Prisca swayed on her feet. Her face had turned ashen. I took a step toward her, attempting to steady her. She flinched.
I forced my hands back to my sides. “Coming here was a mistake,” I said. “You’re not the only one with people you need to protect. I can’t help you.”
She stumbled back toward the door. Her eyes met mine, and for a single moment, the amber shone through whatever charm she had in place.
“Of course you can’t. You’ve proven you have no concerns about leaving women to die. I don’t know why I expected anything more of you.” She turned and stalked out.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and let out a low laugh.
Because despite everything I’d just said, I was going to try to get the maid out.
My door opened shortly after sunrise the next morning. Daselis swept in, throwing open the curtains.
“The queen expects her ladies to eat breakfast with her this morning,” she said.
“I can get myself ready.” My voice was hoarse. After I’d begged Lorian for help, I’d cried myself to sleep.
Daselis just stalked into the bathing room. Water began running directly after, and I forced myself to get out of bed.
“Are you okay?” Erea whispered. “Your eyes are all swollen, your face blotchy.”
“It must be difficult landing such a coveted position,” Daselis said, stepping back into the room, her voice heavy with sarcasm. “Bathe.”
I didn’t have it in me to argue. I made my way to the bathing room, stripped, and slipped into the bath, my mind whirling.
I hated that Lorian had sounded so assured. That every word he’d said had made perfect sense. I’d known since I’d seen Asinia in the dungeon that I’d need a better strategy than “use my power to freeze time and sneak her out of the castle.” But the thought of Wila dying because of my stupid plan…
I couldn’t let her lose her life that way.
I wouldn’t.
Someone knocked on the bedroom door. Either Erea or Daselis must have opened it, because I heard murmuring. Erea poked her head into the bathing room.
“That was a messenger. Instead of eating in the queen’s rooms, you’ll be eating at a formal breakfast with the king. He has an announcement.”
A headache had begun to pound behind my right eye. But I nodded, stepping out of the bath.
“You need to hurry,” Daselis said.
I was barely present as they helped me dress. My mind returned to Wila in that cell again and again. The bruises on her face. The freezing air. And the thought of her being taken from that cell, only to die. There had to be a way to get her out. If Lorian wouldn’t help, I’d try something else.
I just needed a big enough distraction that I could buy Wila a day or two.
“Time to go,” Daselis said grimly.
Erea’s hands fluttered from where she’d been fixing my hair.
“It looks perfect,” I told her.
Getting to my feet, I made my way down to the royal dining hall. The last people I wanted to see were the king and queen. Although today, the thought of seeing Lorian was just as distasteful. The other ladies were already waiting, the same seat empty. I sat in it and glanced at Lisveth.
“Is this something that happens often?”
She shook her head. “Usually, the king doesn’t rise for another few hours.”
Obviously being an evil bastard took it out of him.
“Do you know what’s going on?”
“Nope. Want some breakfast?”
My stomach was churning too much to eat. I shook my head, and she sighed. “You barely ate anything last night either. Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m fine. I just don’t like big meals in the morning.” A man I didn’t recognize was sitting at the king’s table. A man with sharp features and cold gray eyes. “Who is that?”
“Rothnic Boria. He’s the one who used his magic to create the horseless carriages. He’s one of the king’s favorites, and everyone at court is desperate to see what he does next with his magic and genius mind.”
“And the man beside him?”
“His son Davis. He’s obsessed with Madinia, but she has been ignoring him for years.”
Davis was handsome, although he had a weak jaw. But his eyes were even colder than his father’s, and something about him made me shiver. Maybe he was the perfect match for Madinia. Although I wouldn’t wish someone with eyes that lifeless on anyone, even her.
We all stood as the king and queen walked in together. Behind them, Lorian strolled, his lithe movements making him seem less of the giant brute I knew him to be and more…elegant. He’d disappointed me. Not only because he’d refused to help, but because I’d gone to him when I should have known better.