Page 62 of Blooms of Darkness

Tremors overtook my fingers as I pulled my nightgown up and brushed the tips along the jagged, angry-looking scar, which never fully healed, across my ribs.

Never again.

The scar throbbed. Years later, I continued to use a salve on it from Elisabeth, but the pain seemed stronger today.

I rose from the bed, wincing as the pain threatened to bring me to my knees.

Elisabeth would help. She’d have something.

Stumbling, I shielded my eyes from the brightness in the room as the sun streamed through my light-emerald curtains.

Suddenly, my door flew open.

Ian ran in with Kalliah on his heels.

I tripped moving toward him, and he wrapped me in his arms.

“I’m so sorry it took me so long, Lana,” Kalliah said. “You wouldn’t wake, and I had to find Ian’s new chambers.”

I nodded, holding out my hand and she took it. I squeezed hard in thanks, not trusting my voice would work properly now.

“You’re safe, Lan. You’re safe. It was a dream.” Ian held me, brushing my hair away from my face.

We stood there, together, like we had many times before. When the last remnants of horror shook from my body, I looked up.

“My scar hurts. I need to see Elisabeth,” I said, my throat raw from screaming. “Is it too early?”

Ian shook his head. “No, no, it’s before breakfast, but you know she’ll always see you.”

Kalliah walked away, only to return with a thick, velvet, rose-colored robe, one I could move about on the top levels of the palace freely and not be deemed inappropriate.

I slipped into it, clutching it around me. The sweat had stopped, and my body shivered as it returned to a stable state.

“I’ll take her,” Ian said. “Thank you.”

Kalliah hugged me. “I’ll be here to get you ready for the day when you return. I’ll make sure I get some dandelion tea from Perdot, too.”

I smiled at her as we exited my chambers.

Elisabeth’s room wasn’t too far, thankfully. It had made it easy all the years she healed me from my Hidden Henchman work.

“What was it this time?” Ian whispered.

“The last time.”

Ian stiffened, gently leading me down the hall. When the nightmares escalated to such a degree, he knew relief wouldn’t come easy.

We moved in silence, Ian rubbing my arms every few minutes until we were in front of Elisabeth’s door.

I grabbed his forearm, remembering I hadn’t updated him on Frederich’s comments from the previous night. “Before I forget, we need to look into Frederich’s town, Starhaven. He claims they’re unaffected by things happening at the border for some reason, even though they’ve been battling it the longest.”

“What?” Ian seemed surprised by the statement.

“I think if we were to get answers it might be a place to start.”

“I need you to think aboutyouright now, Lan.” He knocked on Elisabeth’s door. “Save the rest for when you’re feeling better.”

“Too much is happening too quickly.”

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