Page 88 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

“Come on, we’re almost there. It’s just a few more floors.” Her breathing wasn’t ragged, it was slow, like her heart, as if it barely had enough energy to keep pumping.

“Let me get you something or carry you.” I turned to look for one of the fae in white.

“No, I’m fine. I promise. I will sit and rest, and I’ll be okay.” She forced a smile onto her lips, but it didn’t do anything for her hollow cheeks or the dark circles under her eyes.

I grabbed her hand forcing more magic through our connection. “Kiera?—”

She closed her eyes, moaning softly. When she realized what she’d done, she clapped a hand over her mouth, eyes going wide as she glanced around to see who heard. Thankfully, no one paid her any mind. “Thank you,” she said at length.

I nodded, not sure what else to say or do.

I didn’t want to think what would have happened to her had we never met. I don’t know how she did her job or what her reserves looked like before the poisoning, but this wasn’t good for her. I needed to find a few moments to speak to her granabout it. Maybe she already knew, but I had to get Kiera to listen to help somewhere, and Gran seemed like the only option. I’d need to do that after dinner.

I knew this was better than her trying to work in the palace, but it still seemed like she was going to push herself far beyond her means. And if neither of us could replenish her, what would we end up doing to ourselves?

Hours passed, and Kiera went through book after book, not finding what she seemed to need.

She slammed the book she’d been reading shut. “It’s not even close.”

“No, that’s what it seems like.”

“I don’t know where else it would be if it’s not in these.”

“What did your gran say?”

“She said we’d discuss it more in-depth later. After she’s had some time to let it marinate.”

“Marinate?”

“Yes, that’s what she calls letting the problems sit in the back of her brain. She says they have to steep and marinate like a potion.”

I laughed. “We should go. We don’t want to be late for dinner, and we have a few flights to get down.”

Kiera looked at the stairs and deflated. Like she’d forgotten that we came up and that we’d have to go back down.

“Let me get you the chair or help.”

“I don’t want to be seen as weak.” she hissed.

“You were poisoned. Surely, if anyone’s going to understand it, healers will.”

“You don’t know how they are.”

“I don’t have to know how they are. They should understandthat healers are fae too, and if they need help, it’s not a weakness.” I knew then that they were part of the problem. Fuck.

Down was easier, but when she had to rest so much quicker, I clenched my teeth and looked at her.

“I don’t want to hear it,” she said before I could say anything.

“You’re going to fucking hear it.” I barely kept my voice restrained. “You’re either going to let me get you a chair, or I’m fucking carrying you down.”

I saw her recoil at my anger. I don’t think I’d ever used that tone with her. “I’m sorry,” I softened.

She tore her gaze away. “You’re not carrying me.”

“Then let me enquire about a floating chair. Who do I ask?”

We made it back to her treehouse without too much more fuss, but Kiera didn’t look like she could make it through dinner.

---