Page 156 of Merciless Queen

I wait until she’s halfway down the hallway before allowing myself inside, finding Serafina sitting on a chair beside the bedwhere Lev rests. The sheet’s drawn to his waist, revealing the bandage on his shoulder. He’s passed out, presumably with the assistance of medicine.

My sister looks up as I enter and shut the door behind me. Dark rings line her eyes and her hair’s a mess atop her head but still, she smiles. The blood’s been cleaned from her face and she changed into a fresh set of clothing, courtesy of Vanessa.

I cross the room to her side, scanning over Lev. “You haven’t left his bedside.”

“He saved my life.” She pauses, rubbing her lips together. “He doesn’t even know me, but the instant Vanessa warned him, he didn’t hesitate to push me aside and take the hit himself.” She shifts in the chair, drawing my attention to her hand resting beside his. “Given our height differences, it would have been my head if he didn’t.”

Bile fills my throat as the unwelcome image slips into my head. Of Serafina on that warehouse floor with blood spilling from her?—

I cough, rubbing a hand over my face. “I’m grateful then.”

“They’re not bad people,” she murmurs. “Vanessa came right away when that man called, despite the shit between you two. You realize, we’re both alive because of her, right?”

An ache blooms over my chest. Because as much as I hate admitting it, she’s right and I have nothing to reply with.

“She’s outside.”

“What?”

Serafina follows my gaze, where it’s found the window beside the bed—and the treetops beyond. “I saw her heading out there about twenty minutes ago. That’s where you can find her.”

Hiding presumably.She’s waiting for Serafina and I to leave so she can tuck my entire existence behind her.

“And?” I keep my tone flat for my sister’s sake. No point in introducing her to heartache.

She spins on the chair until facing me, bringing her legs up into a crossed position. “Z, you care about her. Just gotta look twice, and it’s so obvious.”

I scan Lev’s face, seeking any sign that he’s listening in. Ideally, their doctor gave him something strong so he’s not overhearing this. “You’re a child, You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Usually, a comment like that would piss her off, but this time she merely stares at me, her brows lifting. “You have the worst case of denial ever.”

Her eyes drill into me, like she can see right through my lie. “It doesn’t matter. We’re leaving soon.”

Her mouth flattens and she glances over her shoulder. “Can we stay ‘til he wakes up?”

“Why?”

“So I can thank him. After all, he did save my life.”

The reminder, not that I needed it, is packed with the point she’s trying to make. “Fine. Once you do, we’re leaving.”

“Okay.” She stands and drifts toward the window, leaning against the wall beside it and crosses her arms, murmuring, “It’s beautiful here. No offense, but I think I like it more than the openness of the villa.” When I stand beside her, she points to a spot in the forest. “She went through there.”

Ignoring her blatant attempt, I force my eyes away from that spot, instead turning so my back’s to the window as I lean against the adjoining wall. “What happened when you got kidnapped?”

“I was downtown, walking to get away from the house. Seeing how far I could get away from your soldiers.”

I cough. “You know?”

With an eye roll, she groans. “They’re a bit too obvious.”

“They were also a bit too useless.” It comes out as a near-growl. “You were taken and they did nothing. How’d that happen?”

She shrugs. “I went into a store, turned down some aisle, and that’s the last thing I remember. Literally.”

As she talks, I scan her neck, spotting the tiny pinprick I didn’t notice earlier. They grabbed her the same way they took me out, the fuckers.

“I expected kicking and screaming if you learned about your new bodyguards.”

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