Page 47 of Journey to the Elderoak (Daughter of the Earth #2)

C asimir scanned the ballroom, unable to find Ava. He’d alerted the guards of a potential threat and went back to look for her, but she had disappeared. Finding Thorne, he interrupted his conversation with Aelerion and Thalia. “Where’s Ava?”

“She went out to get some fresh air, she’ll be right back.”

“When?”

Noticing the panic in Casimir’s voice, Thorne frowned. “Oh, I don’t know…about ten minutes ago. Why? What’s wrong?”

He shook his head. “Nothing. I don’t know. Something doesn’t feel right.”

“What do you mean?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “She said she saw someone in the crowd but brushed it off. I have a bad feeling.”

“She’s tired. She told me the same thing,” he said, unconcerned. “I’m sure it’s nothing. She’ll be back soon.”

“Alright,” he said. But his gut was telling him something was amiss.

Get to the gardens , Aro said. Now.

“On it,” he replied as his worry turned into full blown panic .

He hurried outside and jogged through the landscaping, searching the dark paths for some sign of her. As he passed a large tree, a weak voice called his name.

“Cas.”

He whipped around to find Ava leaning against the trunk. Beads of sweat along her neck glistened in the moonlight. A crimson stain marred her dress, her skin pallid, lips white.

“What happened?” he asked, rushing closer.

“The man,” she whispered, barely able to keep her eyes open. “…Deidamia…poisoned dagger…”

Casimir caught her when she passed out and lifted her in his arms. Her head lolled back, her body limp in his grasp. Breaths came in short bursts, slowing down with each second.

No no no .

He shouted at the closest guard, “Secure the ballroom. No one leaves until we find the person responsible.”

Carrying her through the crowd, he searched for Kai. Gasps and shouts of fear sounded as guests noticed the motionless princess in his arms covered in blood. Raine spotted Casimir first and grabbed Kai, who happened to be next to him, rushing over.

“What happened?” he asked, eyes wide as he took in Ava.

“Someone stabbed her.”

“Get her to her room,” said Kai. “We can secure it better than the medical wing. I’ll meet you there in five minutes.”

“Hurry,” he demanded as the healer took off running.

Turning to Raine, he said, “Make sure the guards have sealed off every exit. Find who did this and get them to the dungeons.”

Raine nodded.

Casimir sprinted, cutting through the ballroom and down the corridors to his suite. Thorne caught up to him, shouting, “What happened? ”

“I don’t know. She said something about a poison dagger and passed out,” he answered as he willed his legs faster.

He reached the suite and rushed into her bedroom. Kai entered seconds later, carrying a large apothecary box.

Casimir remained standing and pulled her closer, afraid to let her go.

“Lay her on the bed,” Kai said.

He did as instructed, staring at her lifeless body. “Is she dead? Please tell me she isn’t dead.”

There was so much blood. Too much. She should have started to heal, at least a little, since she was now fae. But if there truly was poison on this dagger, there was no telling what was now coursing through her body.

His heart was gripped in a vice of panic, fighting the urge to destroy everything around him in fury. She can’t be dead. He wouldn’t allow it. Pacing the room, it took all his energy to keep control of his magic writhing to get out.

A hand gripped his shoulder. “Come, sit,” said Thorne, trying to remain calm, though terror shone in his eyes at his sister’s condition. “Give Kai space to work.”

Reluctantly, he sat in the chair in the corner and watched as Kai examined her, feeling for her pulse. Thorne paced in Casimir’s place, rubbing the back of his neck and muttering to himself.

“Well?” Thorne demanded, looking at Kai.

“She’s not dead,” he said. “But her pulse is weak.”

“You need to save her,” Thorne thundered, his voice rising.

“I need more details. I need to know what happened. Do you two know anything at all?” Kai asked.

“She said she thought she saw someone familiar,” Thorne explained. “It seemed to spook her, but she brushed it off. Then she claimed she wanted fresh air and went into the gardens. That’s all I know.” He slammed his hand against the wall. “Fuck! I should have taken her seriously. ”

“You couldn’t have known,” Kai said. “Cas, anything?”

“I went to look for her. I had a feeling something was wrong. I found her leaning against a tree. She said something about Deidamia and a poison dagger and then passed out,” he answered, hands trembling as he continued to try and keep his magic under control.

Effort fruitless, he gripped the arms of the chair, the wood cracking under his hold.

Thorne turned to him at the sound. “You need to stay calm, Casimir.”

“I’m fucking trying,” he snarled.

“Thorne,” said Kai. “I must know what kind of poison it was. I can keep her alive for a while with basic tonics, but I can’t reverse the effects without knowing exactly what we’re dealing with.”

“Are you saying she’ll die if we can’t figure it out?” asked Casimir.

“It’s possible,” whispered Kai.

“I’ll have a team search for anything that can help us,” Thorne said and rushed from the room.

The ache in Casimir’s soul burned; terror churning with anguish and barely contained wrath. He took a deep breath, approached Ava, and sat at the edge of the bed.

Brushing the hair from her face, he whispered, “Please don’t die.”

Kai placed his hand on Casimir’s shoulder. “I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen.” He ripped open her dress and placed his hands on Ava’s abdomen. “I’m going to try to stop the bleeding with my magic.”

Casimir nodded, throat tight as he fought back tears, furious with himself for leaving her alone. He should have stayed with her when she told him about the man. It was his fault she’d been stabbed, and he’d never forgive himself if she didn’t make it.

They’d had no time together. He’d had no time with his love, his soulbond. His Miraêl Li’ra. He wanted to take her to the animal rescue and see those smiles again; to drink tea and read books snuggled on the couch; to make love to her and spend the rest of the night wrapped in each other’s arms.

“Can I sit here while you work?” he asked, vision blurring.

“Of course.”

Kai opened a vial filled with brown liquid. Casimir scooted back to give him room and held Ava’s hand as Kai lifted her head and used a dropper to release the liquid down her throat. She coughed and Casimir tensed, but swallowed and was silent again.

“Good,” said Kai. “That’s a good sign.”

He looked at her perfect face as she took shallow breaths. An hour ago they were dancing and enjoying themselves. How did this happen?

Kai gave her various tinctures and monitored her pulse, Casimir watching attentively. At one point, he put his hands on her chest and closed his eyes, searching for any clues with his magic to what the poison could be.

After what felt like forever, Thorne entered with a guard at his heels. “We found this in the garden. It seems some of the poison dripped off the dagger.”

Kai stood and took a leaf from the outstretched hand of the guard and smelled it. His eyes went wide as he set it down and rummaged through his apothecary kit.

“What? What is it?” Casimir said. His chest was so tight it ached.

“It’s strong. I can’t even pronounce it and it’s very rare.

It kills quickly but we caught it in time and fortunately I have the antidote.

” He found the vial and uncorked it, leaning over her.

Parting her lips, he tilted her head forward and poured the purple liquid in her mouth. “Come on, Ava. Drink.”

Thorne hovered nearby, watching Kai carefully.

Her throat moved and she swallowed, taking the antidote. She coughed and Casimir panicked, running his hand along her face, whispering encouragement to her. The coughing stopped and she stilled again.

“She’ll live?” he asked.

Kai nodded. “But I don’t know how long it will take her to wake. It could be days.”

“Okay,” he said. “Thank you.”

Thorne leaned over his sister, squeezing her shoulder, a pained look on his face. He turned to Casimir. “I must go check on the guests and talk to the advisors about ending this ball early. Please let me know if she wakes.”

“I will,” he answered as Thorne left the room.

Casimir stayed with her for hours, sitting on the bed and holding her hand.

He didn’t move from his spot as Kai came in and out to assess her vitals.

The rest of his friends left him alone, giving him space to be with his love.

For he knew he loved her; he’d known for a while.

And though he’d confessed his feelings, he hadn’t said those three words yet, not wanting to put pressure on her.

And now she didn’t know.

Casimir jerked awake from his spot in the chair as someone entered the bedroom. Titus was asleep by Ava’s head and Luna at her feet, both refusing to leave her side.

Raine strode forward and stopped. “We found him.”

He stood. “Where is he?”

“The dungeons.”

Kai entered to check on Ava and Casimir turned to him. “Will you please stay with her? I need to go interrogate this assassin,” he said, voice cold.

“Of course. ”

Casimir kissed Ava’s forehead and left the bedroom, Raine following.

“Who is he?” he asked as they walked the halls to the stairs leading to the bowels of the castle.

“Someone sent by Deidamia. He’s not telling us much.”

“I’ll make sure he speaks,” said Casimir, fury coursing through him.

He’d tortured prisoners before. Rarely, but he’d done it. Not usually one to enjoy it, this time he would. He’d delight in watching the daemon’s eyes fill with terror at the realization of what he could do.