There was no “or else.” Likely, the dark expression on his face was all the warning Madinia needed.
“I won’t tell anyone,” Madinia whispered.
“And why should we trust you?” Tibris asked.
“I’m on your side.”
“That’s likely.” Sarcasm dripped from Tibris’s voice.
“I’m…corrupt.”
“You mean you’re a hybrid.”
“Yes. That.”
“Enough chatter,” Lorian said. “You’re disturbing her.”
“Tyrant,” I muttered.
A large hand squeezed my own. “Just stay alive.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Dear L,
According to my sources, you recently became quite unhinged when the woman you claim is the bane of your existence almost died. It was said that you threatened a healer with a “long, excruciatingly painful death” and declared that you would kill everyone in the castle until you found whoever had poisoned her.
This kind of behavior is not what we agreed to.
C
Dear C,
Go fuck yourself.
L
I opened my eyes. Lorian’s gaze met mine, and then he was standing next to me, shoving pillows under my head until I was sitting up. His eyes were shuttered, but I caught a glimpse of relief.
I could relate. I was alive. My body ached, but the pain had dulled enough that I could think.
Lorian handed me a cup of water. “Drink.”
I gulped at it, but my hand trembled so violently, I spilled water over the side. Lorian’s expression darkened, and he held the cup for me.
“What happened?”
“You were poisoned.”
“I know that much. How long have I been…”
“Fighting death? Two days.”
My blood turned to ice. “That means it’s only nine days until the Gods Day ball.” How could I have lost two whole days? I needed every second. “Who—”
“Poisoned you? One of the queen’s ladies. Her name is Caraceli.”
I closed my eyes. Lorian took my hand, and I opened my eyes once more, startled by the feel of him. “Don’t sleep again. Not yet. Please.”
A lump formed in my throat. Despite our complicated relationship, I’d obviously scared him. I didn’t know how to feel about that.
“I think that might be the first time I’ve ever heard you say please. How do you know it was Caraceli?”
He scowled. “She was stupid enough to brag about it to one of the other ladies. It got back to the queen.”
She’d finally snapped. I’d feel guilty if she hadn’t almost killed me. “She has suspicions about me. Correct suspicions.”
“She hasn’t been interrogated yet. I’ll take care of it.”
“I don’t want her dead.”
He dropped my hand. “Your soft heart will be the death of you. It almost was. Did you take a cup from her?”
“I didn’t think she would poison me!”
He just shook his head.
“Surely there must be some way to silence her temporarily until this is all over. Please.”
He sighed. “I’ll think about it.”
I raised my hand to his jaw, wanting to feel the scruff along his chin. “You stayed here the whole time?”
He shrugged, glancing away. “Whenever I could. The entire castle is gossiping about our so-called relationship.”
I rolled my eyes. “The queen’s lady and the handsome prince. Of course they’re gossiping.”
His gaze returned to my face. “You enjoy the way I look?” His eyes glittered, and for a wild moment, I wanted to pluck them from his face.
My cheeks burned. “Yes, yes, your face is very symmetrical. An incredible achievement.”
He stared at me. Then he threw back his head with a laugh. The sound was the best thing I’d ever heard.
“You could convince the gods they were little more than peasants with that sharp tongue of yours.”
“You stayed here with me all that time? What about Pelopia?”
He sent me an affronted look. “You were dying.”
“I suppose I should feel flattered.”
“Oh, how you wound me. I would rather be holding your head over a bucket than whispering sweet nothings to any of the ladies in this court.”
The visual was so disgusting, I curled my lip. Lorian and I stared at each other. His mouth twitched.
I couldn’t help it. I dissolved into laughter. Lorian chuckled.
“I’m glad you’re having so much fun,” Rythos’s voice came from the doorway. He grinned at me. “You look much better than you did two nights ago.”