Aures jolts him back into himself.

“Your heartbeat is very rapid. Are you feeling alright?”

Her natural no-nonsense manner leaves very little room for any form of dishonesty, even if it’s for his own sake more than anyone else’s.

“I think I’ve finally gone around the bend, sister-dear,” he murmurs between them, so as not to worry Lilliana, who has a propensity for fussing.

Aures ceases her examination to pin him with a look ...