Elspeth, the Nightmare cooed, my name like honey on his tongue. Get up. I reached out in the darkness for him, and when my mind scraped against the coarse fur on his back, he did not flinch away. I can’t, I said. I can’t get up. Not this time. I felt heavy, buried. But you can. Elspeth. It was going to happen anyway, Nightmare. You’re strong. And I’m… I’m so tired. My head… His voice was no more than a whisper. Let me help you.
