“Go find a palace healer, Sera. Better yet, have them send for Margot,” I command as I rush Raelyn out of the room. I’ll deal with the asshole later.
Sera runs off ahead of me, and I carry Raelyn back to our room, laying her gently on our bed.
“Please wake up, love,” I say, carefully tucking her hair back and trying to fix her clothes. I feel completely helpless. I should have been with her. I should never have let her leave the gardens without me, but my father . . . I curse under my breath.
Her breathing is shallow, and her skin looks extra pale. She’s slowly gained color since going out in the sun, but now she looks almost sickly. What was done to her? I continue squeezing her hand and praying to the gods, to anyone who will listen, that she will wake up.
I vaguely hear the door slam open before Sera and a healer enter the room.
“Please move out of the way, Your Highness,” the healer says, waving me away as she gets close to Raelyn, smelling her breath and listening to her heart.
“Someone was sent to fetch Margot,” Sera says.
I breathe a sigh of relief. There’s no one I trust more.
Trying to stay out of the healer’s way, I pull the bell to ring for Giles.
“There’s some discoloration around her mouth,” the healer muses. “Do we know what she ate or drank before this?”
I helplessly shake my head, looking to Sera. “Did you notice anything out of the ordinary?”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I did not.”
“What were you even doing up there? How did you know she needed help?” My words come out in a rush, and she looks almost frightened. “I promise, you’re not in any trouble, but anything you can tell us would be helpful.”
Sera looks around the room hesitantly. “Can you guarantee my family’s safety?”
“Of course.” I don’t even hesitate to reply.
“I saw Lady Astoria wandering about the palace, and she looked up to no good.”
I frown. Rae’s stepmother?
“I followed her up to the abandoned wing but tried to stay out of sight, so I didn’t hear much, and then Lord Havordshire came out into the hall, and I ducked behind some curtains.”
I nod for her to continue.
“At some point, they came back out into the hall, and I heard the lady say that Raelyn wouldn’t remember anything before Lord Havordshire took her to the bedroom.”
Was someone messing with her memory . . . again?
“I had to wait for Lady Astoria to leave, and then I followed him into the room. I had to do something. Things were clearly amiss.”
“Thank you for intervening,” I say. “Gods only know what he would have done if he’d had more time.
Sera visibly shudders. “I d-don’t think . . . he was able to . . .”
“It’s okay. Take a deep breath.” I try to be reassuring, even as my rage boils beneath the surface. “Do you think you can take Giles and my guards up to the room you first saw them enter? Maybe there is something there that can give us a clue as to what they poisoned her with.”
Sera nods emphatically. Just then, Giles comes in, brows furrowed. “Is everything all right, Your Highness?”
“Please get at least two guards and accompany Sera upstairs. Dylan Havordshire should be unconscious, and I want him taken to the dungeon immediately. Someone needs to assist Sera and search for clues. I’ll let her explain.”
“Yes, sire,” Giles says immediately. “And if he’s not there?”
“Find him.”
I turn my attention back to my wife, who lies completely still on the bed. “Can you tell me anything?” I ask the healer.
