Once the guards were posted, I took the chair next to the bed. She lay quiet on the mattress next to me, and I couldn’t help but look at her every three seconds, wanting to make sure her chest still rose and fell.
I looked down at my ungloved palm. I couldn’t let go of the memory of her flesh against mine while I’d held her hand.
Fates, what had become of me?
I dragged a hand through my hair, frustration making me restless. Trapped.
I wanted to be anywhere but here. Anywhere I could think of something else besides how afraid I was that she would die.
But I couldn’t go. There wasn’t a chance in hell I’d leave her side when she was like this. I’d rather be tethered to her in pain than free anywhere else.
So I leaned back and tried to calm my breathing, wishing that Wolf were here.
Sia
* * *
Consciousness tugged at me.
No.
I was too tired. There was no way I could get up and face the day.
A rustling sound from my left made me twitch.
Someone was there.
There was never anyone else in my apartment.
A tiny shot of adrenaline gave me enough energy to open my eyes.
I blinked, confused.
Where the hell was I?
The tiny room was dimly lit and moving.
I could feel the rumble, like we were in a big car.
No, a train car.
It all rushed back to me.
I was in the fae realm, riding a magic train to my wedding to a fae king.
I turned to the left and saw Lore. He sat in the chair next to me, his gaze on the door. He must have felt me looking because he turned to meet my gaze. The worried crease between his brows deepened. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay.” I croaked like a frog.
“Here.” He picked up a glass of water from the table. “Let me help you.”
“I can do it.” I struggled to sit.
He gave me a few seconds to try on my own before he helped me, his hands gentle on my skin. The memory of the man gripping my arms and trying to force me over the side of the train car made my stomach pitch.
I’d almost died.
I drew in a deep breath. Focus. I needed water, and to get myself together. Then I could ask questions.
Lore helped me drink, and the tenderness with which he treated me made my heart clutch. When I was finished, I settled back against the cushions and looked at him, searching his beautiful face for the reason he was here.
All I saw was worry.
“It’s late,” he said. “There are hours yet before dawn. You should go back to sleep.”
“Why are you helping me?”
He frowned, hesitating. “We didn’t catch the person who tried to kill you.”
“That wasn’t what I asked.”
“It’s what I answered.” He raised his brows. “I assume you’re interested in that as well?”
“I am.” And it was clear he wasn’t going to discuss why he was playing nursemaid, so I let it drop. “We lost him over the side, right?”
He nodded. “Right into a ravine. He’s dead. Body probably lost.”
“Good riddance.” I wanted information about my attacker, but I wanted him dead more. The feeling of hanging over the side of the train would haunt me for the rest of my life. I shivered.
“Are you cold?”
“No. Just— freaked out.”
“I won’t let anything happen to you.”
I didn’t point out that something already had happened. He was well aware.
“Do you know who poisoned you?” he asked.
I shook my head, then stopped when pain pierced me. “No. I was stupid and drank wine I didn’t see poured, though. I was distracted by the Queen of the Mountain Fae, and when a man handed me a glass, I drank it.”
“What did he look like?”
“Um, dark-haired. Yellow eyes. Not sure what he was wearing. Something blue, I think.”
“We’ll find him. Do you think the Queen of the Mountain Fae was trying to distract you?”
I thought back. “No. It’s possible, but I doubt it. I’m pretty good at reading people, and she seemed legit. I think he just took advantage of an opportunity.” Another thought occurred. “It might not even have been him. The female bartender poured me a drink, but she could have spiked the bottle. I didn’t see her open it.”
Lore nodded. “We’ll find both of them.”
I was so tired and achy that I was grateful he was taking care of this. I closed my eyes as he raised his wrist to his mouth and spoke into a comms charm. “Dain? Come to my quarters.”