Page 3 of Cursed Heirs

That sensation that rarely plagued me, but which I hated, was all over me.

Fucking weakness.

“It’s all right. You’re okay now,” a familiar voice spoke.

I blinked hard a couple of times, and then I looked to see Cornwell sitting at my bedside, his hand on one of mine, stroking comfortingly.

Bedside?

I fought to get my bearings and it took me a while, just making me more pissed to be like this—off my fucking game.

Ugly beige walls. Bland single beds. Medical equipment.

Realization hit and I identified where I was.

The Infirmary.

I knew it well.

Xavier and I had spent far too much time in here during our early days at Electi Academy on behalf of Talon. All his fire episodes had landed him in here a lot.

“What… what’s going on? What happened?”

“Because of what you did, you ensured nobody else ended up in here alongside you.”

I frowned and thought for a moment. “Constantine… he came for the Academy.”

“Yes.”

“Fuck, I need to… I have to…”

He pressed a hand to my bare chest. “He’s gone. For the time being, at least.”

“Even so, he’s still out there. And my father… he’s…” I collapsed back down almost immediately, my body permeating so much weakness, the strain had me gasping.

“You need to rest.” He fingered my pecs and gestured there with his eyes.

I looked to see black veins spread all over like a dark spider web. “Black magic,” I breathed.

“Not to worry, it’s leaving your system. The Healers here confirmed as much. But it will be a few more hours until it’s gone completely. Until then, you’ll feel exhausted with very little energy. The more you rest, the quicker the infection will take its leave. Until then, the injuries you sustained from the blunt force trauma of being tossed into that oak tree won’t heal properly.”

“That’s what that pain is in my ribs?”

“Two are broken, yes. You also sustained a lot of bruising and scrapes over your face, arms, and legs.” The corner of his mouth turned up. “You’re something else, aren’t you? Truly. The fact you didn’t notice it the moment you awoke, nor when you just attempted to get up, says a great deal.”

I lifted a shoulder. “My father taught me how to overcome pain in battle.”

He inched closer in the chair and started stroking my chest sensually, making me moan out. “Is this what you need in order to rest, pretty prince?”

He tried to lock eyes with me, but I looked away.

An uncomfortable feeling betook me.

It felt… worrying… while I was incapacitated, while I was without my power.

“I…”

He slid one hand beneath the covers at my waist, cutting my words off.

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