“Can you hear me?” I asked.

The lid dropped and came right back up.

One single blink.

“Do you know who I am?”

He blinked once again.

My mouth went dry, and Theodore shifted his small hip against my chest.

The fever was still climbing in his cheek, and he smelled like warm clover and copper.

“Are you in pain?” I asked softly.

His right eyelid stayed open.

Then it closed slowly, stayed shut for two full seconds, and opened again.

Two blinks.

“You don’t hurt?” I asked.

One blink.

“Does Christopher know you’re wide awake?” I asked.