Page 110 of A House of Cloaks & Daggers

Chapter forty-five

His Majesty

Batre moved in myperipheral vision and uttered something like an apology on Wren’s behalf as his eyes finally closed again.

She might have told me that it wasn’t my fault and reminded me that he wasn’t himself, but I couldn’t be sure.

I’m so in love with you, it’s made me sick.

I’m so in love with you.

In love with you.

“Aura, I need you to go downstairs and find a healer.” Batre’s voice came from above the surface of the water in which my head had been submerged. A distant echo growing louder and clearer with each repeat of her words. “Aura, he needs a healer to close the wound. We don’t have much time.”

“Downstairs,” I whispered, my gaze locked on Wren’s face.

I’m so in love with you.

“Yes. Now.”

I was not in control of my body as I fled from my bedroom, almost falling down the staircase in search of help.

A healer.

I needed to find a healer to close the wound. I should have asked about the antidote, about what he’d need to counteract the poison coursing through his blood—

I’m so in love with you, it’s made me sick.

The hallways were empty, so I made my way to the dining hall, nearly tripping over my feet as I raced around corners and dodged the slightly raised edges of carpet rugs.

The dining room doors were open, but there was no one inside.

Swearing filthily, I turned on my heels and ran back to the stairs. Halfway down, I heard a low murmur of voices.

I couldn’t make out what they were saying.

I’m so in love with you.

Faeries were scattered on the ground floor, talking in small groups along the edges of the hallway and between the open doors.

“I need a healer!” I shouted.

All of them turned to look at me.

“Please, I need a healer. Wren is injured. Batre is with him upstairs—”

“Wren isn’t back yet,” a short High Fae woman with dirty blonde hair called out.

Panic shot up my throat like hot coals. “Yes, he is!” I screamed. “He’s upstairs with Batre, in my bedroom—”

“In your bedroom?” another faerie scoffed. He was wearing Enyd’s grey uniform, altered to accommodate a long furry tail. “Nobody tell Lucais that.”

A gurgle of laughter rippled across the group.

“He’s been stung by a locust.” A desperate sob broke free from my chest. “Please.”

The laughter stopped. Somebody swore under their breath.

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