Page 12

Chapter 11

Vareck

“Oops.” Corvo sat, staring at the spot where Meera had been standing.

My heart jumped into my throat, feet moving before I could even process what was happening. Grabbing the windowsill, I leaned over the edge.

Skid marks marred the smooth layer of snow, leading off the roof. I couldn’t see over the edge. Panic gripped me.

I turned on my heel and ran.

The hallways passed by in a blur. Time seemed to skip as I got to the first floor. “Out of the way!” I shouted, as servants and nobles stood immobile in the hallways, watching me with curiosity.

I had to get to her. I had to?—

The entryway doors burst open. Cold air pricked at my skin. I embraced the clarity, turning for the section of the grounds she would have fallen. Blood roared in my ears with every step I took.

What if . . .

No. I couldn’t afford to think that way.

I turned the corner and nearly faltered .

In a windblown snowbank, Meera lay on her side, unconscious, her arms and dress dusted with snow. I collapsed beside her, my fingers going to her pulse.

My chest eased a fraction at the steady thrum.

Slowly I turned her body onto her back, searching for any visible wounds. A quick cursory glance didn’t find any, apart from the smattering of bruises on her left side. She must have landed sideways.

Not wanting to waste more time, I scooped her up into my arms and started back toward the castle doors. Kaia met me halfway.

“Is she . . .”

“Breathing. I didn’t see blood, but there’s no telling what kind of internal damage she could have suffered.”

Fucking Corvo. If he hadn’t been wrapped around her legs, she wouldn’t have tripped. My familiar and I were going to have words.

The second we crossed the threshold, I shouted. “We need a healer!”

People scrambled to get out of my way this time, not needing to be told. We made it halfway up the stairs when a high-pitched voice made me pause. “Is that her? My son’s abductor?”

“Deal with her,” I told Kaia, not even turning to address my brother’s widow. She was a constant thorn in my side, but I would lose my temper if she so much as laid a hand on Meera.

Whispers followed us up the first floor, only giving way to silence by the time we reached the fourth. I was most of the way to my room when a healer came jogging down the hall, trying to catch up to me.

“My King?—”

“Room,” I barked .

“Y-yes, of course,” he murmured, moving swiftly to my side. I didn’t spare him a glance as I passed through the open door to my bedroom. With as much care as I could muster, I placed Meera on the fur blankets.

“Fix her.”

“Tell me what happened.”

I pointed to the broken glass. “Fell out the window. Landed in a snowbank.” I stepped to the side, giving him room, but not moving far. Something feral stirred in my chest, restless and violent. With clenched fists at my sides, I counted the seconds while he looked over her. His hands hovered over her body, a slight glow emitting from his palms.

“Well?” I prompted, trying and failing to not scare the healer. He lifted one of her eyelids gently and used a light to look at her pupils.

“No concussion. That snowbank must have saved her head.” He brushed his hands over a mark on her head, then moved back to her abdomen. “I don’t sense any internal damage or broken bones, but there’s a spot I’m unsure about. I’ll have to remove her dress to get a better?—”

“Do it.”

Too slow for my liking, the healer dug a pair of sheers out of his bag and started to part the luscious material covering her form. I averted my eyes, while keeping him in my periphery.

I didn’t trust anyone with her. Not with the crusade Eleanor was waging. I refused to stare at her naked body. She had panicked enough already. The last thing she needed was to wake up and have me standing and watching.

“Just heavy bruising, Your Majesty,” he said at last. “That was a serious tumble. The winds changing yesterday turned out to be a good thing, it would seem. Without that snowbank, this could have been a very different outcome. My recommendation is food and rest. Nothing too strenuous for the next couple of days. I’ll prepare a tea that should speed up the healing process.”

I released a tight breath I didn’t realize I was holding. A knock at the door drew my attention. Kaia slipped in without waiting for my reply.

“Thank you,” I told the healer as he let himself out.

“Where’s her bag?” Kaia asked.

“Bathroom.”

She nodded once and disappeared to get it. I moved to take a seat in the armchair, my gaze falling to the shattered glass window.

“I’m going to wipe her down, then dress her.” Kaia called from the bathroom.

“Thank you,” I repeated. “I would but . . .” I grimaced as she stepped out of the bathroom.

“Trying not to be a grade-A creeper?” she snickered.

“Something like that.”

Kaia set a bowl with water on the end table beside Meera and started the process of cleaning her.

“Think Corvo did it on purpose?” she asked.

“Unlikely. He’s just a dick—” As if summoned, the asshole appeared.

“You called?” he said with his usual air of annoyance.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” I snarled, getting to my feet. He watched me with disinterest, then started licking his paw.

“You’re going to have to be more specific.”

I nearly saw red. “Meera. You tripped her.”

“I was trying to get her to feed me. It’s not my fault she’s a klutz. ”

“Not your—” I ran a hand through my hair, my fingers tangling in the unruly strands. “Corvo, she fell out a window.”

“Riiiiight,” he drawled. “About that. How are you feeling? Anything magical happen since? Maybe a bond, perhaps?”

I leveled him with a glare. “What are you going on about now?”

He narrowed his eyes at me, then seemed to shrug it off as he flopped down on the blanket beside Meera. “Apparently I’ll have to up my game.”

“Wait—did you trip her on purpose ?” I damn near roared.

“Um. I wouldn’t so much say on purpose?—”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why did you trip her?” I asked through gritted teeth.

“I didn’t trip her, but if I did, it would have been for …” Corvo cocked his head. “Research.”

I ran a palm down my face. This. Fucking. Cat.

“Get out.”

“Vareck, baby, we can talk about this?—”

“Actually,” Kaia interrupted. “Before you go, can you fix the window? It’s freezing in here.”

“What do I get out of it?”

“Corvo!” we both said at the same time.

The cat groaned. “Fiiiine. We’re even after this.”

“She fell four stories. You’re lucky I’m not re-homing you.”

Corvo snorted. “As if. Who would fix all your problems if I were gone?”

“Given you cause most of them, that’s a sacrifice I am willing to make.”

He rolled his eyes. They glowed brighter for a second and his tail flicked like the snap of fingers. The pieces of glass rose from the ground and floated back to the window, resealing as if nothing had happened.

“Let it be known, I am a merciful god,” Corvo declared. Before either Kaia or I could respond, he disappeared again.

“I should get a dog,” I grumbled under my breath.

Kaia chuckled. “He would be an all-out terror if you did that.”

“And he isn’t already?”

She inclined her head. “Fair. What was he going on about with bonds?”

“No idea.” I collapsed back in the armchair just as Kaia finished dressing Meera.

“Hm,” she hummed. “We have to talk about this.” She waved her hand in front of her, motioning to the unconscious woman.

“I’m not sticking her in the dungeon.”

Kaia snorted. “Yeah. I gathered as much. Problem is, Eleanor isn’t just some snotty noble. Her family has a lot of power—and Damon is missing. Like it or not, we need to figure this out.”

I sighed. “I’m aware. I already told you what she said when I found her. When she wakes up, we can question her some more, but I wouldn’t pin his safety on it. I don’t think she knows much.”

“Perhaps.” Kaia stepped back, putting her hands on her hips. “But we need to get ahead of this. If word gets out that the prince was kidnapped out of the castle, people will question you as a leader.”

I shrugged. “Let them. If they can do a better job, they’re welcome to take the crown.”

Kaia groaned. “We’ve been over this. You can’t just hand over your seat of power. Besides, we have dream girl now. Damon aside, you have the chance to get to know her.”

I blew out a breath. “Yeah, because that’s going to be easy when I kidnapped her. I’m sure she’ll be feeling really talkative.”

“Guess you’ll just have to woo her.”

“You sound like Corvo.” It was not a compliment.

“Even a broken clock is right twice a day,” she replied sweetly.

I rolled my eyes. “We’re going to run into a problem there. Right now, she’s injured and dealing with burnout. That’s only going to last a few days though. Then we’ll be right back to where we were at the ball when she persuaded me and Damon at the same time.”

Kaia twisted her mouth, crossing her arms over her chest. “You’ve got a point. We need something that can stop her from persuading while she’s here.”

“Do you know where to get something like that?” I hedged.

“No,” she answered. “But I know someone who might.”

“The exiled one you mentioned earlier?” She nodded. “See if you can find him. He might be able to help us with Damon too.”

“Will do. If he has a solution for us, it won’t come cheap.” She flexed her jaw. “How do you want me to proceed?”

“I trust your judgement.”

She nodded. “Very well, I’ll let you know when I find something.” She turned to leave and paused. “Good luck with dream girl. I know she means a lot to you. Try not to put your foot in your mouth. ”

A smile quirked on one side. “Thanks, Ki. I’ll do my best.”

Silence descended at her retreat. I waited for a suspended moment to see if Meera would say anything.

Her breathing had changed while Kaia and I spoke. I didn’t mention it because if she wanted to pretend to sleep while listening in, I’d let her. Now that it was just us though . . .

“I know you’re awake.”