Page 89 of A Court Bright and Broken

The impact of his weight on the bed didn’t even cause a tremor on the opposite side where I’d slept. What was this thingmadeof?

I pressed down with my hands on either side of me and then bounced them to test it. Mistake. Searing pain shot up my left side and caused me to see stars.

“Ouch. Ow… oh, right.” My ankle. That’s what he was asking about.

“I’m not sure it’s much better. But I did sleep well in spite of it.”

Glancing across the room toward the fireplace, I eyed the narrow sofa where Iremembereddozing off. Then my eyes flew to Stellon.

“Did you… you put me in your bed?”

“I did. Those settees are too small for anyone to sleep comfortably on—and beastly firm.”

“And where did you sleep?”

He cracked a grin. “With you, of course—afterwe made mad love all night long. Do you not remember?”

Shaking his head, he added, “That saol water must affect humans more strongly than I realized.”

At the sight of my mouth falling open and my hand coming up to cover my chest, he laughed.

“I’mjoking, Firebug. But the saol water really did put you out, I guess, if you thought there was even a possibility I was serious. As I told you last night, you’re safe here.”

His expression sobered a bit. “As long as you’re in this room with me.”

Though I believed him, I was glad that wouldn’t be for very much longer.

He’d promised to arrange a carriage for me this morning, and I’dneedit. I had to get home—fast.

Obviously, I didn’t intend to follow Sorcha’s orders and assassinate the royal family, especially after the way Stellon had taken care of me last night.

And I’d thought of a way to avoid it. But I’d have to move quickly if I was going to pull it off.

Sorcha was imprisoned in the dungeon—for now.

If I could get home and spirit my family away from Waterdale before she was released, she wouldn’t have a chance to take one—or both—of my little sisters and punish my father with more pain.

Hopefully what remained of his cure would last long enough for us to travel far out of the Earthwife’s reach.

Everyone had talked about Lord Elardis’ territory in eastern Sundaris as being remote. Maybe we’d make our way there. A far-flung region where the woods were thick and deep sounded pretty good right now.

It was said the Fae there lived completely isolated from humans and didn’t even speak the common tongue, communicating exclusively with each other. They’d take no notice of a new human family in their midst.

“Thank you,” I said to Stellon. “You’ve been incredibly kind. And I’m grateful you’ve agreed to arrange for transportation home for me this morning. I shall be ready to travel in mere minutes, as soon as I’ve made use of your private washroom.”

Throwing the covers to the side, I slid to the edge of the bed. Stellon hurried around to my side of it, offering a hand.

“I’m afraid things have changed,” he said as he lifted me and carried me across the room. “I’m not going to be able to make good on that offer—not yet anyway.”

I froze, outwardly from the shock of his unexpected touch—and inside from the shock of his words.

“What do you mean?”

His forehead creased. “There has been some… upheaval this morning in the palace. A woman, my newly betrothed bride actually, has disappeared.”

My hands came up to cover my mouth. An involuntary reaction, but it served the handy purpose of hiding my trembling lips.

“That’s terrible,” I managed to say. “I’m so sorry.”

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