Castor didn't look away. Instead, he let his hand slide from Julian's sleeve to the back of Julian's hand that was on his neck, his thumb grazing the skin.
"My chest feels tight," Castor whispered, his face reddening even more as he looked up at Julian. "Is that... is that part of the corruption? Every time you come near, it feels like I'm losing my breath again."
Julian froze. He didn't need a book to diagnose the look in the boy's eyes. It wasn't the pain of holy energy. It was something far more human, and far more dangerous in a city that forbade it. And having those eyes towards Julian… It was impossible.
"I'll... I'll prepare a different decoction," Julian muttered, standing up quickly and avoiding Castor's gaze. "Rest now."
