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“So you can fall again? I think not.” His eyes dropped to my bloodied hands, awkwardly held against my fluttering stomach. “You’ll get to the healers faster this way. To the warden.” It looked like he hated saying that, but those words did the trick.

Roar might rage that I smelled like the prince again, but I’d get to the warden faster, just as a dutiful fiancée would aspire to do. As a friend would too.

“Take me to him,” I said, and we took off.

Chapter 26

With me in his arms, Prince Vale raced like the wind out of the Aaberg Ring.

“Out of the way!” Prince Vale boomed, carving a path through the crowds desperate to hide in the city and the soldiers trying to direct fae to safety.

“Lady Neve! Wait! My lady, please!”

I jerked and craned my neck around the prince’s impressive bulk to find Clemencia fighting against the waves of fae; her face frantic. I pointed. “That’s my lady-in-waiting! Stop!”

“Are you sure?” Prince Vale didn’t show the slightest interest in slowing, let alone stopping. “You’re still bleeding everywhere.”

“I’m not going to die, and I need to let her know where I’m going, or she’ll worry.”

He huffed, but slowed to a stop and waited as Clemencia dashed our way, tears shining in her eyes. “My lady, I’m so sorry. I tried to stay with you, but a soldier pushed me out of the royal box!”

“Which is what they’re supposed to do to keep the people safe.” Prince Vale’s eyes narrowed. “Clearly, they failed on some accounts.”

“True, but I’m to stay with my lady.” Clemencia swallowed, taking in my wounds. “What happened to you?”

“It’s nothing,” I said, to which the other two shared unconvinced glances. “Prince Vale is taking me to the healers, and I’ll need new clothes once they bandage me. Go to my room and get some?”

Clemencia inclined her head. “I’ll meet you there.”

“Thanks, Clem.” The nickname flew out of my mouth before I even realized and though Clemencia’s eyes widened as if she felt taken aback, she nodded and darted to the palace.

“Now we can go,” I said.

“Oh, can we, now? Thank you ever so much for the command.” Prince Vale sounded somewhat disgruntled but wasted no time in racing toward the palace and through an inconspicuous side door.

I looked around and realized I’d never been in this part of the palace before. However, I knew when we neared the healing wing because the scent of herbs filled the air. When we arrived, the prince kicked open the door and rushed inside.

The area resembled Althea’s healing room, though with dozens of fae rushing around, rather than one serene half-troll. One fae wearing the white chains of a Master Healer stopped for the prince. “My prince, are you hurt?”

Prince Vale gestured at me. “No, but Lady Neve is. See to her.”

The healer’s eyebrows shot up as she took in my wounds. “Just your hands?”

“My legs too.” I tried to peer beyond the healer. “Is Warden Roar here?”

“Her ankle is twisted too,” the prince said, clearly not caring at all where the Warden of the West was at the moment.

“The warden is unconscious and being seen to. He’s in expert hands, so do not interrupt. Now, let me look you over.” The healer studied my hands and legs for a few seconds and shook her head. “There are far more dire cases we must see to first. We’ll check on her when we can. Until then, the lady can lie over there.” She pointed to a bed at the far end of the room.

“This is absurd,” the prince retorted. “She’s bleeding everywhere.”

“And others have holes in their bellies.” The Master Healer narrowed her eyes. “So, I respectfully request that you do not tell me how to do my job, my prince.” With that, she left and began working once again.

Prince Vale seethed but took me to the bed and laid me down. I thought for sure that since I was safe, he’d leave. Instead, he turned to a small chest and opened it.

“What in the stars are you doing?” I shifted into a more comfortable position.

“Removing the glass from your hands and legs.”