Damon did not make it to his room.
Ester forced him into the infirmary as soon as they crossed the mansion gates. He tried to argue that he could walk on his own, but Vorn's lines still appeared above his collarbone whenever the root inside his chest pulsed. The physician ignored every complaint, cut away part of his torn shirt, and pressed three needles around his shoulder before he finished his first sentence.
"That was unnecessarily aggressive," Damon murmured.
"You allowed the mark to reach your neck."
"I was busy."
"Nearly dying is not an occupation."
"I disagree."
Ester turned the fourth needle.
Damon closed his mouth.
On the other side of the infirmary, Jian Li lay inside a containment circle. The white marks had retreated from her neck, but still covered almost her entire arm and part of her chest. Her breathing was irregular, and every heartbeat caused small lines of ice to appear over the bed.
Jian Yue remained beside her.
