Chapter Seventy-Five

Eleanor threw her legs out of bed the next morning, stretching out her tired bones. She stirred the fire in the burning hearth to heat it as she rubbed at her arms, chasing off the goosebumps that spread.

The nights were getting colder and longer, and Eleanor wished she did not have to spend them alone. She would wake up most nights, reaching out to the space beside her bed as if expecting Drakken to be there. She was disappointed every single time. His body heat was greater than any burning hearth, more comfortable than a blanket.

Pushing the thoughts of him aside, Eleanor hurriedly got dressed and went down to the healing school. She rushed inside, running into Emma who pushed a trolley of hospital supplies to the storage room.

"Am I on time?" she asked as Emma only shook her head in wonderment.

"Follow me."

Emma gently nudged open a door and strode into the room. It was a big room used for storage, smelling greatly of antiseptic, disinfectants, and a hint of blood.

Eleanor scrunche