“Hold still, I need to unwrap you.” I rolled her onto her front, finding the seam and shook her out.
“What are you doing?” she murmured, her voice hoarse.
“What in Goddess’s name are you doing?” I helped her into a seated position and scooted her back against the wooden frame. English ivy was carved into the headboard, its tendrils almost pulsing in the weak light. “You were literally dying. Didn’t you feel yourself trapped?”
She rubbed her throat. Angry red slashes encircled her neck, the flesh between storm cloud gray. “I was dreaming.” She pointed a trembling finger toward the carafe of water on the dressing table. I filled a glass for her and she sipped, wincing as the cold water sloshed down her tender throat. “The prince and I had just married, and the price of gold skyrocketed. My province was flourishing and to celebrate, they sent me a gown woven from pure gold. It wound from my neck to my ankles, hugging my body, reminding me of the joyful future to come.”
“Well, I can tell you it would not have been a joyful ending if I hadn’t burst in.” I took her empty glass, refilled it for myself, and drained the water in one gulp.
Lilyanna turned toward the dark window, the thick pane blocking even more light than usual. “Do you think it’s a sign?”
“Yes. Yes, I fucking do. I don’t know how much more obvious you want it to be. How many accidents can you have before you realize something is out to get you? Squashed by chunks of the ceiling, burned alive by a sconce, or choked to death in your own bed. It’s a sign. Get out.” I gasped for breath, my heart hammering.
“Maybe.” She stroked her throat, her eyes finally meeting mine. “Will you sleep in here for the rest of the night?”
“Oh.” I looked at the tangled bedsheet, the carved vines on the headboard and the ashen-faced young women propped up like a doll. “Well, I don’t think it would be appropriate...”
“It’s an order.”
I snorted. “I don’t think you can order me around.”
“It’s your job.”
“I just saved your life.”
She slid down until her head rested upon the matching white pillow, her blonde hair matted and wild and pointed to the space beside her.
“I won’t be able to sleep.” I filled another glass of water. The adrenaline had ebbed, the magic in my veins completely disappeared, and my body screamed to rest. It wouldn’t begin to regenerate until the morning. Although, I did prefer the emptiness, the solitude and the calm left in its wake. I sighed. “Do you need me to tuck you in as well, Your Ladyship?”
“Seeing as you’re already up, I doubt it would inconvenience you greatly.”
I grunted and flapped the sheets over the bed. It settled like a starved ghost, clinging to her form. I slid in beside her, keeping my arms firmly wedged on top of the covers and the cold surface far from my neck.
Lilyanna rolled onto her side and leaned toward me. “Since we’re having a sleepover, I have so many questions for you. I want to know everything about you, Tam, and I'll tell you everything about me. It’ll be so much fun!”
I grimaced. “I don’t think?—”
“I’m joking.” She laughed softly, but it caught in her throat, and she coughed in my face until the fit had passed.
“We’ll talk about this again in the morning.” A heavy silence fell between us. “Okay, goodnight then.” I turned back and fixated on the ceiling. Lilyanna’s rhythmic breaths tickled my neck with warm air almost instantly. Every inhale produced a delicate wheeze, but at least I knew she was still alive. Perhaps I could slip out when she fell into a deep sleep and resume my position on the floor by her door.
I turned back to her, propping myself onto an elbow and studied the smooth contours of her face. What was she doing here? I hardly knew her, yet I couldn’t bear to hear about her grisly murder spouted as idle gossip in town. If I left her, that would surely happen. When had history ever changed? None of the prince’s fiancées had made it up the aisle so far. She knew this. What was she playing at? How could she believe that effigies and tea leaves would lead her to succeed when every other woman failed?
I sighed softly, the weight of responsibility settling onto my soul. Was this what it was like to have a little sister? Did I just have to sit here and watch her make a fatal mistake?
I edged away from her, but she grunted, flinging an arm out and over me. Men never gave me this kind of trouble when I wanted to escape their beds. Clement, however, would probably be quite watchful. I bet no one ever slipped out of his bed without him knowing. Stupid Clement.
Night took forever to fall away. The windowpane eventually clouded gray, the pre-dawn light unable to penetrate the thick clouds that congealed overnight in the sky. I scanned every inch of the ceiling, alert for even the smallest scratch, but the castle slept soundly.
The kitchens should be alive by now, pots clanking, grease sizzling on the stove. Matron should be marching up and down the corridors, dusting shadows and shaking out rugs, but this room was a vacuum. The only sound was Lilyanna’s soft breath. Even the storm building outside and the rain lashing against the stone walls were deadened.
I wriggled out from under Lilyanna’s warm arm and padded toward the lounge. Once out of the bedroom, a sharp rapping sounded on the door. I crossed over and opened it to a very irritated-looking Clement. His fist was still raised, caught mid-knock, and he looked as if he were about to muscle shoulder-first through the door.
Perhaps it was worry instead that lined his face and clawed his hands into fists?
“What do you want?” I said.
“Good morning to you, too.” He exhaled slowly, running his hand down his face. The wrinkles across his brow and the sag to his cheeks remained. His stubble was even longer today, it wouldn’t be long before I could twine my fingers through it. He eyed me too. “You look awful, Tam.”
