CIARA’S POV

I woke up shivering.

My skin felt like ice despite the fire burning through my veins. Everything hurt in a way that went deeper than muscle and bone. It was the kind of pain that lived in your soul, the kind that made you understand why people talked about aches that weather could predict.

The infirmary smelled of herbs and metal. Lavender and sage hung from the rafters in neat bundles, but underneath that comfort was the sharp scent of medical instruments and antiseptic. The ...