She takes her hands off Raelyn and turns to look at me. “Until we know for sure what drugged her, I am hesitant to treat her. Her heart sounds weak but is not faltering, and she is breathing well. The best thing we can do for her is find out what she drank and mix up an antidote.”
I run a hand through my hair, wondering if I should tell the healer of her heritage, if that will help anything, but then her secret would be out. Luna help me, what should I do?
“Thank you,” I say. “Is there anything we can do for her now?”
“Just try to keep her comfortable,” the healer says. “I’ll go fetch some fresh water and be back soon.”
I nod and return to Rae’s side, picking up her hand. Suddenly, it comes to me. My blood. Would that help her? Or should I carry her out to the sun? But if Lady Astoria had anything to do with this and there’s a chance she’s aware of her true heritage, it’s quite possible she did something to stifle her powers. The last thing I want is to cause Raelyn more pain, so bringing her to the sun is out, but perhaps my blood could save her.
I pull a dagger from my boot and slice into my thumb, sliding it between Raelyn’s lips.
“Come on. Drink, love,” I say under my breath.
She swallows, and I sigh a breath of relief, hoping my blood will do something, anything to help her. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but her skin appears to flush just a little. I pull away my thumb and find that it’s already sealed. Strange. I’m about to cut into it again when Margot comes in with a large pitcher of water.
“Thank the gods you’re here,” I say.
“Anything for you, sire. The other healer filled me in with what she could. Any changes?” she asks as she pours a small glass.
“I don’t think so.”
“Here, hold her up a little,” Margot commands, and I gently lift Raelyn’s head and shoulders off the pillow.
Margot brings the glass up to her lips and slowly tips it back. Water runs out of Raelyn’s mouth, but she swallows again, and the healer nods for me to put her back down. She feels for her pulse, and a pleased look crosses her face. “Her heart rate is regular, so perhaps she can clear this on her own.”
I take a deep breath and blow it out slowly. Whether my blood helped, I’m not sure, but I’m not about to risk doing anything more in front of Margot, regardless of how much I trust her.
I’m not sure how much time has passed, but Sera and Giles come back, holding a short tumbler with an amethyst liquid inside.
“We found this in one of the rooms,” Giles explains.
Margot gives it a quick sniff. “Please take it to the alchemists immediately. Hopefully they can tell us what it is and how to treat it.”
Giles nods and disappears again with the glass, and I look to Sera. “Was Dylan still there?”
She fidgets uneasily and nods. “The guards carried him down to the dungeon, I believe.”
“Good. Can you stay with her?” I ask. “I want to see if I can get some answers out of him.”
“Of course, Your Highness,” she replies. “I won’t let her out of my sight.”
“Thank you.”
No one touches my wife and gets away with it. Certainly not Dylan Havordshire, regardless of who his father is.
Makingmy way down to our dungeon, I let my anger rise up within me. There will be a reckoning, and one way or another I will get my answers. If I had my way, Rae’s stepmother would be down here as well, but I’ll have to go about this carefully. She’s married to one of Father’s oldest friends, and he would not take kindly to what I want to do to that woman.
“Is he awake?” I question the guards as I roll up my sleeves.
“I think I heard him moving around,” one guard replies.
“Fantastic. Is he chained?”
“No. Would you like one of us to go in with you?”
“I’m not worried about him.”
When the door swings open, I step into the room and wait for it to clang shut behind me. The key turns in the lock, and I allow myself a grin.
