“WHAT DO YOU WANT?”
The Guardian didn’t say those exact words, but the sentiment suffused me. Impatient. Annoyed to be called upon twice in one day.
“I need....” I coughed against the root that pressed against my windpipe. Its intrusion had halted the flow of blood, but I had to force myself not to jerk away from it. I would have preferred Rune’s teeth at my throat.
More annoyance from the Guardian. The emotion could be summed up in a phrase something like: “Spit it out.”
Meanwhile, one of Rune’s hands slid away from my shoulder and onto the soil-encrusted tendril. He didn’t bear down, but his touch was a warning. “Tara. Are you alright?”
I nodded, then regretted it when the movement tore skin away from the root and restarted the bleeding. Beside me, Rune growled. I reached out blindl
