Page 87 of Dueling the Suitors

A terrible feeling formed inside her. Was the one poisoning Cyrus and sending her notes the same person? Cyrus had told her that magical notes couldn’t be sent and received within the palace walls other than through him. That meant one of the Mages in the palace was a rebel who knew about the prophecy. And they were poisoning Cyrus tohelpher fulfill it.

She felt sick.

“Listen, I want you to go back to Cyrus and lock the door. Don’t let anyone—not even Clara—in. If I come, I will announce myself; otherwise, don’t open the door,” Rowan said in a grave voice.

“Yes, but first, I have to send word to the Mage healer about the poison—she’s preparing the cure. Once she arrives with it, I will join you for the interrogations.” Astoria gave his arm a gentle squeeze and ran back to her chambers.

She wrote down a quick note and sent it to the healer with the guard who had escorted her yesterday. His name she didn’t know, but Cyrus would. The thought clenched her heart, but she set aside the feeling and watched as the carriage rode through the castle walls to bring the healer.

She returned to Cyrus’ room, locked the door as Rowan had instructed, and fell to his side on the bed. Skylar and Spyrah were already on the other side, Spyrah staring at him with tearful eyes and Skylar with a comforting paw on her.

Astoria laid her head gently on her husband’s chest and stared at his handsome face. Her fingers stroked his cheekbones. “Cyrus,” she whispered. “Cyrus, if you can hear me, please holdon. Please keep fighting. Don’t—don’t leave me. Don’t youdareleave me.”

Tears leaked from the corner of her eye.

“Please, don’t leave me…” she repeated. “Is it funny that I would give anything at the moment to see you flash that infuriating smirk at me and tease me mercilessly?” She choked on a sad laugh. “I guess I’mthatdesperate.”

The longer she stared at his face, the more her anger burned towards the culprit poisoning her husband. She wanted nothing more than to strangle that person, whoever he or she was. This was their fault. Her husband was in this condition because of them. Poison was running through his veins, slowly draining the life out of him. How long until it claimed his life? How long did he have? Would it be too late to give him the cure? Would the cure work?

Once the thoughts began to flood in, Astoria thought her head might burst. She sat up straight and wiped her tears away.

This had never worked before, but she was determined to try it again. For Cyrus.

She lifted her hands over him and closed her eyes. Something she had never felt before, a feeling—a loud feeling—buzzed under her skin like a great force fighting to be released. Astoria’s heart raced at this strange discovery. She pushed harder, feeling her body heat up, but the power was too restrained.

What was that?

Suddenly, Cyrus stirred.

Astoria opened her eyes and saw her golden threads encircling his body. Cyrus’ eyelids fluttered. Then, they opened. His midnight eyes met hers, and he smiled adoringly like she was the moon itself.

Astoria stared at him in astonishment.

“Astra…”

It had been days since she heard his voice. When Clara told her that he asked for her yesterday, she had been disappointed she wasn’t with him.

“I’m here…” she whispered, a tear slipping from her eye.

“Why are you crying, my love?”

Astoria opened and closed her mouth, struggling for an answer. Was she dreaming?

“No, you’re not,” he said weakly. Did she say that aloud? “It’s your healing magic. It’s giving me strength to gain consciousness and talk.”

Her jaw dropped. “But I don’t—”

“You do, because you have the power of a Half-blood. But to produce it, unlike your other powers, this one is advanced and it needs a powerful push. Emotion. Your emotions pushed the power into production. What are you feeling now, Little Dragon?”

“Ecstasy?” More tears spilled, and a watery grin broke across her face. “But it was desperation that drove me, I think. If I had known this before—does this mean I can heal you?”

“No, sweetheart.” She frowned at his answer. “It would take more than your healing magic to drain the poison out of my body.”

She gaped at him. “How do you know—”

Cyrus looked at Spyrah. “She’s been keeping me updated about everything, including how a certain young woman declared she would tear the world apart to find the culprit poisoning me.” He turned his adoring gaze to Astoria.

But Spyrah didn’t go with her when—

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