Page 204 of The Chains You Defy

“Princeling.”

“He touched you.”

“That’s part of an examination, godsdammit.”

Any other time, I’d marvel at yet another soul I’d tempted into cursing, especially one as pure as Ireas’, but not while anxiety was gnawing at my insides. Eventhough I dipped my chin in the tiniest of movements, my chest rumbled again as I monitored the male and his wandering hands with the utmost scrutiny.

When his forehead wrinkled, the unspoken implications hurt more than a kick in the nuts, and an invisible fist closed around my throat. “What, Ireas?”

He had the audacity to ignore me, and I showed him my teeth.

Every single warning sign bounced right off the medic as he asked Nayana a question instead. “Did you eat or drink anything strange recently?”

“I—they gave me something called Laiga.”

My chest vibrated with unbridled anger. Fucking Laiga? Cantarlann administered the most potent drug known to faekind to a human? That substance had killed more than just a few fae.

And how was Ireas keeping his cool at the news?

“Anything else?”

“Oh. Yes. Cantarlann had another drink for me. The liquid was purple, and he mentioned how important draining the entire glass at once was. I barely succeeded because the vile stuff burned and had a gross texture. Like sludge. But he said the fluid wasn’t dangerous. He called the drink Se—Sae—”

“Seadan.”

“Yes. Cantarlann didn’t lie, right?”

Iron bands wrapped around my lungs and squeezed all the air out of the organs. Cold sweat broke out all over my skin, streaking the blood that was still painting me red. If she wasn’t mistaken—no, gods, no.

“They gave you a Seadan?” My eyes burned as hot tears welled up, and my gaze connected with Ireas’ face. “Take it out.” I wasn’t even ashamedof begging.

My medic, the only one of his profession I trusted with her health, stared at his shoes and kept his mouth shut.

“Take it out!” Desperation was a living monster clawing its way through my mind, and I pressed Nayana closer to my chest as if she would disappear if I didn’t hold her tight enough.

“You know that I can’t.”

“Is it that bad? Dion, are you—crying?”

Gritting my teeth as Ireas was still much too interested in the grass, I stayed silent, not able to answer any of her questions. Even as Nayana touched my cheek, I barely felt the sensation. I was numb.

That I’d truly broken down in tears had been centuries ago. None of the shit I’d experienced since my parents’ deaths had affected my soul, but this, this was what shattered me into a million pieces. Compared to her suffering and the disastrous news, even facing the apocalypse paled. How could I explain what they had done to her without frightening her further? How was I supposed to stay calm when everything inside me cramped together in panic?

“A Seadan is a dangerous parasite nourished by magical power. Although this rare being does not destroy permanent magic, the pest consumes energy faster than a body is able to replenish the missing force. And before you ask. Yes, Nayana, the Seadan you ingested is continuously exhausting your Potential.” Antas had sat down next to us and tried to exude calmness.

“Then—at one point—when this parasite has eaten everything—I’ll die?”

“We’ll get the vermin out. Don’t worry.” My tone didn’t match the optimism of my words in the slightest.Although Seadans were rare, they were still a danger that every young fae was warned about multiple times because of their lethality.

“I’m so tired.”

“Then sleep, my love. I’ll protect you.”

As if she’d waited for my permission, her eyes closed, and within moments, she fell fast asleep. I didn’t even bother wiping away the trails of tears streaming down my cheeks, because despite my declaration, this enemy was one that rendered all the power I harbored useless.

Between the disastrous development concerning the Seadan and the fact that reality could continue ripping apart at any given moment, I needed a few hours until I was willing to let go of Nayana, who was sleeping deeply. I didn’t want to release her, but I had to talk to the others about what had happened and how the fuck we’d react from here on.

Of course, I wouldn’t leave her without ensuring she was as comfortable as possible. I’d stacked three bedrolls on top of each other, had arranged several pillows around her—whoever had ventured to a nearby town in the past few hours would perish last if itcame to me burning everything down—and had secured that every single inch of her body beneath her chin was covered by two blankets.