Page 60 of Joined By Magic

“I’ll deal with my father. Call through to the doctor. Now.”

The guard, clearly deciding the threat right in front of him took precedence, pressed a button on the intercom. “Doctor, Prince Leopold is here to see you.”

Nothing. The guard tried again, with no success. Leo glanced at me, worried. “Open the door.”

The guard stepped forward and pressed a keycard to the lock. Nothing happened. He tried again, with the same result. “I’m sorry, Your Highness, I don’t know what—”

“Call in one of your superiors and get that door open. I’ll be back after I speak with the king, and I expect to enter. Understood?”

The guard dropped into a low bow. “Yes, Your Highness.”

We paused around the corner, at the start of the corridor leading to the king’s chambers. The rich, gold fabric hanging on the walls and the thick red carpet felt oppressive. Leo glared back toward the doctor’s room. “Everything about this feels wrong.”

I nodded. “I know. Should I go to our room while you speak to the king? Seeing me won’t put him in a chatty mood.”

Leo considered, then shook his head. “No. I don’t like this, and the only place I’m sure you’re safe is right beside me. The only people I trust here are non-mages, except for my dad, and he’s weak by Ataran standards. I’ll have to keep you close until we work out what’s going on.”

A grim assessment, but accurate. We hadn’t been here long enough to assess who was really on our side. We headed to the king’s rooms only to be stopped by a solid, stern guard at the entrance. He wore the ornate livery that marked him as part of the king’s retinue. He snapped out a sharp bow to Leo. “Your Highness. How may I help you?”

“I’m here to see my father.”

“I’m sorry, Your Highness, he’s still not accepting visitors. He’s unwell.”

“It’s an emergency.”

“I’m afraid I can’t—”

Leo’s hand flicked out and blue magic wrapped around the guard, trapping his arms to his side. I gasped as Leo tried the door, found it locked, then blasted it open with a surge of power. I skittered back, away from the blast, and Leo put his arm out to steady me. I gaped at him.

“I’m tired of this. Violence seems to be the only way to get things done around here.”

He took my hand, and we strode into the king’s rooms.

As always, the grandeur of the room impressed me. Soft red-and-gold fabrics draped the furniture, and the tiles carried on the color scheme, ruby red and shining gold twisting across a white floor in a complex geometric design.

The king shot through the door, hands raised, a glowing shield in front of him. He froze and let the shield drop when he saw us. I stared. The king looked like himself, but ten years younger. He stood straight-backed, and his skin glowed with an inner health I’d never seen on him before. His eyes were bright and clear as he stared at us in disbelief.

“Leopold? What’s the meaning of this?”

Leo marched to stand before his father, pulling me with him. “Where’s Doctor Hanna? And what happened to your other physicians? They’re all turning up dead!”

The king rested his coal-black gaze on me before dismissing me. His lip curled up in a sneer. “My health is none of your concern.”

“It is when it involves the Dexian physician I brought here. Tell me.”

The king paused for a long time, then some of the anger left him. He scanned Leo with calculating eyes. “I was planning on telling you anyway. It might as well be now. Send away your pet.”

“She’s my future wife.” Leo’s voice cracked with anger. “And I’m not sending her anywhere. I don’t keep secrets from her.”

The king’s face twisted in disgust. “Very well, but if she opens her mouth about this, you’ll deal with the consequences.” He seated himself on a large chair and waved to us to do the same. “Have you ever watched anyone die, Son? Seen them waste away to nothing?”

Leo blinked, then nodded. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Imagine that person is yourself. You look in the mirror every day and see a warmed-up corpse staring back, your strength and virility gone. What would you do to escape that fate?”

“Anything.”

I barely managed to hide my shock at Leo’s response. Anything? Then he squeezed my hand. A message. He was up to something.

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