"Juna," Hajin said, his dry voice scraping from his throat.
The beastkin launched out of her chair so hard that both feet left the floor as her damp cloth flew toward the door, ears pressed flat and tail fluffed twice their normal size.
"Master!" Juna shouted, scrambling across the space between them.
She dropped to her knees beside the bed and stared at his open eyes as if she did not trust them to remain open.
"You're finally awake," Juna said, both hands hovering above his chest.
Relief broke her next breath into one long, shaky sound.
"I thought you were going to... I thought you were..." she continued, unable to finish either fear.
"I'm fine," Hajin muttered, trying to push himself upright.
His arms felt like lead wrapped around brittle bone beneath the blankets.
"No, you are not fine!" Juna shouted, catching both shoulders before he could collapse sideways.
She pinned him against the mattress with more care than her anger suggested.
