Page 1 of The Illuminated
Chapter1
“Her heartbeat is very weak. But it’s there.” Lucius’s voice barely registered.
“Lay her down here.” Was that Abraham?
A woman cried out.
“I know, I know,” someone soothed. “You’re going to be okay,” Daelon—my Daelon—whispered close to my ear.
I slipped in and out of consciousness, trying to keep track of the voices floating all around me and the confusing meaning of their words.
“Placement was lucky.”
Placement of what?I wondered.
Someone cleared their throat.
“Nathaniel was so damn convinced. Convinced enough to dothis.To risk everything.Why was he that sure?” Lucius’s shadowy aura only compounded the pain in my core.
“He wanted me gone,” Daelon said. “He would’ve concocted any lie to bring me down, and this was just the perfect opportunity. He’s been plotting to take my place for years—you know that.”
Oh, Daelon.He tried to sound strong, but I could hear the breaking in his voice, the deep well of panic and worry simmering below the surface.
A woman groaned as if in pain.
“I’m sorry, my King, but I’m going to need a calm environment to work. It’s not good for her healing.” I thought that might’ve been Abraham speaking again, but it was getting harder and harder to focus on anything at all.
The woman cried out again.
Was that me? Was I the one who was crying? Soothing energy reached toward me, covering me in an energetic blanket of warmth.
I love you, Áine. I love you, I love you, I love—
Open your eyes.
I was drowning in darkness. Voices weaved through my perception like loose threads of a tapestry, tangling themselves together as they drifted in the breeze. There in the nothingness was a glimmer of light, and I swam toward it.
Open your eyes, little witch.
But the light moved farther away, eluding me. Then there was a pain so great it drove me deeper into the endless void, and I thought I might never return. But one voice unraveled from the tangle of sound, lifting me to the surface, pulling me piece by piece.
Please, look at me.
“There she is,” a different voice spoke, one that made me want to crawl back into the darkness. “See? Her heretic magick might have her weak enough to be subdued by a mere blade, but there’s strength. Resilience that will serve her well as Queen.”
Everything was blurry, and it took me a moment to realize it was from my own tears. My arms were numb and limp; I could just barely wiggle a finger.
“Would’ve killed anyone else, I’ll tell you that much. Except for you, of course, my King. She lost alotof blood,” someone else said, his voice low and gruff. His energy was warm, tuned into the frequency of healing. He leaned over me, and I recognized him as Abraham, with his kind eyes, deep brown skin, and perfectly manicured black beard. He offered me a smile.
My body felt like it had been pumped full of cement, completely immobile, but I managed to turn my head toward the sound of Lucius’s voice, and I nearly broke into a sob when I saw Daelon standing next to him. He had pulled me back from that endless void, and all I wanted now was him—his comfort, stability, and devotion. And as I met his eyes, I could tell he was trying desperately not to give all of that to me. I had never seen him so relieved, his features tight and his eyes searching mine desperately. A fireplace crackled faintly just behind him, casting shadows across the red carpeted floor. The high ceiling was painted white with gold edges, lavish and intricate like the rest of this castle.
“Áine? How are you feeling?” Abraham asked, and it took everything within me to move my eyes away from Daelon’s. I could feel the fierceness of the longing spread out in the air between us, so palpable I feared Lucius might sense it too.
“I’m feeling… alive,” I croaked.
Abraham chuckled, and Lucius made a noise that sounded likemmm. “That you are. By our Lord and King’s divine grace. You are so blessed.”
I fought hard against the urge to roll my eyes. I tried to sit up, but Abraham was quick to stop me, placing his hand on my shoulder.
