Days passed. Aster spent a great amount of time in the infirmary, waiting to see Jace’s progress with healing. After the first day he woke up again, but was too incoherent to do more than ask for water and smile like a dopey, lovelorn fool at Aster. Aster begrudged him fond smiles back, and made sure that no one saw or heard when he and Jace exchanged little sweet nothings.

As Jace went along his healing process, Aster began to converse more often with the Physicks and ...