“You can call me Evelyn, you know,” she called after him.
“I cannot,” he replied without looking at her.
About five minutes later, there was a knock. She assumed Rory had returned, but Leo’s voice came through the door. “Evelyn?”
She froze, but her heart raced like she was running from a bear.
Why is he here?
“I’msorry, Evelyn. I’m so sorry about what happened. It was all my fault. I know that. I will do anything to make it up to you. Please talk to me.”
Evelyn held a hand over her mouth, trying not to make a sound.
I’m not ready.
“I can’t lose you, Princess. I will fix this. I swear. Just open the door so I can see you!”
Evelyn took a step forward, her resolve cracking. But then she heard a second voice.
“Prince Alexander,” Rory said, probably bowing. “I’m afraid the princess isn’t feeling well. I only left briefly to retrieve some medicine she requested. Is there something I can help you with?”
“No. Thank you.” Leo sounded professional instead of pleading. “Please let her know I need to speak with her.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
Evelyn heard Leo walk away. She counted out thirty seconds and then slowly opened the door.
“He left, Princess,” Rory whispered.
He handed her a vial of sleeping potion. She drank it eagerly, ready for the day to be over.
I don’t want to think about Leo or Haydn or dead soldiers or explosions or the hospital. I can’t handle one more thing.
26
Blink
“Evelyn!” Hannah shook her frantically. “You have to wake up! Something is wrong!”
“What’s going on?” Evelyn mumbled, blinking her eyes open.
“I don’t know!” Hannah cried. “Can you hear the birds?”
“Birds?”
“There’s this screeching noise that keeps repeating. It sounds like a hawk. I think it’s an alarm for the palace.”
I can’t hear it, so the noise must be an illusion, but Hannah’s description doesn’t sound good.
Based on the light coming in her windows, it was barely past dawn. Hannah was in her nightgown. Evelyn leapt out of bed, grabbed her robe, and flung the door open. Two unfamiliar Gryon guards were outside the door.
“Your Highness,” one of them said, “we need you to stay in your room with your sister.”
“What’s going on?” Evelyn demanded.
“It’s important that you stay here where you’re safe.”
Fuck that.
