His cousin’s voice faded, Syrus’ desperate grip on the waking world slipping once he realized that Eiri would be safe.As much as he wanted to be the one protecting him, at least he would be in good hands.
Syrus knew that no matter what happened to him, Eiri would survive, just like he always did.
That thought was the one that echoed in his mind as he followed his husband into unconsciousness.
Chapter 28
Eiri
Shoutsof alarm and angry curses jerked Eiri from the depths of darkness and back to the waking world.
Every inch of his body ached as though he’d been beaten. His head throbbed, his eyes were crusted shut, and there was a gaping hole inside him where his magic usually resided. He wanted nothing more than to sink back down to where nothing hurt and they were all safe, but a muffled oath forced him to drag a hand over his eyes and look up.
The very first thing he saw was his husband’s face.
At some point, he’d ended up in the bed with Syrus, resting against his side in a way he’d begun to hope would happen eventually. Syrus’ dark skin was still ashen, but the sickly pale tinge to his lips had receded. Eiri’s head still rested on Syrus’ chest, and when he listened, Syrus’ breathing seemed easier, without the terrifying wet rattle.
Exhaustion still nipped at Eiri’s heels and he closed his eyes, ready to sleep again now that he knew Syrus was safe, but another shout abruptly jolted him, reminding him why he’d woken upin the first place.
Lifting his head didn’t take as much effort as before, but it still wasn’t easy, and when he managed it, it still took several seconds to comprehend what he was actually seeing.
Xan and Ellis stood side by side at the foot of the bed, facing the opening out into the main area of the observatory. When had they gotten here? The last thing Eiri remembered was Syrus opening his eyes after he’d drained the fluid built up in his lungs. Why was Syrus unconscious again? Had the others not found the antidote in Kien’s room? Where was Marsen? He had to get up.
Eiri shifted on the bed, but the rest of his body remained uncooperative. Whatever rest he’d stolen while unconscious, it hadn’t been nearly enough to combat the exhaustion plaguing him, and he wouldn’t be able to restore his magic without getting down to the water. Rain beat down on the glass ceiling overhead, and if he hadn’t been so completely drained, it would have been enough to rejuvenate him a bit, but he’d delved too deeply into the core of his magic for that to help now.
“Ellis, you’re being ridiculous!”
The deep voice caught Eiri’s attention and he saw Ellis stand up straighter, his chin notching up in defiance. From this angle, Eiri couldn’t see who spoke, but the voice sounded vaguely familiar.
“It’s ridiculous to protect my brother? To protectourbrother?”
That meant the voice had to belong to Crown Prince Brandow. Eiri had made it a point not to speak to the man, but he’d heard him a few times at the wedding and later at the birthday party. So far, he’d proven himself to be the arrogant, condescending prick Eiri had first taken him for.
“Syrus does not need protection from our own people,” Brandow snapped. “We’re here to arrest the harbor trash hemarried. He attempted to murder our dear brother, in case you’d forgotten.”
“If that’s truly the case, then why was Eiri the only one trying to save him? Why was Syrus locked up here, away from the rest of the palace, without even a single healer on hand to help him? Why is the queen telling people he’s already dead, when he clearly isn’t?”
Xan barely reached Ellis’ shoulder, but there was no doubt who was the more dangerous of the two. There was a deadly calm about him as he spoke, his questions cuttingly direct. The air in front of them shimmered with Xan’s magic, likely some kind of ward that kept Brandow from crossing.
“I don’t care for your tone,cousin,” Brandow said. He didn’t even try to hide the threat in his tone. “Are you questioning your queen?”
“And I don’t care for your attitude,” Xan shot back. “Syrus is your brother. Your queen abandoned him here to die, and he would have if we hadn’t found him in time. If Eiri hadn’t figured out what poison was used, Syruswouldbe dead. Ellis only just got the antidote to him in time.”
Relief hit Eiri so hard his head spun and his stomach clenched. He wanted to cry, to scream, to throw up, perhaps all three at once. Syrus would live. Xan and Ellis had succeeded. Just knowing that gave him a surge of strength and he slowly pushed himself upright. He didn’t have his magic, but he’d been fighting without it his entire life, and he couldn’t let Xan and Ellis do this alone.
“Eiri is the one who poisoned him. He wouldn’t tell us what he did, but he must have realized Mother would execute him if Syrus died, so he told you to save his own worthless hide.”
“I didn’t tell you because no one spoke to me after I was tossed in that cell.”
Xan and Ellis both turned their heads to look at him,surprise and relief on their faces. Now that he was on his feet, Eiri could see past them. Standing just on the other side of Xan’s ward stood Prince Brandow with half a dozen heavily armed guards at his back. One of them looked worse for the wear, with a distinct pallor about him and a bruise marring his face, already darkening against his fair skin. The two directly beside Brandow held no weapons, but the many pouches at their belts marked them as mages. Judging by the sweat on their brows, they were attempting to break Xan’s ward and failing.
“I refuse to listen to any of your lies,” Brandow spat, his lip curling into a sneer when he saw Eiri. “You tried to kill a prince of Vaetreas, and you’ll pay for it.”
“You care more that he’s a prince than that he’s your brother? Typical.” Eiri came to a stop just behind Xan and Ellis. With his height, he could see over Xan’s shoulder, but Brandow couldn’t see that Eiri had to grip Ellis’ shirt for support to stay upright. Even with the help, the floor lurched beneath his feet in a sickening swirl.
“Yes, because unlike some people here, the safety and preservation of my country are my top priority.”
“And you call my people monsters?”
