Page 105 of Cages and Crowns
“She’s dehydrated and malnourished. If we’d known she was pregnant we could have given her herbs to ease her sickness.” Master Lenus’s voice is rushed and panicked.
“We only knew because she missed her monthly bleed.” Nithe speaks softly. I can feel him standing close to me, his hand brushing through my hair.
“It hasn’t even been that long since the wedding, how can you know for sure?” A female voice this time. Emery.
“Sheispregnant.” His voice is little more than a snarl, his hand freezing in my hair.
“Gods. You can’t make her do this. After everything she’s been through, you’re going to force her to carry a child?” Scarlett yells. I can hear the panic in her voice.
“How is this my fault?” It’s Nithe who is yelling now.
“There are so many things you could have done to prevent this.”Scarlett snaps.
“Shouldn’t we be excitedabout an heir, not mad at the father?” Emery says, her voice stoic and emotionless.
“I am excited, but I am also worried about her. She can’t be a mother, not now!” Scar responds.
“Let her decide that.” Enzo. His voice is soft, calming, compared to Scarlett’s shrill voice.
“The last thing she needs is all of you standing here staring at her when she wakes up.” Emery snaps, the boredom in her voice replaced with irritation.
“I’m just standing here! Ow!” Erik yells as I am assuming Emery hit him.
“Everyone, out.”
“I’ll keep watch.” Nero is here.
“Who the hell even are you?” Nithe yells, his voice louder.
“Nero, Your Grace. We’ve met. General of the—”
“I don’t give a fuck. Get out!”
“Your Grace, respectfully, I don’t serve you. I serve the queen.” I can feel a wave of heat and smell something akin to smoke.
“Nero, she’s fine. She’s safe. We got it from here.” Enzo says, probably ushering him out of the room.
“Of course.” Footsteps dissipate.
“Where the fuck did he come from?”
“He came from the frontlines. Sent to help train the troops here.”
“He needs to go back.” He snaps, his breath fanning over my face.
“Is that jealousy I hear?”
“I’m not jealous.” His voice pitches and I fight the urge to smile, not that my body is really responding to me. Did they drug me again? I try to move my hands, but nothing happens.
“Could have fooled me.” A sarcastic female voice chirps from the other side of where I am laying, another one of Emery’s many voices.
“Emery! Go away.” Her laughter fades as she leaves.
“I knew she wasn’t sleeping, but I didn’t even realize she hadn’t been eating.” His voice sounds sad, broken.
“No one expected you to have to notice. All of this was supposed to be in name.”
“It was never going to be like that with us, you know that.”
