Page 90 of Dueling the Suitors

“Write a note to my brother. It’s better if you ask him directly than through Father. Then hold the letter in your hand and say,Joaquin Arugulas Caelian,three times in your mind. This is important because you don’t know the person you are sending the letter to. The rest is just like how we send notes via magic. Now, drop your healing threads from me. You need your strength.”

“Wait—but how will he get the antidote to us?”

“Good question. Tell him to open the portal right outside our walls since he couldn’t open it inside because of the shield. He probably knows the name of our palace, but you may include it just in case. Then inform Thornton that we are expecting my brother—maybe a bodyguard, too—and escort them to our chambers.”

“Joaquin Arugulas Caelian.Got it.” Astoria nodded and leaned over to kiss his forehead. “I won’t let you down,” she promised, pulling away.

He smiled, eyes shining like stars. “I don’t doubt it.”

Astoria withdrew her powers and watched as the strength left him and he slowly slipped back into unconsciousness. But this time, he had the ghost of a smile on his face.

Astoria climbed down from the bed and approached the writing desk. Thankfully, the writing essentials were already there. She scribbled a letter to her brother-in-law as per Cyrus’ instructions, folded it in fourths after reading it, and slipped it into an envelope. She sealed it with a plain seal, not wanting to use Cyrus’ seal in case he didn’t bother opening it. A magical letter with a plain seal would probably pique his interest.

Astoria hoped.

She held the letter in her hands and closed her eyes, saying,Joaquin Arugulas Caelian,three times in her mind as she concentrated. The letter vanished in the next moment. She pulled out another parchment, wrote a note to the captain of the guard, and sent it to him via magic. To confirm he found her note, Astoria rang for Emily and asked her to inform him.

She returned to Cyrus’ side and waited, praying to the Creator—something she had started since she began to worry for Cyrus—that Joaquin would arrive soon.

Her thoughts drifted to the healer, and her heartstrings tightened. The woman had been murdered because she tried to save Cyrus’ life. She would be served justice, and Astoria would personally see to taking care of her family.

Astoria remembered Rowan’s words from earlier, that he suspected Clara. She refused to even think of it. Clara was a great soul and had been nothing but kind and welcoming towards her since day one, even when Astoria had been hostile to the man Clara loved as a son.

Clara was also the one who told Astoria what a great, golden man Cyrus was. It didn’t make any sense that Clara would betray Cyrus.

Ithadto be someone from the inside. But, who? Would they find out before it was too late? What would happen to the culprit then?

One look at Cyrus’ face and Astoria knew she would make the person pay greatly. She didn’t know how, but she would make an example of him or her for the entire continent—no one would ever mess with her and her husband again.

There was a commotion outside the door. Astoria stood and placed herself in front of Cyrus’ bed. That had better be his brother.

“I told you—”

“You willnotstop me from seeing my brother, whoever you are!” bellowed an authoritative voice.

“You are innoposition to command me, Cyrus’ brother or not. I am his right hand and I run this empire in his stead—I cannot believe this!” A knock sounded at the door and Rowan called out, “Astoria, it’s me!”

Astoria rolled her eyes with a smile. Rowan was a little annoying when he was overprotective, just like Emmett, but she appreciated it greatly. She flicked her wrist, and the door unlocked.

A tall man in black and sea-green royal attire burst inside, pushing past Rowan, whose annoyance only peaked.

He was handsome, slightly older than Cyrus, but they bore no resemblance as brothers. When his searching, light eyes fell on Astoria, he relaxed slightly and stomped towards her less aggressively.

“Where is my brother?”

No pleasantries or decorum. Astoria liked that.

She stepped aside without a word. The moment his eyes fell on Cyrus, Joaquin’s face crumpled and he hurried over to the bed.

“Cyrus?” He cupped Cyrus’ face and stared at his little brother with wide eyes. There was no trace of hatred in them.

“He’s unconscious, Your Highness,” Astoria told him quietly from behind. “But I can use my healing powers to help him gain consciousness. Did you bring the antidote?”

“Wait, what’s going on?” Rowan asked from behind, baffled.

“I wrote to Prince Joaquin via magic and he has the antidote to heal Cyrus.” Astoria looked at him as he stepped beside her. “I didn’t have time to tell you—you were busy with the interrogations.”

Rowan closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself. “You should have,” he breathed out. “I wasbesidemyself when I heard—”

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