I turned to see him staring at Poppy’s bound wrists, his brow furrowed. The torn blanket stood out starkly against her pale skin, an ugly reminder of what I’d been forced to do and why.
“I had to,” I murmured, the words tasting like ash on my tongue. “She was clawing at herself.”
Kieran opened his mouth and then abruptly closed it as he saw the dried blood and shallow tears on her face. He went completely still.
I quietly walked to her other side. The silence was broken only by my quiet footfalls. Gods, she looked peaceful. I wanted to go to her and brush the hair from her face but held myself back. Her chest still rose in those short, shallow but steady breaths. Her legs were pressed together and bent at the knees, exposed tothe cool air. I wanted to pull the robe or a blanket over her, but waking her was a concern.
I dragged my stare from her as Attes stepped around Kieran to join me. His footsteps made no sound. His eyes met mine, and then he looked down.
He jerked back quickly, his face paling so rapidly I thought he might topple over. His lips moved, forming words too fast and low for me to catch as eather lit up his wide eyes.
My stomach clenched as I shot Kieran a quick look. He seemed as bewildered as I felt. “Attes?” I asked, keeping my voice barely above a whisper. “What is it?”
He didn’t seem to hear me as he stared down at her, the scar on his face standing out in his now bloodless skin. He looked at Poppy as if she were a ghost.
Which was odd as fuck.
Kieran stepped closer to him. “Attes?”
His head drew back with his sharp breath, and he blinked rapidly. “Sorry,” he choked out. “I…”
Kieran’s eyes darted to mine. It was clear he had no idea what was going on either.
Wariness crept through me as I stepped in front of Attes, blocking Poppy the best I could. “Is there a problem?”
He closed his eyes and shook his head. “No.”
His single-word answer did nothing to assuage my growing unease. “You sure about that?”
Attes’s jaw spasmed as his eyes opened. “Yes.”
“Then what’s up with the reaction?” Kieran demanded quietly.
“It’s just…” He swallowed and glanced up at the low ceiling. “She looks like someone I…once knew.”
My brows snapped together. Someone he once knew?
“The Queen of the Gods,” Kieran surmised.
Attes nodded.
“She is her granddaughter,” he explained, watching the Primal closely. “Did you not know that?”
“I did,” Attes said hoarsely.
I assumed he still knew the Queen of the Gods, so his statement made no sense. I wasn’t buying it. My gaze met Kieran’s. I didn’t think he was either.
Attes moved to our right and took a deep breath. I turned as he knelt. He was several feet from her, but it was too close for me. “I’m surprised she hasn’t woken,” he commented. “I wonder…” Shaking his head, he rose and lifted a hand. I saw the tremor in it as he thrust his fingers through his hair. “She won’t remain this way. We need to move quickly. Let me know when you’re ready.”
My gaze flipped to Kieran. His jaw tightened. “I’ll follow your lead.”
I glanced to where Attes faced the door. He’d stiffened. Exhaling roughly, I went to Poppy’s side and lowered myself. Her breathing hadn’t changed, but it was too shallow, too fast. What felt like an invisible hand reached in and gripped my sternum, but I forced myself to focus on the task at hand.
“I don’t see anything on her legs,” Kieran said, kneeling beside me.
Flicking a quick look at Attes’s back, I carefully lifted the hem of the gown.
“Nothing on this side,” Kieran grunted.
