Page 42 of Lady of the Drowned Empire

“Lyriana,” he said, startled, his hands on my shoulders. “Are you…?”

Shit. Tears welled in my eyes. It was happening.

My chest—my heart—was on fire. I was burning up from the inside.

“Lyr,” Aemon asked again, concern growing in his voice. “What is it? What happened?” The more concerned he grew, the harder he grasped me, and the more pain I was in.

“I…I….”

Morgana’s aura swept around us as she saw me, her eyes instantly registering what was happening.

I couldn’t admit to Aemon I’d fallen prey to the Afeya. It would only lead to questions. I wouldn’t be able to get out of telling him why I’d done it, what the Afeyan messenger was holding over me: that I had broken my oath with Rhyan. As much as I trusted Aemon, he could never know that. It was the one law he’d punish severely whether he was like my uncle or not.

Morgana vanished from the crowd.

I stumbled backward, trying to think of a way to escape from Aemon, to keep my secret.

Pine and musk enveloped me. An aura of cool wrapped around my body.

“Arkturion,” Rhyan said, his voice stiff. “I’ll take Soturion Lyriana home. I assume, despite the shift in status, my job remains?”

Aemon gave me a hard look, still trying to understand what was wrong with me.

I was going to faint. The burning was getting worse, crackling and popping inside my skin, my muscles aflame like they were being pulled and twisted. It felt like the fire was spreading across my body until every inch of my skin was lighting and sparking with it. It took all I had not to scream.

Rhyan’s hand reached for my back.

“Yes,” Aemon said. “She needs protection now, more than ever. At least until consecration when things are settled.” His dark eyes returned to me.

Sweat was dripping down my face. I was going to faint. Gods. I was going to pass out from the pain.

“Don’t underestimate the Emartis just because they got their way,” he said.

I nodded, but it felt more like my head was rolling around, my neck too weak to hold myself upright. “Bathroom,” I cried. “Bathroom, now.”

Aemon stepped back with a curt nod. “Go.”

I leaned back, feeling Rhyan’s hands wrap around my arms, sure and steady. We were just outside the entrance to the Red Ray.

I made eye contact with Kolaya. She seemed to understand and opened the door. I rushed inside, practically tripping over my dress, Rhyan right behind me. The moment the doors closed, he swept his arm beneath my knees and lifted me to his chest.

“Mercurial?” he seethed. He pulled open my cloak, his hand sliding between my breasts and over my heart. “Lyr?”

It was too much. Even as the cold began to gather in his palm, pushing against my burning skin from his calloused fingers, the pain overtook me.

I fainted.

CHAPTER TEN

Haleika stood before me, her brown hair bouncy and full of curls. “He’s really handsome, isn’t he?” she asked.

Leander walked across the arena, his hair golden in the sun, a warm smile across his face.

I nodded, eyeing his muscular stature. “He is. Hoping to get him?” I asked, my voice echoing across the Katurium’s rounded walls.

Haleika giggled. “Not as my apprentice since, you know, it’s forbidden.”

I shook my head, an odd sense of déjà vu settling over me. I’d been here before. I’d said those words another day, another time.