Chapter 819

　　Third person's POV 　　Tabitha tossed and turned, haunted by the harrowing image of Derek ensnared by snakes. 　　Anyone else would have been petrified, but Derek had endured it all—blind and at the mercy of unseen horrors. 　　Fear of the unknown often surpasses the fear of what we can see. 　　She sat up and saw Derek's massive frame curled into a shivering ball. "Is he... trembling?" she wondered. 　　An odd sense of protectiveness welled up in her, akin to the feeling of a loyal dog being abandoned. 　　Derek was poisoned, blind, and alone—his only anchor was her. 　　"Hey, you..." 　　Derek's back was to her, his shoulders quivering. "Tabitha, I'm sorry for disturbing you. You don't have to mind me. Sleep well," he muttered, his voice trembling. 　　"You're being deliberately difficult," she said, exasperated. "Lack of rest won't aid your recovery." 　　Tabitha said, "What do you want exactly?" 　　Derek's muffled voice came through, "Um... if you could stay with me while I sleep, I might not be so s