“I don’t have a lot to do in my room,” I say. “At least this will keep me busy.”
“Not what I’d choose to read, but I suppose there are some interesting tales in those books,” he says.
“And what is it that you’d choose to read?” I ask.
His brow furrows like he’s putting a lot of thought into my question. I notice how tired he still looks. How the deep purple under his eyes hasn’t faded at all. Does he ever sleep?
“You know, I can’t remember the last time I read a book,” he says. “Maybe I’ll borrow one of those from you.”
When we reach my room, I hesitate at the door. “Maybe you should sleep in the extra bed since that might be the only way you get any rest. After you bathe, of course.”
“I don’t think that would be a good idea,” he says.
“You slept on my window seat the first night I was here. If that didn’t cause a scandal, this certainly won’t.”
“I’m fine outside your door.”
“No, you’re not,” I say. “You haven’t slept, and you probably haven’t healed yet, and as much as I give you a hard time, I am grateful for your protection. You have to take care of yourself, too.”
“I appreciate it. But you managed to get past the other guards.”
“I promise I’ll stay in my room. It’s the least I can do,” I say, and I mean it.
He hesitates, then nods. “Alright. I’ll take the night off. You’ll stay in your room.”
“Sleep well.”
When I peek outside my room later that night, he’s not there. It’s a good thing. He needed the rest. But why am I so disappointed?
Twenty-Four
“Sabina!”
I leap up and throw the covers off the bed. Someone is yelling at me from the hallway.
“Sabina, open up!”
“Juliette?”
“Yes, it’s me. Tell these assholes to open the door,” she shouts.
“Let her in!” I yell just as I reach the door to open it myself.
She flings herself into the room and falls against me. Sobs shake her, and I wrap my arms around her. She’s in a robe, and her hair is a frizzy mess.
“It’s going to be alright. I’ve got you.” I’m thrust back into memories of doing the same thing for my best friend, Anya. She would scream and thrash in her bed, soaked in sweat, reliving all her worst days. I’d wake her and hold her until she could catch her breath. My chest aches. Who was comforting her now? She was doing better when I left, but there was still the occasional bad night.
“Don’t worry, you’re safe,” I tell Juliette as I smooth her hair. “You’re safe.”
She takes a few deep breaths, and the crying eases. When she pulls away from me, she wipes her eyes. Her jaw trembles, and her face is blotchy and red. She’s been crying a while.
“What happened?” I ask.
“They woke me this morning to prepare me to see the earl. He’s here. He rode all day and night to meet me. Sabina, he’s not going to let me get out of this. I can’t marry him. I just can’t.” She wipes her nose on her sleeve.
I know nothing about how marriages work for nobles. And she’s the emperor’s niece, which makes her royalty.
She paces the room, wringing her hands. “I can’t go to a temple. Everyone knows I’m not a virgin. They wouldn’t take me, even if I wanted to go.” She looks over at me. “Which I don’t. But I can’t marry him.”
