

Ralph's eyebrows drew together, and he squeezed my shoulder. "If this didn't work, I'll take you into the mountains to one of our tapped out, abandoned mine shafts. You can drop it there and I'll fill it with boulders. Remy can't do this again."

I blinked back more tears and gave him a watery smile. "Thank you."