Page 112 of Haunted

She is mine.

Some prince will not take her away from me.

73

I wipe Kenrik’s blood from my face and hurry from the dungeons toward Niawen’s light. I know exactly where she is. She’s been in the infirmary. After Seren left, Niawen was too disheartened to see patients in town.

I shake my hands out. They throb. I haven’t bandaged them yet. I must see to Niawen. I must make sure she doesn’t have notions of gallivanting off after this prince.

I open myself to her emotions, her edginess. She’s in a state of unrest. Is she upset over Seren or has she been searching for Kenrik’s faint light? He’s mortal, with a tiny amount of light that’s traceable if he isn’t cloaked.

It’s a good thing he is.

But to be able to feel his emotions?

My stomach turns with sickness.

A wave of dizziness hits me. It’s from her. Niawen? I quicken my steps.

Worry. A heavy wall of worry slams into me. Are she and the baby unwell?

Her words reach me. I need you. I need you. Please help me. I’m scared. Where are you when I need you?

I’m coming, Niawen. I’m coming.

74

I shut the door to the infirmary and lean back against it. I’m overwhelmed with stress. My face feels tight, and exhaustion swarms me.

“Caedryn,” Niawen exclaims. Her relief hits me. “What’s the matter?” She studies me for a moment. “You’re bleeding!” She rushes over and pulls me into her arms. “What happened? You were missing for hours. Something’s happened. I needed you.”

Panic grips me, and I touch her face. “Are you sick? Is the babe well?” Her white dragon stone is back around her neck. She must have searched until she found it in the snow.

“No. Yes. We’re both well.” She lifts up my busted knuckles to examine them. “Tell me what you did.”

I feign guilt. “Would you believe I had another episode?” It was an episode of sorts.

“Is that why I couldn’t see you? You were hiding from me?”

“Yes.”

“I was scared,” she says. “I need to talk to you. I need your help.”

“Oh, my love, I feel terrible. I’m here now. I just didn’t want you to know.” I caress her cheek. “We caught a spy. That’s why I was summoned a few weeks back. Rapion. I knew him. I’ve been questioning him. He finally told me Empress Rhianu has plans, that she’s coming for me. I lost it.” I did lose it. That is not a lie.

“You’ve been hiding this from me?”

“You didn’t need to deal with him.”

Niawen pulls my gray tunic open and touches the shirt underneath. Her finger comes away red. “Is all of this your blood?” Her eyes are accusing as she narrows them. “You hit him.”

“No, I didn’t. But I broke a few chairs. This”—I indicate my knuckles—“happened when I punched the wall.” That could have happened. The lies are piling up fast. I have to do something to distract her.

I slip my hands into her hair and lean my forehead to hers. “Niawen.” My voice is pained. My earlier fear of losing her to the simpering prince comes back.

“You tortured him, didn’t you? I know you’re lying.”

“I love that you can see the truth in me. I’m sorry. I’m just trying to protect you.” I kiss her cheek, near her mouth. I find ease surfacing just from contact with her skin.

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