Up close, his injuries look worse. The bandage across his nose doesn’t quite hide the swelling beneath, and the bruises under his eyes have bloomed in vivid purple and yellow. There’sa stiffness to his movements that speaks of pain he’s trying to conceal.
Logan’s golden eyes meet mine, and something electric passes between us, a surprise shock of current through the bond that’s been stretched thin. For a moment, I feel everything he’s feeling—exhaustion, pain, relief at seeing me safe, and something deeper, more complex that I can’t quite name.
“Maya,” he says, my name a rough whisper on his lips. “You’re safe.”
“I am,” I confirm, fighting the inexplicable urge to touch him, to verify his solidity with my own hands. “Cillian and I arrived last night without a problem.”
“Where is he?” Poe asks, his dark eyes scanning the entrance hall.
“Meeting with the Queen Mother’s security chief,” I explain. “Reviewing protocols, comparing notes. You know how he is.”
Poe nods, a ghost of a smile touching his lips.
“What happened to you?” I ask Logan, unable to keep the question contained any longer. “You look like you’ve been beaten to a pulp.”
Logan’s mouth quirks. “We ran into some trouble on the road.”
“Trouble?” I repeat.
“My brother Willam,” Logan clarifies, his voice neutral despite the tension I can feel radiating from him. “He and six of the king’s men ambushed us near the northern crossing.”
My stomach drops. “The king knows you’re here? He sent men after you?”
“Willam found us on his own,” Poe interjects, his voice low. “Likely didn’t even call it in because he didn’t want any of the other princes taking credit. We made sure no one followed us here.”
I process this, trying to understand the implications. “But if Willam found you, others could too. The king might figure out?—“
“The king knows nothing,” Logan interrupts, a hint of his usual arrogance surfacing through the pain. “Willam won’t report his failure. His pride wouldn’t allow it.”
“How can you be sure?” I press, anxiety clawing at my chest.
“Because I wouldn’t risk you by bringing a problem to the gates,” Logan says, something cold and dangerous entering his voice. “If you believe nothing else, believe that.”
I study Logan’s face, looking beyond the physical injuries to the emotional ones beneath. There’s something different about him—a hardness that wasn’t there before, or perhaps was always there but better concealed.
“You killed him,” I say, not a question but a statement.
Logan’s expression doesn’t change, but I feel a flicker of something through our bond. “No,” he says after a moment. “I spared him. This time.”
The qualification sends a chill through me. This time. As if next time, mercy won’t be an option. Because killing his own brother is a line Logan is definitely prepared to cross if necessary.
I should be horrified by this. By the casual way he contemplates fratricide. By the cold calculation in his golden eyes as he weighs the life of his own blood against our safety.
But all I feel is a strange, hollow relief. I don’t want to be bonded to a murderer. But we need a leader willing to kill when it’s necessary.
“Your Highness,” the steward interrupts, bowing slightly to Logan. “The Queen Mother requests your presence once you’ve refreshed from your journey. She awaits you in the Blue Salon.”
Logan nods, royal training taking over despite his obvious exhaustion. “Please inform Her Highness that I will attend her shortly.”
The steward bows again and withdraws, leaving us alone in the entrance hall. The moment he’s gone, Logan’s posture slumps slightly, a grimace of pain crossing his features before he can mask it.
“You need medical attention,” I say, the words escaping before I can stop them.
“What I need is a bath and about twelve hours of sleep,” Logan counters, attempting a smile that looks more like a wince. “But grandmother waits for no man, not even her favorite grandson.”
“The Queen Mother doesn’t have a doctor in residence?” I ask, looking to Poe for confirmation.
“Doctors are typically men,” Poe says, his expression unreadable. “Before us, no men have ever been allowed to reside in the summer palace.”
