Luke squeezed Ardec's hand. "What happened to you? You were the epitome of health at the gala." He glanced up at Dr. Seneel. "When will Larisa arrive?"
"Any time now. She was as shocked as you are."
"Is he stable enough that I can go get properly dressed?"
Dr. Seneel nodded. "He's comfortable and stable. Sitting here with him won't make any difference."
"I'll be back after I change and meet up with Larisa." He leaned over and kissed his father's forehead. "You hang in there. I'll be back soon."
Back in his room, he stood in the shower and tried to make sense of what was happening.How did he get sick so fast? And how will he respond to Larisa being here?
Ardec and his only daughter had experienced a falling out several years prior. Larisa had fallen in love with a dragon fighting on the opposite side of a war that the King himself had an interest in. When she refused to see her father's way in things, he had exiled her from the kingdom.
Much as he had Sarah's family.
With Ardec, there was only black and white. No grey areas existed, and if you didn't agree with him, you were against him. He was a good king, but Luke had always thought that he should lighten up his iron fist. People respected him because they were slightly afraid of him. Luke knew that feeling all too well growing up with the man. When he was king, he wanted to be respected for his kindness and fairness.
It scared him to death that his coronation might come much sooner than he had ever expected.
Larisa's husband had been killed in the war the year before, but she had still refused to come home. It had been some time since he had seen his sister, and he suddenly found himself anxious to see her again.
By the time he dressed, there was a knock on his door. He opened it to find his sister standing there.
"Luke!" She flew into his arms. "How are you, bro?"
They went into his sitting room. Larisa sat on the sofa while Luke took the overstuffed chair. "I'm okay. How are you? You look good."
"I'm doing great," she answered. "I'm in my last year of med school before I start a residency."
"Med school?" he asked in shock. "I had no idea."
She gave a sad smile. "It's been some time since I've seen you. I actually started at my husband's urging, and then after he was killed, I threw myself into it so I could help the injured."
"Are you talking about human doctor or dragon shifters?"
"I'm taking human classes, but I have incorporated some dragon magic in there."
"Seems as though we need a little of that magic here." He knew she was teasing about the magic, but it didn't really sound like a bad idea."
"What happened to Father? I had no idea he was sick." She stared at the floor. "I haven't talked to him since I left."
"Nor did I, so don't feel bad about it." Luke rose and started to pace. He told her about the gala and Ardec's sudden announcement. "Dr. Seneel sent for me just an hour or so ago. I didn't have any knowledge of him being sick. I haven't spoken to him since his announcement. There was no need to say anything; you know how he gets."
Larisa gave a shake of her head. "He's stubborn, and when he thinks he's right, that's the end of it. I do remember that."
"You had every right to live your life as you saw fit. I think Father lost some of his emotion when Mother passed away, and everything became his way or wrong."
"Come on," she replied and stood up. "Let's go see him."
Dawn was just starting to break when they headed to Ardec's chambers. Dr. Seneel was seated in a chair when they arrived, but he jumped up.
"Ms. Larisa. So good to see you again."
She gave the doctor a quick hug. "Likewise. Thank you for caring for Father and for contacting me."
"I will go seek out coffee while you visit. I don't know if the King will know that you're here, but you can try."
The doctor left, and Larisa sat on the edge of the bed and smoothed a hair out of her father's face. "I've always been fascinated with comas. I don't know if he's actually in a coma or just comatose, but whether or not he can hear us just makes me wonder at the possibilities of the mind."
