I Am Sorry

Ceti had no choice but to swallow the potion under his crude threat, her throat contracting against the cool, soothing liquid that immediately brought a numbing relief. But the look in Asher's eyes had shaken her. 

Could it be...

But there was no time to ponder. Asher's eyes were fixated on the red circles converging on them, an indicator of approaching enemy forces. 

Without wasting a second, he dug into his spatial bag, pulling out a wrapped parcel.

"Eat this," he commanded, lifting her effortlessly into his arms, "It should slow down the poison," Asher noticed the bloody claw mark with a dark green glow on her shoulder and knew she got poisoned by Serkan.

Ceti squinted at the offered food. To her surprise, it was the same one she had given him earlier. Her heart twisted at the thought. He had kept it, despite everything. She began to eat, knowing full well what he might say if she didn't.