I ground my teeth. Lorian had always seen more than I’d wanted.
“Asinia is sick. Tibris is healing her each night, but he’s barely keeping her alive. She needs medicine.” The servants gossiped enough that it wouldn’t be difficult to find where that medicine was kept.
“And I expect you’re planning to steal it from the king’s healers.”
I narrowed my eyes at him and stayed silent.
“The king’s healers have underlings who keep count of all of their supplies.” Lorian’s voice was surprisingly gentle. “If you do this thing, the castle will be searched. Guards will be alerted, and it will be even more difficult for you to get your friend out.”
“And I suppose you have an alternative?” The bastard was always ready for a bargain. Except when it mattered. Wila’s face flashed in front of my eyes, and I took a step back.
Lorian merely followed me until, once again, my back was against the wall.
“I have the ability to source this medicine,” he said, and my heart rate tripled.
“And I suppose you want me to do something for you in return.” The fact was, I’d do anything at this point—something I was sure Lorian knew.
His body practically radiated heat, and I’d been cold for days.
No, Prisca.
“I have many capabilities. Stopping time is not one of them. That makes you infinitely valuable to me.”
I ignored the warmth that spread in my chest at his words. He was literally talking about using me as a tool to get what he wanted.
That was fine. I could use him too.
“Just say it,” I snapped.
“The king has a hidden room. The door is in his chambers. I need to get inside and find the entrance.” I didn’t bother asking just how he knew about the hidden room. It didn’t surprise me at all that he’d already learned of such a thing.
“When?” I asked.
“Now.”
I licked my lips. “I’ve been using my power all night.”
Lorian’s gaze dropped to my mouth, and he shrugged one shoulder. As usual, he was unconcerned about my perceived limitations.
“As I’ve told you, you’re much more powerful than you think. This will be a good training session for you.”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me down the hall.
I dragged my feet. If this went wrong, Asinia was dead. I couldn’t afford any missteps. “What guarantee do I have that you’ll help Asinia?”
He cast me an affronted look over his shoulder. “You believe I would lie?”
I waved a hand, taking in his princely wardrobe. His eyes lit with amusement, and he turned, placing his hands on his hips.
“I vow it,” he said solemnly. “I will have the medicine for you by midnight tomorrow.”
We stared at each other. Footsteps sounded on the stone. “I suggest you use your power,” Lorian said.
I hoped he was right about how much I had left. I pulled the thread to me, my skin heating as I froze everyone except us.
“Good,” he murmured. “Now, move.”
We ran. Well, Lorian sprinted, dragging me along with him. Within minutes, we were standing outside the king’s chambers, the guards frozen in front of us. I attempted to swallow, but my throat wasn’t working properly. My breath was coming too fast, and I couldn’t seem to slow it.
“What if the king is in there?”
“He’s not. I made sure of it. But I suggest you take a firm grasp on your power.”
I glowered at him, but he was already pushing the door open and hauling me inside with him.
Thankfully, no one was inside the huge entry area. The room had been decorated in maroon and gold. The king was nowhere to be seen, and the rest of the room was a blur, my eyes darting too quickly for me to take in the details.
“Which way?” I whispered.
“In the next room.”
I followed him into a lavish sitting room, also dripping gold. “Hold tight to your power,” he said.
“I am.” Tight enough that my head was beginning to ache.
Lorian was searching the walls for the entrance to the chamber, running his hand along each smooth surface, his eyes intent. I scanned the room for anything out of place.
One wall contained shelves that held ancient-looking weapons, scrolls, even a jeweled crown, which looked to have been tossed absently onto a shelf.
Just a few of those jewels could feed my village for months.
I took a step closer, peering at it.
“You help me find what I’m looking for, and I’ll give you jewels of your very own,” Lorian said, starting on the next wall.