Chapter 26 · Even Warlords Get Fevers

"You're burning up."

Huo Yanzhan didn't answer. He was propped against the stone wall of the command hall, one hand pressed to his ribs where the coughing fit had cracked something loose. Blood still flecked his lips from the gas chamber. His skin had that waxy, gray undertone I'd seen a hundred times in the ER—shock settling in, body deciding whether to fight or fold.

"Don't," he said, when I reached for his wrist to check his pulse. His voice came out raw. "There's no time."

"Yeah, well, you don't get to keel over before I do." I grabbed his wrist anyway. His pulse was thready, too fast. Fever-fast. "You inhaled twice the spore load I did. You shoved the only wet cloth at me like some kind of martyred idiot, and now your lungs are paying for it."

Huo Jingchuan was slumped on the other side of the hall, pale but breathing steadier than his brother. The kid had gotten out first. Huo Yanzhan had stayed behind to wedge the gas vent shut with his bare hands while I dragged Jingchuan clear. Classic warlord move.