Page 15 of Wicked Princess (Knight's Ridge Empire 2)

“What is it?” I ask, dread settling in my belly.

“T-things aren’t good. Mum, she’s…”

“Just tell me, Toby,” I demand. I’ve already been handed enough shit. A little more will hardly make any difference right now.

“Good morning,” a nurse I haven’t seen before sings a second after she opens my door. “It’s good to see you awake. How are you feeling?”

“Umm…”

“She’s in pain,” Toby answers for me, and I reward him with a cutting look.

“Okay. Let me see what I can do. I was thinking we could try getting you on your feet today, honey.”

“Umm… sure.” The thought of getting out of bed fills me with dread. I already know it’s going to hurt like hell, but getting to my feet is one step closer to the door, so I’ll give it my best shot. “A shower would be fantastic.”

“I’m not sure we’ll manage that today, but we can definitely freshen you up a little.”

“How long have I been out?” I ask.

“Ten days.”

“Ten days,” I parrot. “I’ve been asleep for ten freaking days?”

“Your body needed time to heal. You went through something very serious.”

“Right,” I mutter as she pulls my notes from the bottom of my bed.

I’ve missed a week and a half of school. But more importantly than that, I missed my freaking birthday. I turned into an adult while unconscious in the hospital.

I glance around the room, wondering if anyone even remembered, or knew.

I’ve been awake a while now, and I still haven’t seen my father.

I doubt anyone else was even aware it was meant to be my big day.

I guess it’s just something that’s now going to pass by as if it never happened. At least when I get out of here I’ll legally be able to drink. I guess that’s a bonus.

“I’ll give you a little more pain relief now, and then after breakfast, we can try getting up, okay?”

I nod, watching as she checks my vitals. Toby backs up into the corner of the room, allowing her to work.

“If you eat okay today, hopefully you’ll be able to get off of this soon,” she says, tapping the side of the machine I’m hooked up to.

“Great. When can I leave?”

A soft laugh falls from her lips. “It’ll be a few days yet, honey.”

Food arrives before she’s had a chance to finish her morning checks. The sight of it turns my stomach, but I need to at least try.

“For hospital food, that looks pretty decent,” Toby says, returning to my side the second the nurse is done and has disappeared from the room.

I poke at the porridge with my spoon, willing my body to want to taste it.

“Just have a little. Or I can go and get you something else if you want.”

Shaking my head, I look at him.

“What happened, Toby? Who did this to me?”