“What is there to tell when it is merely a side effect?” he answers, sweat beading at his brow.
“Is that really all it is?” I ask as Nox sighs in relief. But he has been so secretive, hiding so much of his pain—ofhimself—from his family prior to Stephan’s death. There have only been two versions of him I’ve seen in the weeks since Rhea was taken: angry and exhausted. And as time has passed, the former has given way slightly to the latter.
“What is this tincture made from?”
“Oh, a collection of plants. Lavendaris. Gelsemium.”
Wait… “Isn’t gelsemium known for its paralytic qualities?” It has been a while since I’ve studied plant properties, but gelsemium is one I’ve always remembered because of how utterly terrifying it sounds. Ingest just a little of the crushed petals, and you’ll be left completely aware of your surroundings but unable to move.
“It is, but there is not enough in the medicine to cause paralysis. Just enough to numb His Majesty to the pain he’s been feeling.” But it isn’t just numbing his pain; it’s numbinghim. Thinking back over my time being home, Nox’s steadfast assuredness that he was going to get Rhea was ever present at the beginning. But when he was dragged back to the Mage Kingdom by Stephan, paralyzed in a way that sounded a lot like a side effect of gelsemium, that ever-present determination began to weaken. I had seen glimpses of it, particularly when something angered him enough to protect Rhea’s honor or name, but even those had been fewer and farther between.
“Galen, how often does Nox get this tincture?”
“Every few days.” It’s Nox who answers, his head turning to look at me, eyes narrowed.
“If it has been a few days since he had his last dose, shouldn’t these lines be more faded? Not as stark?” I shake my head, something not quite adding up. “If they were truly related to the medicine—”
“Enough, Princess Bahira.” Galen lifts his hands away from Nox and turns to face me, gaze boring into mine. “Iknow healing best. You focus on whatyouknow best and leave the care of your brother to me.”
He brushes past me, leaving me in a stupor as he says something to draw Nox’s attention to him.
I return to staring at the horrific map of secrets covering my brother’s back. What Galen suggested they are could be true, yet why wouldn’t he have brought it up to Nox? On the off chance that my brother—or someone else—might have seen them? Like when Nox removed his shirt to spar or— But Ijustsparred with him, and he didn’t remove his shirt. With how he is feeling, it isn’t like he’s sparring regularly. And he’s certainly not inviting anyone to his bed, but could Galen have banked on those facts?
I pinch my lips together, making a gut decision as I reach for the blade I keep tucked in my boot. I’ll apologize to Nox for not giving him a heads up after I prove my theory right.Orwrong. Clicking the blade out of its hilt, I take a step towards Nox and place my hand on his back where the dark lines gather, pressing against that hard clump beneath his skin. But before I can make contact with the blade, green ropes wrap around my wrists, my hands firmly tugged away from Nox and suspended in the air with Galen’s magic.
“Galen, release me!” I snap, in partial awe that he dared to use his magic against me.
Nox shifts on the bed to look at me, his eyes flaring wide. “Do as she says, Galen.”
“This is for your own good, Your Majesty.”
“Release Bahira.Now.”
He shakes his head, hands shaking where he holds them out in front of him. “This is the only way. He said so. You’re still too dangerous.”
“Who said so?” I ask, struggling against the magical restraints and finding that they are already starting to give.
“Everything we did was to protect you, Your Majesty. To ensure that you’d be ready toprotect uswhen the time came. But, Princess Bahira, you cannot interfere. You’ve already drawn too much attention to yourself.” His lip trembles, spittle flying as he talks. “You must leave this be. You must let the plan roll out accordingly for the good of our people.”
Dread lands like a rock in my stomach. “Those lines—the markings on his back—aren’t from the medicine, are they?” His grip on his magic falters. “Is it?” I shout.
“Leave it be—”
“We both know your magic is going to fail any moment now, and then you’ll be stuck in this room with two curious individuals—one with nothing to lose, and one who may show you mercy if you answer our questions,” I implore, my arms flexing as I fight against his hold. “Whose pl—”
His magic gives out, and he falls to the floor, hands planting to catch himself just in time. I move to help him, but Nox stops me. “Who, Galen?”
“Kallin’s!” he answers, his head hanging between his shoulders. “He promised it was only temporary, that until the damage the girl had done to you was reversed, we had to do it this way.”
“Girl?”
Galen lifts his head, the gray of his eyes lost behind unshed tears. “Rhea,” he breathes, and Nox lets loose a low growl. “Kallin knew about her. Knew that you weren’t being truthful about who she was and where she came from. After I examined her for the first time, he asked for a full report. I told him the truth, that she felt stronger than even you, King Nox, and that you tried to hide her signature from me.”
“Why would you break a lifetime of trust with your king and queen forKallin?” I ask, my eyes searching his.
“Because even though I have always respected your father, Kallin saw how much he put the wants of his family over the needs of his own kingdom.”
The accusation stings, and I point my blade at Galen as I sneer, “You knownothingof how much my fatherloveshis people if that is what you think. A king can only be made better by his dedication to his family.”
