Page 27 of Hidden

Her brother was propped up on pillows, his pale face even paler against the white linens. But he was awake and talking softly with Galeeta, who sat beside his bed, cradling his hand in hers. He wore a clean nightshirt, and his hair was combed. Clearly Galeeta, in a motherly mood, had tidied her son.

Ademar barely turned his head at Lila’s approach, as if too weak to move much, but a smile lit his eyes. With a sharp stab of relief, Lila bent over the bed, gently embracing her brother. His skin felt hot. A thread of worry tightened in her chest.

“How do you feel?” she asked as she stepped back, holding his gaze with her own. The question was woefully clumsy, barely hiding her anxiety. “Tell the truth.”

Ademar hesitated, his gaze dropping to where his hands rested on the bedcovers. Candlelight glistened on his fever-damp skin, highlighting the sharp elegance of his features. “My leg hurts,” he snapped, voice rasping. “Is that truth enough?”

Lila drew back, a little stung by his impatient tone. “I’m sorry.”

Shaking his head, Ademar sank back onto the pillows. “My apologies. I’m not at my finest.”

Galeeta adjusted the bedcovers. “But you are mending, and that is what counts.”

“Is there anything I can do?” Lila asked.

“You’re a good sister.” Galeeta stroked Lila’s hair, smoothing it into place.

Such affectionate gestures were rare, and Lila barely stopped herself from leaning into it like a cat. For the briefest moment, she felt safe. It didn’t last.

Lila sensed the servant’s presence before the robed figure appeared in the doorway. It loomed, head bowed and hands hidden by the gray habit. The stance reminded Lila of a medieval monk, except she had glimpsed the horror beneath the cowl. A medieval demon, perhaps, like the kind from a nightmarish painting of Hell.

Without another word, her mother glided from the room to join the creature, closing the door behind her. Lila drew closer to the bed and clasped her brother’s hand. He returned the squeeze, but without much force. Lila opened her mouth to speak, but her thoughts collided. She should have been filled with simple pleasure that Ademar was awake, but the servant’s arrival filled her with foreboding.

Ademar closed his eyes, the pale blue veins in his lids visible in the pool of lamplight. Lines of pain bracketed his mouth.

Lila took a deep breath to ease the heaviness over her heart. “Mother was frantic trying to heal you,” she said, filling the silence. “She barely left your side.”

“I know.”

“I don’t think she can admit how badly scared she was for you.”

“Maybe,” Ademar murmured. “As bad as this is, I am the fortunate one. Unlike Father, I have my freedom.”

Lila knew she should leave and let her brother sleep, but she had to ask just one question. “Did you know about Father?”

Ademar gave a silent nod.

“Do you know why or how he was captured?”

“I was not there when it happened.” He opened his eyes to the merest slits. “From what Mother said, the Royal Guard came one night and took him without warning.”

“What of our servants? Didn’t they defend him?”

“The soldiers came armed to the teeth, and they brought a spellcaster with them. The staff had no chance. Neither did our father.”

Lila’s head swam. “But why? What did Father do? And why did nobody tell me?”

“That was Mother’s choice. She wanted to keep you and Sala safe. She loves you, you know.”

The door opened again before Ademar could say more. Galeeta swept in, tension surrounding her like a cloak.

“The vampire is still loose in the woods.” Their mother’s chill tone couldn’t hide the swirl of fear and anger beneath it. “But she won’t escape. She can’t. Not until we are through with this place.”

“What do you propose?” Ademar asked.

“It’s time we reduce our liabilities.”

Lila’s breath caught as her mother stepped aside and the second servant dragged Rafe into the room. He was gagged with a strip of leather, and a heavy chain hobbled his feet and wrists and wound around his waist. But the real bonds were the plain, almost elegant cuffs around his wrists. Silver was painful to shifters and sapped away strength and magic. The color had drained from Rafe’s skin, leaving him pasty beneath his tan. His gaze crossed Lila’s for a moment. The frozen hatred in it almost made her fall back.

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