‘Well,’ I said, pretending all was well as a dark veil descended upon my sight. ‘As the queen, I’m charging you all with pissing off.’
The library fell silent.
‘Sorrow,’ Skye said as my trembling fingers gripped the bridge of my nose. ‘Sorrow…you’re bleeding.’
‘Bleeding?’
I swiped and stared at the red smear on the back of my hand, the warm trickle slipping into my mouth.
‘I think…I may need some quiet.’ I slumped to the ground.
‘Out,’ Skye’s voice sounded detached, far away. ‘Everyone, please. The queen needs some space.’
‘Not you,’ I said, grabbing the strict-looking woman who’d approached me. ‘Your glasses.’
‘My what?’
‘Please…may I borrow…your glasses?’ Lightning sparked in my mind. I grasped her tightly.
I stayed on the ground as librarians swept past me until finally the crashing wave ebbed. I braced for the next one to hit as Skye knelt by me, a crisp white handkerchief in one hand, the librarian’s glasses in the other. She forced a weak smile.
‘You stay there. I’ll go and get Matthias.’
‘No.’ I reached forward, grabbing her wrist as Pablo licked my cheek. I shoved the wolf away.
‘But Sorrow.’ Her voice broke. ‘You’re bleeding.’
‘I’m fine.’
Another figure leaned down next to her. I grimaced as Asher came into focus, brows furrowed, lips tight.
‘I think we’re going to have to agree to disagree on our definition of “fine”. Skye’s right. Matthias needs to know.’
I held my head higher, forcing my stinging eyes open. I ignored the way the weak saffron light of the lamps pierced my brain like a tainted arrow, and smiled.
‘It’s not what you think,’ I said, placing a steadying hand on Pablo as I hauled myself up.
They stood with me. Skye glanced at Asher as he crossed his powerful arms, narrowing his gaze.
‘And the blood? Are you going to persuade me that’sfinetoo? Or do you think Matthias might be slightly concerned his new bride currently has her brain seeping out of her pretty nose?’
I swiped my face again, and looked down, exhaling a shaky breath as I found nothing but dried flakes.
The ache abated, leaving the barest thud behind my left temple. I’d only had one other nosebleed, on the night of my first failed escape from the Tribute Tower. The headaches I could excuse with my weak sight, but nosebleeds and my rising ire? Could they simply be exhaustion and nerves, or was it another dark indication the blight was gaining ground?
Skye and Asher came into focus, their expressions sombre with that miniscule hint of pity I forever despised. A warm snout nuzzled my hand, and I stroked Pablo’s head, glancing down into his amber eyes.
‘I’m getting Matthias,’ Asher said and, loosening his arms, walked towards the double doors.
I blocked his path, willing Pablo to growl at the mountain of a captain who raised his dark brow. The wolf merely yawned.
‘Don’t. Please.’ Gods, I hated begging, but if Matthias knew what happened, he’d drag me back into Glesni’s room and lock the door till I had my power in check. He was always so damned sanctimonious. ‘It isn’t bad. I’m tired from the journey. That’s all. I’m sure the king has enough to think about right now. You wouldn’t want to add to his worries, would you? My sight’s far from perfect, but even I’ve noticed the bags under his eyes.’
Skye wrung her hands as she turned to Asher. They shared a quick look before she abruptly turned her green eyes back to me. Was that a hint of blush on her cheek?
‘He has been…stressed by everything,’ she said.
Asher groaned, ran his hand down his face. ‘This’ll come back to bite me harder than your wolf…but I heard how well your first session went with Glesni. If – and don’t grin at me like that my queen – if you promise to go back tomorrow, we might forget all about this.’
