Page 110 of The Rose in the Shadows

The nurse sighed but nodded nonetheless and led us through the hall. Each step seemed to take longer than the last as we approached him. The air pressed in on me until it was nearly suffocating me. He had to be okay. Hehadto.

There were guards posted outside his door. They looked at me suspiciously as I approached, but something in my expression must have told them that my entering the room was not up for debate. They stepped aside, and as Dimitri pulled open the door for me, I couldn’t help but hold my breath.

I held up a hand, instructing them to wait outside as I took my first few shaking steps inside. Clay was sleeping, and for that, I was glad because I couldn’t contain the raw emotion I felt looking at him. Even now, days after the battle and after several healing rituals, Clay’s wounds still looked fresh. He must have landed on his left when he fell; he had a broken left leg and bruises covered his left cheek and arms. He was shirtless, his torso wrapped in layers of gauze, but even with the bandages, I could see fresh blood leaking through.

“My Gods,” I whispered, unashamed that the Guards and nurses could see me beginning to cry. They would talk. They would question why the future Council member from House Hyrax showed such high regard for the Crown Prince.

“I know it looks frightening, my Lady, but we believe the Prince is healing at an expected pace,” a nurse told me from the door.

“Has he… has he been like this since the battle?”

“The Crown Prince has not yet woken.”

“My lady?” Dimitri called, his voice soft and tender. “Would you like to stay with the Prince for a little?”

I sniffled, pulling myself together and wiping away the tears. Clay was so damn good at donning his mask when necessary. I could don mine for him. I could play the role of Council member for now.

“Yes, I think I will. Please bring in a chair for me.”

Dimitri nodded and waved toward the nurse, who left instantly to fetch it.

“Is there anything else I can get for you, Thea?” He asked.

I met his knowing eyes and took a deep breath. Dimitri had been with me since my first day in this castle; he knew exactly what I felt for Clay, even if I hadn’t been brave enough to voice it yet. Dimitri’s compassion in that moment was something I would always appreciate.

“Could you perhaps arrange for a pillow and blanket? I should like to stay until the Prince awakens.”

He smiled and nodded.

Istayed with Clay for two more days, watching him, waiting for him to wake. Sometimes, I would look out the windows at the front steps of the palace and watch the townspeople leave flowers and tokens to the Gods in memory of those who had died. In the moments when exhaustion could not be ignored any longer, I would sleep fitfully in the chair. I woke every hour in a cold fear that he needed me.

And yet, when he finally did wake, it was on one of those occasions that I had finally closed my eyes.

I woke to him squeezing my hand. I must have latched onto him in my sleep.

“You’re drooling,” he informed me, voice hoarse and weak.

“You’re awake!”

“It would appear so.”

“How do you feel?”

“I feel like…” he groaned. “I feel like I was thrown out of the sky by a surprisingly strong shadow.”

I winced and stood rapidly, announcing that I was getting a nurse at once to check on him.

“Thea, wait.”

I paused, hands on the doorknob.

“Will you- will you just sit with me first?”

Frozen, I hesitated at the door. Intuition told me I should ignore him like always and get the nurse. This was the first timehe had woken indays.He should get looked at immediately. Not to mention that he was the Crown Prince, after all. I had a responsibility to protect his well-being.

But he was more than that to me.

So when Clay asked me to sit with him, I returned to my seat without protest.

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