Chapter 79: Nyra’s POV

The smell of sage and burnt resin clung to the back of my throat. It had been hours since Mirna first made me sit cross-legged in front of the fire place, breathing in whatever concoction she’d thrown into the flames. The air shimmered, thick with smoke and heat. Every time I exhaled, my lungs felt heavier.

Tea followed the smoke. Then another tea. Then one more.

Each one tasted worse than the last some bitter, some sharp, one was even metallic, like licking rust ...