Tam struggled against his dreams that varied from endless blackness to anxiety inducing nightmares. When he wasn’t fully unconscious, he was wracked with a tearing sensation that reverberated down to his soul. It was only a matter of time before he went mad with the pain.

  What was even more taxing was how just when he would think it was getting better, another surge would overtake him.

  At times he felt hyper-aware of everything around him; how connected everything was. The spaces between the tiniest bits of natural matter where his void existed. Where nothing and everything rested. He could flex in these spaces, and then be a part of more and more of them. Spaces between bark, between leaves, between rich soil, between the mist off the river…

  Over and over he bore the sensation of being shattered, ground to dust, then flung far and wide. It only improved when he would snap back together, becoming one with himself. Though the violent reassembly itself was hellish, when it was finished, Tam could relax. Briefly. Before it’d do it again, and again. Each time he’d be flung farther and farther.

  At the back of his mind, he knew this was all happening because of Kat.

  She was sending him magic, and it was bolstering his own, making it unstable as it surged in power and growth that he sensed should’ve taken far longer to happen.

  He could occasionally make out Eli’s presence through the haze of torture, her worried mood, her cool hand, her occasional murmurings—not that he could understand what she was saying; only that she was talking.

  Tam didn’t know how long it had been since he had originally fallen unconscious. He wanted to wake up from the nightmare and start moving again, but every time he tried he felt his soul dissolve all over again.

  It seemed endless, and Tam began to wonder—when he could spare any moment of clear thought—if perhaps he had accidentally released a curse and he was dead.

  When at long, long last, he opened his eyes, and found himself staring at a cool gray sky.

  The light felt like a knife going through his eyes, making him wince and let out a garbled yelp.

  In an instant, he felt Eli’s reassuring hand on his forehead.

  Only shortly after she did this, and his eyes fluttered back open, she burst out saying, “You’re awake!”

  Tam cringed away from the loudness of her voice, nausea brewing in his gut as a result.

  “He’s awake?” Harris’s voice sounded distant, but it made Tam roll over to his right side, trying to get away from the pain.

  “Tam…?” Eli’s uncertain tone made his heart ache, but all Tam could do was focus on breathing through the agony pulsing through his head.

  “Can I get you water?” Eli lowered her volume, as though sensing what was plaguing him.

  Tam barely managed to nod, and the movement almost had him throwing up. Though he doubted he had anything to throw up. His stomach felt horrendously empty.

  He thanked the Gods that Eli’s footsteps were silent.

  A cold sweat broke out along his brow as he waited, and he barely resisted a shiver.

  “Here.”

  The soft leather of a waterskin brush against his knuckles.

  He took it in shaking hands, and even though it caused blinding pain when he lifted his head up, he took several gulps of cool water, then lay back down, his sense of balance as even as a ship deck in a storm.

  Another lapse of time sagged on, but Tam was conscious through it. The wind, the birds, the dull rush of the river… He could hear it all—though he tried to ignore it. He managed a few more sips of water. Eventually the pain lessened enough that he could open his eyes, but it still made him squint.

  “I have a broth for you.”

  After a fortifying breath, Tam slowly push himself up to a sitting position, then reached blindly for the wooden bowl she offered him. Accepting it gratefully, he sipped as much as he could before his nausea flared again.

  “Thank you,” he managed. He swallowed back a tiny bit of bile. “How long has it been?”

  “Nearly seven days.”

  Tam’s heart thudded against his chest. “Gods.”

  “I know. We need to move. Do you know what happened? Was this just some kind of sickness that affected your magic?”

  Tam would’ve shaken his head if the mere notion of doing so didn’t frighten him.

  “Kat,” he paused to lick his lips. “Kat can… bolster other people’s abilities. Human and witch alike. For some reason, she sent three surges to me. It… Did things. It made me lose control, and I suddenly am able to do more with my magic… It’s like I went through artificial growth that’s permanent. I think.”

  Tam dropped his head between his knees and took several deep breaths. Saying all of that had cost him.

  Eli rested a hand on his back.

  “Don’t touch me. Please.”

  She withdrew instantly.

  Tam struggled to inhale and exhale as his nausea plagued him for a few moments longer.

  When he could bring himself to speak again, he informed Eli why he’d made such a request. “Sorry. I just… If I start feeling attracted to you right now amongst… everything else… it won’t be good.”

  He didn’t have to look to know she was blushing.

  In less dire situations, he knew she would be saying something along the lines of how base men were. He almost smiled over the fact he knew this.

  “How are the kids?” he asked after taking another drink from the waterskin.

  “Mostly good. Penelope confirmed she can see the past, present, and future, and said she saw you alive and well, so we at least knew you weren’t dying.”

  “Someone should’ve told me the news,” Tam noted dryly.

  Eli didn’t respond to that. “How long do you think until you can travel again?”

  Tam closed his eyes, despite it being evening as the light of the sky was already dimming.

  “We can try for a bit tomorrow, but I think… No. I’m certain I won’t be able to use any magic for a while. It’s been overextended. I’m shocked I didn’t die and cast a curse.”

  “It’s alright. To be honest I… I’ve been affected by this as well.”

  Tam managed to turn and at long last lock eyes with Eli.

  He could see the way her brown eyes softened and her shoulders eased down from the deep relief she felt at being able to talk with him.

  “I’m even… Bigger. Now.”

  Tam blinked in alarm and he lifted himself a bit straighter. “Even bigger? How big are you now in that form?”

  “A lot bigger.”

  “How big though?”

  Eli bristled a little. “Bigger than a small shanty?”

  “What—ow.” Tam’s shout had rendered another burst of pain behind his eyes.

  “I tried flying.”

  Tam desperately wanted to ask more on that, but had to focus on breathing again before he could. “How did that go? Wait, if you experienced a growth spurt, did you have any pain?”

  “A bit. I was able to transform back to my human form though.When I’d shift back the pain would be better.”

  Tam still didn’t like that she experienced any kind of hardship because of him, and, seeing this, Eli gave a tentative half smile. “It really wasn’t bad.”

  Sighing, Tam continued rubbing his face. His migraine was steadily improving, but he started eyeing the river as he became increasingly aware of how pungent he was.

  Seeing this, Eli rose and offered her hand. “Come on. I’ll go with you to make sure you don’t drown.”

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Tam grasped her hand with a raised eyebrow and, on trembling legs, managed to stand, though the world spun violently, and he needed to grasp one of Eli’s shoulders to help steady himself.

  “You’re just… Saying that so you’ll see me… without my shirt,” Tam stuttered while shooting a boyish smile at her.

  Rolling her eyes, Eli turned and started moving toward the river. “You’re skin and bones right now. There’s not much to look at.”

  “You’re a tender woman.”

  “If you wanted tender you should’ve bought a rib eye steak instead of opting to court me.”

  Tam allowed himself a light laugh as they neared the river bank.

  “I thought I heard Harris earlier,” he commented while observing the fireflies that were already dancing in the trees around them.

  Eli lowered herself to help him sit.

  “You did. He saw you weren’t well enough to talk yet and took the kids on a walk to get firewood for tonight.”

  “Is a fire a good idea?”

  “Not at all, but you need a good night of rest and a hot meal if we’re going to even attempt traveling tomorrow.”

  Tam gave a disgruntled grunt before he tugged his shirt off, then his boots—all in a very slow fashion— then tentatively dipped a toe in the water.

  “Holy antlers that is freezing,” he gasped while snatching his foot back.

  Eli shrugged.”Dunk yourself then come out.”

  “If I’m doing that I’ll need a blanket right after.”

  Tilting her head, the Eli seemed to acquiesce with his point, and made her way back to the campsite to find just that.

  Taking the opportunity of being alone, Tam stripped his pants off next, and before Eli could see him embarrass himself horribly, he pushed himself into the icy water that instantly induced a new world of pain and earnest teeth chattering. He was barely able to haul himself out as goosebumps riddled his body. Luckily a blanket fell over his shoulders in an instant.

  “As someone who has to smell you a whole hell of a lot, I thank you,” Eli declared while managing to sound cavalier.

  Tam grinned. The shock of the cold water had cleared his head somewhat. Though there was still a dull throbbing behind his eyes.

  As they neared the campsite, Tam spotted Harris, Luca, and Penelope lighting the fire.

  Luca, unable to contain himself for another instant, bolted over to his father and wrapped his arms around him.

  Tam smiled down at his son and ruffled his hair.

  Penelope sidled closer, looking like a wary kitten trying not to show she cared too much when, in reality, she too may have been a little worried.

  “Tam, my boy! Wonderful to see you up and about! We were worried we were going to have to leave you to the bears!” Harris called out jubilantly as he pulled out a pot that looked quite heavy. “We have some venison stew here, and we even sacrificed some ginger root to make you a nice tea. Eli, don’t worry, I haven’t made the tea. I won’t make that mistake again,” the duke assured with a brief traumatized shadow passing through his eyes.

  “She’s a bit particular about tea,” Tam agreed while locating his traveling bag and pulling out a tunic and pants that smelt significantly better than his previous ones. He then utilized his blanket to hide himself while dressing.

  “You don’t say,” Harris called out sarcastically.

  Eli crossed her arms. “I barely burned you.”

  “It’ll scar.”

  Eli made a tsking sound before setting about grabbing the kettle; presumably go fill it with water.

  “Can I chop the ginger?” Luca asked excitedly.

  “A little bit. I’ll do the first cut,” Eli acquiesced.

  “What about me?” Penelope hollered indignantly.

  “If you’re careful, I will let you put the tea ball in.”

  The two children beamed happily and then trailed after Eli like ducklings after their mother as she returned to the river.

  Alone, Harris looked at Tam, his typical jubilance fading to seriousness.

  “You alright?”

  Tam lowered his head with a half wince and a shrug. “I have next to no magic right now. It’ll take a while to recover, but I want us to get moving tomorrow morning as soon as possible.”

  Harris nodded. “Good. The hairs on the back of my neck are standing up these days, and I don’t like it.”

  Seating himself by the fire, grateful for any extra warmth he could absorb in that moment, Tam shared the details of what had caused his recent problems. At the end of the story, Harris pressed his lips together thoughtfully.

  “It sounds like your sister is getting worried.”

  “I know.”

  “But what exactly is making her worried?”

  “There are a few things one could be worried about right now,” Tam reminded drolly.

  “Yes, but why now? Something has to be happening in the capital. Odds are all hell is breaking loose, and your sister is a part of the reason that is happening.”

  Tam reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. “Sounds about right. If only we knew more of what was going on exactly…”

  “Well, we don’t. And we won’t. Not for a long time. You won’t know if we are going to be met with armies, or if the emperor is ransoming your sister, or—”

  Tam snorted at the idea of anyone attempting to ransome Kat. He almost pitied them.

  “Or if the first witch has managed to find some magical powerhouses again to help back her.”

  That certainly would be a problem. Especially if she tried to take Luca.

  “I wonder if we should just leave straight to Lobahl and staying there for a while until things calm down once we get out of these woods,” Tam announced suddenly.

  Harris stared at him.

  “Eli and I joked about it before, but, what can we do in this war? I don’t even know that we could make all that much of a difference unless someone forces Eli to take the crown, and they use her connection with me and Daxaria to do it.”

  Harris considered this point. “So you wouldn’t support your sister? As she tries to make Zinfera better? End slave trading? None of that sounds like something worth helping?”

  “Not everyone is meant to save the world, Harris,” Tam argued sharply. The duke looked at Tam levelly, prompting him to continue. “Look… We all get a choice. My da chose to protect the position and home he found. He hadn’t wanted to be relied on by an entire kingdom. He’d wanted to be a cook and have a quiet life. He chose to seek more because of my mother. Then my sister seemed crafted for the role of protective leader. I feel different from my sister, and my mother.”

  Harris’s eyebrows twitch. “You can take part in something bigger that doesn’t consume your life.”

  “You can’t half-ass fighting in a war, Harris. Besides, things might be made worse if we get involved.”

  “How so?”

  “What if Luca—”

  “Dad! Dad, it’s a full moon!” Tam’s words were cut off as Luca and Peneleope bounded over to him excitedly.

  Shoving aside the heavy topic he had been discussing, Tam drew up a smile and peered up at the night sky Luca was pointing to see he was indeed correct. The moon was rising and was large in the sky.

  “Dad, are there any stories about the moon?”

  “Lots.”

  “What’s the best one?” Penelope asked while settling herself down in front of Tam. Luca did the same thing as he looked incredibly eager to hear another story.

  Smiling in spite of the anxiety in his chest and aching in his head, Tam leaned his back against a nearby tree trunk.

  “Well… My favorite one has to do with the story of the air witch and a sirin who tried to become friends with the moon…”

  As the familiar story wrapped around the group, and a hot dinner was served, everyone relished in Tam’s return to the land of the waking.

  Even though there was the creeping sense that danger was closing in around them, and it was closing in quickly.