"It won't explode," Marek said confidently. He knew the poison he'd been working with inside and out, had designed it himself. The ingredients were insidious, but not explosive. They harmed only living things, they wouldn't harm his cauldron. "And it's probably already spoiled, hasn't been stirred since I accidentally got a dose. Just leave the fire to burn itself out, I'll look at it in the morning and see if anything can be salvaged."
He had managed to prop his head up on pillows while she was gone, and lifted the glass of water to his lips, drinking deep. As he swallowed, he patted the bed beside him for her to sit down. He was lying on top of the covers still, and didn't feel cold enough to worry about them. Not yet, anyway. "You should join me. I won't sleep for a while yet, because it left my mind alone. The way you suggested."