Valbane—with the right dosage, it’s strong enough to keep a man unconscious through an amputation. Heat floods my veins and I frown.Nowhe tells me.
“You couldn’t have waited a damn moment longer until I got a chance to see her?”
“My sincerest apologies, Your Highness. Please know that I had your mother’s best interest at heart.”
“Thatbest interestshould’ve included letting her be awake long enough to see her only surviving child. She looks forward to these moments.” We both do.
He inhales to respond but I hold up my hand, intercepting him. He knows he’s wrong. I turn my attention back to my mother and brush back damp strands of silver hair from her forehead. “And could you put out some of those bloody candles? She’s sweating like a glassblower’s arse!” I stand and heavily place the book onto the small decorative table beside the bed before tugging a layer of sheets off my mother. “How long will the valbane last?”
“A few hours, Princess. Shall I summon you when Her Majesty is awake?”
“Of course.”
“And what of Audience, Your Highness?”
I freeze, annoyance nipping at me. The last thing I want to do right now is sit in the throne room and listen to people complain about things I cannot control. “You may hold Audience in my stead.”
“Very well, Princess.”
I turn away from Iywan, rolling my eyes before pressing one last kiss to my mother’s brow. “Have her ladies give her a sponge bath with rose oil.” My voice trembles and I feel as though I’ve swallowed fire.
This is not how I expected this visit to go—I’d looked forward to reading with her, to musing over the world that I wish we lived in. A world where magic can do wonders, illnesses can be cured, and happily ever after is possible. I want to scream, cry, smash a few things. Something inside of me entertains the notion of cathartic destruction, but Alys’s voice of reason is in my head, reminding me to step back from the situation and evaluate it.
Is this worth my rage?
My mother would hate for me to lose my temper just because Iywan was trying to alleviate her pain. Even though it did leave her unconscious before my visit.
I collect my book, and Callum opens the door for me to storm out of the chamber, my dress and hair swishing around me.
CHAPTER 5
Carys
As soon aswe clear the door, the guard closes it behind us. I take a deep breath and it’s a big mistake, because tears immediately sting my eyes. Callum discreetly nudges my arm. “Let’s go,” he urges gently.
I try to swallow around the lump in my throat as I fall into step beside him. We backtrack through the maze of corridors until we finally enter the concourse. I focus on my breathing, blocking out everything and everyone. No weakness. I’m a formidable, unperturbed image of frigidity. Beside me, Callum’s posture is rigid and intimidating.
No one dares to approach us.
Good.
We stop at my bedchamber door and Callum dips his head toward me, his face calculating.
“I’m fine,” I say.
“Areyou sure?”
“No…” I can’t take my eyes off him, the heat of disappointment and anger in my blood morphing into a very different warmth. I need to get my mind off the situation with my mother. My fingers tangle in the black trim of Callum’s maroon livery jacket, and my lips lift in a small smile. “I have some time to burn…”
Callum’s gaze drops to my lips, and he clenches his sword hilt as though he isn’t sure what else to do with his hand. “I… should send for Ellynne and Lowri…” The intensity in his eyes says something else. He doesn’t dare to touch me though, even with my grasp on the front of his uniform.
“I don’t need Ellynne or Lowri.” I take his hands and place them on my waist before running my fingers through his blond hair. “Right now, I needyou.”
He glances around for a moment—we both know that someone else should guard my door in the meanwhile. Yet he opens my door with a grin on his irresistible lips, and I reciprocate as we step into my bedchamber.
A while later, I’m choosing a dress that’s easy for me to put on with minimal assistance. I glance over my bare shoulder as Callum buckles his sword belt. His powerful back straightens, his features hardening again. All evidence of lust disappears. “I’ll call for your ladies,” he says.
Welcome back, sentinel Callum. I shake my head. “No.”
