Page 15

Dimitri

S he’s been through hell.

Annalise’s body looks worse than it did during her days as a slave as more than one healer frantically moves around her body in an attempt to stop any permanent damage from remaining.

Judging from their panicked expressions, it must be too late.

I shift my attention to her unconscious form. Even in her sleep, her expression is troubled. I don’t know what she went through while she was gone, but it doesn’t look good. The healers have fixed her broken bones and visible abrasions, but I know there is much heavier damage done beneath the surface.

Especially since it’s been months since she was taken, and her stomach remains flat with no sign of life growing inside of her.

I’m pulled out of my thoughts as the head healer moves away from Anna’s body, her face grim.

“The damage is… extensive. Quite honestly, it’s a miracle she’s alive. The seal, when activated, only strengthened her body. It didn’t prevent the damage from being done, only lessened its impact. And whoever her healer was at the time was not of the same rank as those of us trained by the king. Her body is… frail. The bones were shattered at one point. I can’t tell what damage has been done mentally, but judging from her body, I wouldn’t get your hopes up… I’m sorry,” she says.

My heart sinks as I look back to Anna.

There are so many questions forming in my mind for her. But none of them will be answered until she awakens, or rather, Cyrus returns. We sent a courier days ago to notify Felix of her arrival. I’m sure with Cyrus’s attack on Elias’s land, he has yet to make it far enough inland to realize Anna is no longer there. If we even manage to get word to him, there’s no telling how long it will take him to return.

Either Anna escaped, or Elias made his way back into our territory and, for some reason, confidently brought Annalise with him. I shift my attention to the blackened skin on her upper thigh. Judging from her state, I’m confident in the theory of her somehow escaping. However, I can’t understand why Elias would torture her so much when he took her in the first place, knowing she belonged to Cyrus.

I suck in a trembling breath as my head begins to throb from all the possibilities before looking back at the healer.

“Thank you for all you’ve done. I’m sure Felix would prefer to speak to you when he returns. I’ll take things from here,” I say with a grim smile.

The healer bows before calling for the others to follow her out. As silence fills the room, I slowly approach the bed, kneeling next to where Anna lies. I silently grip her hand in mine, flinching from how cool her skin is.

Her face is eerily smooth even though she was a wreck when I saved her from the market. Her throat was swollen, her jaw was fractured, her ribs were broken, and her arm looked ghastly, as if something had shredded it apart. Her current physical state is a lie. On the inside, she has been broken too many times to count. She has been pushed to the brink. And we could do nothing to help or prevent it, only heal what we found.

I keep my head down as the door to the room opens. I don’t have to look to know it’s Calista who has entered. Her footsteps are hesitant as she comes to stand next to me. Her gentle touch is meant to comfort me as she places her hand on my back.

“Don’t cry, Dimitri. She’s back. She’s safe,” she says softly.

I slowly lift my head at her words as I realize tears are rolling down my cheeks. I keep my attention on Anna as my grip around her hand tightens.

“I failed her,” I whisper. I once again lower my head as shame eats at me as it always has from the day we were separated in the woods.

“Don’t say that. We never would have found her at the market if not for you. You did well, Dimitri—”

“Stop! Just stop saying that, all of you!” I snap.

Calista watches me with a shocked expression, forcing me to remember my place. I slowly shake my head, trying to reign in my temper.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

I shift my attention to Annalise, my chest aching. “I’m sorry…”

I break down once again as the uncontrollable hatred for myself comes to the surface.

“Felix has sent word. He’s on his way back to the estate. He’s sending word to Cyrus as well. You may not think it because your mind is clouded by whatever past you and she shared, but you’ve done your master proud. I suggest you pull yourself together before he returns. He won’t like seeing you in this state.”

Two Days Later

Annalise has yet to awaken. And for once, I am glad for it. The estate has been in complete lockdown since, as we don’t want any word spreading of the woman who arrived with the king’s seal on her ribs. Though I have authority when Felix isn’t around, it is much easier to get the staff to follow a command when it is him who gives it.

Not only have we kept the staff under lock and key, but Ciel as well. While I would love for him to be by his mother’s side and Annalise to see him when she awakens, it is not my place to allow it. Which is why I am eager for Felix to return and enact whatever he deems is right. Felix is much better than me at putting the kingdom’s needs before his own. And ever since my display in front of Calista, my command when it comes to Annalise has been revoked. Until Felix returns, Calista is in charge.

I am as helpless as I’ve always been when Annalise is involved.

My eyes widen as I approach the estate atop my horse from my patrol. Felix has returned. Even from this distance, I can see it’s him as he dismounts his horse. Calista stands at the front of the estate with a grin on her lips as he greets her, placing his hand gently over her stomach.

I feel a tinge of jealousy that I quickly push down as I approach. I have no right to feel that way, especially after losing my temper on Calista just because Annalise was involved. My mind has been pulled every which way, and I hate it. But as soon as I look into Felix’s gaze, I am reminded of my place and my purpose.

I quickly dismount my horse, handing the reigns to a servant as I approach Felix. And as he always does, he senses my presence almost immediately, his eyes shifting in my direction.

“General,” I say, quickly bowing. Felix is silent for a moment before removing his blade from his waist and handing it off to me.

“Calista tells me you had a heavy hand in finding the human,” he says.

My grip tightens on his blade as I pick up on his tone. I don’t dare look in Calista’s direction, however. I keep my eyes down as I respond.

“I just paid attention to the prince. If not for him, I don’t know how we would have found her,” I say softly.

Felix chuckles, stepping past me to enter the estate. I note that Joan is with him as well, with a hopeful expression as she follows behind us.

“Has she awoken yet?” Felix asks.

I shake my head.

“No. The healers said the damage she suffered was extensive. And that it’s a miracle she’s alive,” I say softly.

Felix inhales a deep breath, his eyes remaining ahead. So, I decide to iterate just how terrible the damage is.

“Elias used his beast form on her. The healers were unable to fix the damage left behind—”

“And what of the child?” Felix and I both look to see Joan speaking up behind us, panic in her expression. Felix stops in his tracks, looking to me for the answer, but I can’t speak. The knot in my throat is thick, preventing me from breathing. My breath hitches, and my eyes burn as I try to relay the message, but Joan understands.

Horror overcomes her expression, and she steps back with wide eyes, tears forming in her eyes as well.

“You’re excused, Joan,” Felix says curtly.

Joan looks at him, obviously wanting to argue, but decides against it. She takes a step back, bowing before making her way out of Felix’s presence. I slowly shift my attention to him, trying my best to understand his emotions about the situation, but as always, I can’t.

“Did the healers say when she would awaken?” Felix asks.

I shake my head.

“And what of Ciel? Has he seen his mother since her arrival?” he asks.

Once again, I shake my head.

“I didn’t know if it would be for the best, seeing as she’s in such a state,” I say softly.

Felix thinks about my words for a moment but doesn’t respond. He only makes his way through the halls until he is in front of Annalise’s door. The beasts standing guard bow as Felix enters the room to take in Annalise himself. I remain in the doorway, unable to enter the same room as these two. Felix has always had a vendetta against Annalise. And he hates, more than anything, seeing my emotional reactions to her.

After a moment, I lift my gaze and note that Felix’s body is tense as he looks down at Annalise. But he still doesn’t speak. He releases a breath, turning away from her.

“This is going to send him over the edge,” he murmurs to himself.

He briefly ignores me as he exits the room, allowing them to close the doors.

“Send for the healers. I want to know everything about her condition that they do. And allow Ciel in her chambers. His presence should calm her when she finally awakens.”