Page 103 of Royal Caleva: Luis

In truth, she hated to see Luis’s eyes closed. When Grace had texted her that Luis was awake, Eve had cried tears of relief that she had quickly washed away before racing down the hall to his room. While Luis still looked too frail and weak, his ice-blue eyes held their usual blazing intelligence and focus, and his smooth baritone grew stronger every time he spoke.

Now the vitality seemed to drain from him again.

Dr. Ibarra and three more medical personnel hurried into the room. “Is there a problem?” Dr. Ibarra asked.

“No,” Luis said, his voice a low rasp. “I thought you should know that I am awake.” His eyelids fluttered open. “I am just not sure how long I can stay that way.”

Dr. Ibarra turned to Luis’s visitors. “Would you please step outside so we may examine our patient?”

“I would like to speak with you as soon as you are finished,” Raul said, in what was clearly a command.

“Of course, Su Alteza Real,” the doctor said with a nod.

Mikel held the door as they filed out into the hallway. Eve was glad she had insisted that he be called into the room. She had caught the intense relief on the face of the usually unflappable security chief. He had needed to see that Luis was recovering.

“Let’s go to the waiting area,” Eve said, taking in the drawn faces of Grace and Raul. “The doctor will find us there.”

Once again, Mikel ushered them through the door before he disappeared into the conference room.

Raul sank onto one of the sofas while Grace curled into an armchair beside him.

Eve was about to perch on the arm of Grace’s chair when the prince dropped his head into his hands. His shoulders shook silently, and Eve realized he was sobbing. She changed directions to sit beside him.

“Raul, your father is going to be fine. You saw how alert and strong he was. He just needs more rest.” If she said it firmly enough, it would be true.

Raul nodded into his hands but didn’t lift his head. His voice was muffled as he said, “It’s the relief. Before, he looked so…” His shoulders shook again.

“I know,” Eve said soothingly. And she did. “But when he was awake, he was entirely himself.”

“As long as there’s no long-term damage.” Raul raised his head and rubbed his hands over his cheeks. Grace held out a box of tissues, which he accepted. “Dr. Ibarra feels the thallium concentration wasn’t high enough for that, but she said we have to wait and see.”

“Doctors are always cautious about a prognosis,” Eve said.

“I feel more confident of that after seeing him awake,” Raul said.

Eve gave his shoulders a quick squeeze and shifted sideways a couple of feet to allow him his space.

But Grace moved to sit beside her half brother, leaning her head on his shoulder. “Mom’s right. He just needs rest.”

Raul put his arm around Grace. Her daughter was so smart. The prince was now focused on comforting his little sister instead of worrying about his father.

That allowed Eve to give in to her fear that Luis would die, even though he seemed to be fighting off the poison’s effects with the help of the treatments he was getting. She felt herself begin to shake as the iron grip she had clenched around her feelings disintegrated. She leaped off the sofa and staggered over to the refrigerator, hoping the young people didn’t notice her wavering gait. For a long moment, she clung to the door handle and leaned her forehead against the stainless steel.

Luis wasn’t a dog or cat that had ingested the poison in an isolated barn. He was a human king who had merely brushed his fingers over it and who had the best medical care in the country.

Luis wouldn’t suffer nerve damage. His kidneys wouldn’t fail. He wouldn’t even lose his glorious silver mane of hair. He would rise from his hospital bed with his chin tilted at its normal regal angle, dress in one of his custom-tailored suits, and stride out of the hospital as though nothing had happened.

She closed her eyes to imprint that rosy image on her terrified brain.

“Mom? Are you all right?” Grace’s voice came from across the room.

Eve lifted her head and pulled open the refrigerator door. “Just debating what I want to drink.” She took a deep breath before she turned. Grace and Raul still sat side by side on the couch. “Can I get you something?”

“A double shot of tequila?” Grace’s voice held a sardonic note.

“Sounds good to me,” Eve said. “But the best I can offer is Calevan beer.”

“There’s a full bar in the cabinet to your right,” Raul said.

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