Page 105 of The Princess and Her Grand King

Chapter twenty-four

WHAT WAS LOST FOREVER.

Openinghereyes,andfor the first time in days, Emeriel felt… well. More than well, actually.

The persistent headache was gone, the fever and chills vanished, and the swelling faded as if it had never been.

“How do you feel?”

Her eyes found Aekeira seated beside her, exhaustion mingled with relief in her eyes.

“Aekeira…” Emeriel’s voice was a rasp.

“You had everyone worried sick,” Aekeira said. “For a moment there, we were starting to fear the worst.”

“For a moment there,Ithought the worst.” Emeriel tried to push herself up with a grunt of effort A sharp pain shooting through her abdomen, and she winced.

Aekeira quickly leaned forward, helping her into a more comfortable position, adjusting the pillows behind her back.

“How long has it been?”

“Five days.”

Emeriel let out a slow breath. “Five days… That long, huh.”

“I’m so relieved to see you alright.” Aekeira’s smile was strained. “You really scared me.”

Emeriel noticed her sister’s hands twitching, knuckles flexing. Aekeira wanted to reach out, to hold her, to be sure she was real, but it was clear she was holding back.

These past few years hadn’t been easy on them. Emeriel, in her own pain, had distanced herself from everyone—even the one person whose touch had always brought her the greatest comfort.

So, she reached out first, placing a hand on Aekeira’s arm. “I’m sorry I scared you, Keira.”

Aekeira was on her in an instant, wrapping her in a tight hug.

Home, home, home.The feeling hit Emeriel so hard, stealing her breath.

Longing surged through her, raw and powerful, so much so that she bit her lip to keep from breaking down. Clenched her fists by her sides to keep from returning the hug, taking shallow breaths to rein in the avalanche of emotion, willing it to stay buried.

“Don’t ever do that again,” Aekeira scolded, her body trembling. “How could you let yourself be hit by an arrow? You’re usually so quick to deflect them! How could you let this one strike you?”

“Oh, yes, I saw it coming and thought I’d stand there with my arms wide open, rejoicing as it tore through my belly,” Emeriel said in a dry tone.

Her sister huffed. Pulling back, she gave Emeriel a reproachful look. “So you still have a sense of humor. That's good to know.”

Emeriel grunted in response.

“How did I survive that?” she wondered aloud. “I smelled that poison. It was one of those rare, deadly ones. I think it wasshezie. Smelled like it.” She looked down at their intertwined hands, her brow furrowed. “For a moment there, I was sure I saw the white lights and the train to the otherworld.”

“Not even remotely amusing.” Aekeira settled back into her seat, taking Emeriel's hand once more. “Your man saved you.”

Emeriel had suspected as much. But… how?

No one has ashezieantidote readily at hand, not unless they’re a mage.

“He sucked the poison out of you, pulled it into his own body. Lord Vladya said he recited spells that made it possible,” Aekeira revealed softly.

Emeriel went still.What?

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