The words takea moment to sink in, then thoughts race in my mind. Did someone try to kill him again? Was this Lee’s plan? Or exceptionally good luck? I wet my lips to give myself time to steady my emotions. “I didn’t know he could be injured.”
“Someone must have figured out a way.” He sounds surprised, then clears his throat. “He and Caiden are on their way here so he can recover.”
My mind is at war between hoping he dies before he arrives and hoping he survives so I can be the one to kill him.
“How is Caiden?” I ask.
“They didn’t say anything about him, so I think he’s safe,” Brevan says.
“Oh, good.” My tone is flat.
“I’ll call for the ladies to help you wash and dress,” Brevan says. “Should I send up some food?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Is there anything else you need, Princess?” He waits in the doorway, one foot already in the hall.
Yes.I want to beg him to stay. To tell him everything I feel. But that will just make things harder. Caiden will be here soon,and I will be his wife. Anything I do with Brevan puts his life in danger. “No.”
When he leaves, it’s like he takes part of me with him. And I know that’s a part he’ll always have.
I let the ladies help me to the bathing chamber and fill the tub but send them out so I can wash alone. When the walk from the door to the bathtub leaves me breathless, I reluctantly call them back.
I’m so weak I need their help to finish undressing. The lady with the brown ringlets gasps, then turns away quickly. She must have seen my scar.
“Childhood accident,” I say, deciding to say something, but keep it vague.
“Bridget,” the other woman scolds.
Bridget turns around. “It’s not the scar, I’m sorry. I’ve just never seen a god’s gift mark before.”
It’s my turn to gasp. “Where?”
“On your back,” the other woman says.
“You didn’t know?” Bridget asks.
“She’s been sleeping since she returned from the temple,” the other woman scolds.
“What does it look like?” I wish there was a way to twist enough to see it.
“You want us to look?” Bridget asks, her voice timid.
“It’s usually kept private,” the other woman explains.
“Please, tell me,” I say. “How else am I to know?”
“It’s—” Bridget starts.
“It’s the twin moons,” the other woman says.
“It’s beautiful,” Bridget adds.
“Do you know anything about the marks? What it might mean?” Aside from having no energy, I feel the same as always. If I had magic, wouldn’t I know?
“I don’t,” Bridget says. “Do you, Clara?”
Clara shakes her head. “They keep all of that very secret. Even my own son didn’t let me see his mark or tell me anything about his visit to the temple.”
