When I finally opened my eyes, the overwhelming palace grounds were no more. In its place was a quiet, shade-covered courtyard. The cool stone floor grounded me as we both knelt against a well. Surrounding us were four vine-covered walls, muffling the distant murmur of the rolling waves.
“Is that better?” Arenn asked quietly.
I stared at him, finally noticing the concern in his gaze.“Y-yes.” I swallowed. “Thank you.”
“What was that?” His brows drew together. “Are you ill?”
“Shh, please,” I hushed him. “I’m fine. I just… I’m tired, and there was a lot going on in my head, and I panicked. I—”
“You’re shaking.” Cutting me off, he snatched up my hands. “Why are you shaking, human? You know I would never let anyone hurt you.” His gaze turned murderous.
“I’m fine.” I exhaled, pulling my hands away. “I just find the world a bit too much sometimes. I’ll be alright in a few minutes.”
Arenn leant against the stone well, studying me. “What do you mean?”
Sighing, I ran my fingers through my hair. How could I possibly explain something I didn’t quite understand myself? My sensitivity to sounds. Bright colours. Smells. The way my mind jumbled itself when things became overwhelming. It was all just part of who I was. And while some days were worse than others, I certainly wasn’t ill. At least, not in the physical sense.
“I’m fine now, alright? I’ll just go back to my bedchamber and meet with Lukas later.” I wiped the tears from my face as I stood. Arenn looked at me, unconvinced, but before he could protest, footsteps echoed through the courtyard, followed by a grating, sing-songy voice.
“Lord Arenn?” Marigold called out to us. Her heels clicked against the paved floor as she trotted closer. “What a lovely surprise. And… Naria.” Her wide smile faded.
I wanted to groan, but then my gaze flicked to her side, and my chest tightened. Walking beside her, unable to meetmy gaze, was her dark-haired daughter.
“You said Callie and Lukas were eating lunch together,” I hissed to Arenn.
“I was under the impression they were.” Eyes narrowed, he rose to his full height. “Or perhaps their date went so well that her mother had to separate them before things became… indecent.” His gaze flicked to me, full of wicked amusement.
I scowled at him. But before I could reply, he turned towards the pair. “It is a pleasure to see you both, but I’m afraid Naria and I have important business to attend to, so we cannot linger.”
Marigold hummed in thought while her daughter kept her gaze fixed on the floor. “You ought to be careful with that one,” the Queen said to Arenn, glancing slyly at me. “Didn’t you hear she infected Cora’s son with one of her foul diseases?”
“That had nothing to do with me,” I shot back.
Marigold chuckled. “That’s not what the rest of the palace is saying,” she cooed. “Why, I was just speaking with some courtiers outside who told me you ought to be locked up.” Her eyes glinted. “If I were you,” she leaned closer, “I’d go home. To your real one, not Drothmore. Go back to your woods, Naria. You don’t belong here with us.”
“Mother…” her daughter gasped, the compassion in her tone surprising me.
Beside me, Arenn drew closer to my ear to whisper, “Let me know when you change your mind about me gutting this beast. Just say the word, and I’ll leave her in pieces at your feet.”
“You know murder isn’t always the answer to everything,” I growled back to him. Balling my hands into fiststo stop them shaking, I faced Marigold again. “The prince may be sick, but we both know his illness has nothing to do with me. And if you’d let us pass, I can get back to helping him get better.” I spoke through gritted teeth. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to find Lukas.”
“If you find him, you’ll let him know that I’m looking for him too,” she all but ordered. “He was supposed to meet my dear Callie for lunch today, but he never showed.”
My brows shot up. “He didn’t go?”
“You seem awfully surprised,” she scoffed, “considering he probably spent the morning in your bed. You do know that kings never marry their harlots, don’t you?”
My jaw unhinged at her boldness. “How dare you—”
“So you’ll think twice about distracting him next time, unless you want another trip to the dungeons.”
“Mother, why are you saying these awful things?” Callie’s brows pinched together.
Before I could scream out exactly why, Marigold made a strange, squeaking sound and gripped her stomach. When horror pulled at her features, all my anger became concern.
“What is it?” I rushed to her side, feeling her wrist to find a racing heartbeat. “Are you in pain?” Ignoring me, her wide eyes flicked up to Arenn as something tugged at her brow. Confusion, maybe? It faded before she could answer me, and all at once, her limbs became like jelly as she flopped to the floor.
“Mother!” Callie whimpered. Taking her mother’s other arm, we worked together to heave her to her feet. But the moment she was standing, she scoffed and shoved me off her.
