Page 28 of Bloodstained
It was always like this—each time he rode out; the world seemed to hold its breath. He was strong, powerful, feared by many, but even the strongest men bled.
I left Ivan to his plans and made myself useful around the castle. By noon, the household had settled into a tense rhythm. Everyone felt it—the weight of war hanging thick in the air.
I stayed busy in the kitchen, comforted a servant whose lover might soon ride into battle, and pretended not to count the hours. Ivan’s men worked with quiet precision—oiling leather, tending the horses, sharpening steel.
Through it all, Raducel stayed close to Ivan, ever the loyal shadow. I found myself in the garden, waiting for Ivan, tossing seed across the snow for the birds and smiling faintly as they darted to peck at it.
Raducel brought the afternoon tray himself. There was wine, bread, cheese, and a bowl of fruit. “Ivan asked me to bring you this. To keep your strength, My Lady,” he said.
“Thank you,” I murmured, though unease stirred again as he stepped closer, setting the tray on the stone bench beside me.
We stood in silence for a moment, watching the birds. Their tiny bodies moved quickly and frantically against the stark whiteness of the snow.
“He’ll be fine,” Raducel said at last. “I’ll make sure of it.”
I glanced at him, uncertain. “Thank you. He’s the most important thing in my life.”
Raducel’s mouth curved, though it wasn’t quite a smile. “Of course he is.” His tone was smooth, polite, but there was something just beneath it, something that caught like a blade’s edge. His gaze lingered too long, not on the snow or the birds, but on me.
The cold crept deeper into my bones. I folded my hands in my lap to keep from fidgeting. “Ivan trusts you more than anyone else.”
“As he should,” Raducel said. His eyes flicked toward the horizon where smoke from the stables drifted in thin gray ribbons. “I’ve always stood beside him. Always.” He turned backto me then, his expression unreadable. “It’s what I’ve built my life around.”
Something about the way he said it, this quiet but possessive tone, made my throat tighten. I forced a smile. “Then I’m glad he has you.”
He inclined his head, all practiced deference, but his eyes didn’t soften. “As am I, My Lady.”
When he was gone, the silence he left behind felt heavier than before. The birds were gone; the seeds untouched.
The light dimmed, and the sky bruised into shades of violet and rose. I left the garden then, the winter chill seeping into my bones. By the time the servants lit the sconces, the castle hummed with the tension of impending war.
Dinner was subdued. Ivan’s commanders filled their seats, grim and resolute. I sat beside my husband at the head of the table, doing my best to appear calm. Every gesture mattered now, to steady the men, to hold the illusion that all was well.
Raducel arrived late, his cloak dusted with snow, his expression careful. “Apologies, My Lord, My Lady,” he said, bowing low. “There was a delay with the riders from the northern road. They’ve brought word that the Lord of Târgovi?te has gathered allies from beyond the border.”
Ivan’s jaw flexed. “Then we ride after our meal.”
I reached for his hand beneath the table. His fingers closed over mine, grounding me, and for a fleeting moment, I let myself believe everything might still be all right.
Raducel poured the wine himself. That alone unsettled me. He was arrogant enough to feel the servants should serve him and would never pour his own goblet let alone all of ours. Still, he offered me the first cup then lifted his own. “To victory,” he said. His gaze held mine for a second before he glanced at Ivan.
Unease prickled along my skin, but I lifted my goblet when the others did.
“Pentru ?ara ?i pentru Domnul nostru!”For our land and for our lord!The men roared before drinking deep.
The first sip hit my tongue. It was too sweet with an aftertaste of bitterness. The flavor was heavy and metallic.
Raducel watched me as I swallowed before smiling and taking his seat.
Ivan hadn’t yet drunk. He stood, his gaze on me even as he raised his cup. “Sângele lor pentru sângele nostru!”Their blood for our blood!He said, his voice dark and resolute.
Heat spread through my chest, dull at first, then sharp enough to steal my breath. I pressed a hand to my ribs. “Ivan. I think…” My voice faltered. “I think I need some air.”
Ivan’s focus snapped to me, his expression twisting with concern. “Dragostea mea. Ce te framânta?”My love. What troubles you?
I tried to answer, but the words wouldn’t form. The taste in my mouth grew even more metallic, more acidic. I heard the scrape of a chair, then another, and realized it wasn’t just me. One commander clutched his throat. Another fell forward, his goblet shattering across the floor.
The hall became a rush of confusion. Choking sounds, overturned chairs, men violently spewing blood from their mouths, and the sickening crash of bodies hitting stone erupted. I blinked hard, fighting the dizziness, and in that blur of motion, I saw him.
