Page 39 of Courting Envy
I saw then that the shadow woman held a small mirror. At a gesture from Rava, Kyveli passed it to my queen, whose hands trembled as she took the item.
"It's my sister. Lucien. You have to do something." Rava let go of my hand and gripped the mirror with both of hers. Her knuckles where white, the tremor more obvious now. I cupped her hands with my own, helping her to steady the mirror. The surface shimmered for a moment before clearing to reveal another woman who looked a lot like my queen.
"Your sister," I said, realizing what had happened. Or suspecting.
"She's sick. Lucien,” she said, her words coming out in a torrent, “I told you that something was wrong, and this proves it. She's in the hospital. I think she's on life support. I need you to go there. Please? Go there and make sure she doesn't die before I can get to her side." Rava held the mirror between us, her pleading eyes like an anvil on my chest.
I forced my gaze to the mirror, taking in her sister. Her skin was pale, blue veins visible along her arms. There were bandages in several places, including around her head, and a breathing mask over her nose and mouth. Whatever had happened, it certainly wasn't good.
Rava tossed the mirror aside and gripped my hands instead. "I know you don't want to leave me. I know you hate that Kyveli was with me, and you weren't. I know I can't give you what you want but please, please." She closed her eyes, tears dripping down her face. "Go and save her, do whatever you need to. I won't try to escape again. I won't fight. I would give up everything for her to be okay. I just need her to be okay. Please."
I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around her, drawing her against my chest, resting my head between her horns. "Of course," I whispered. "I would do anything for you, you only have to ask." I hoped she knew that I meant those words. I'd been an ass, stubborn, set in my ways and unwilling to change for her. So used to being the one in charge that I couldn't fathom giving any of that power up to someone else.
Even the true queen.
But it wasn't all about me. Not then and certainly not now. We could talk about the dynamics of our relationship later, but if this was a way to help heal the wound that I'd created in Rava, I would do it.
"I'll go now, and I'll return as quickly as I can." I pulled back and kissed her on the forehead, surprised when she reached up to grab my face and pull me down, claim my lips with hers. She tasted sweet and salty and an image of her with Kyveli tried to steal into my brain and take this moment from me. I shut it down. There was no room for that now. I just wanted Rava and I, here, like this. A fragment of the bond between us healing because I could make a difference.
There would be more time for us.
Later.
"Thank you," she whispered as she pulled away, a sigh of relief leaving her lungs. "Thank you." Her whole body seemed to sag, the fear and stress of the situation taking its toll on her.
"You don't need to thank me. I'll be back soon." I kissed her forehead again, wishing that I didn't have to leave her like this. Wishing I could split myself in two and be in both places at once. Or that I could break the fucking curse right now.
My eyes found Kyveli and Reon, moving between them with a solemn glance. "Take care of her."
"We will," Reon said with a determined nod.
I left then, heading for the apothecary to gather a few supplies which might come in handy along the way. Something to help keep her sister alive, even if it was just for now.
Chapter twenty-three
Reon
Iledthewayback to Rava's chambers, cursing my lord that he had separated them by what felt like half a freaking castle. As if that was tenable long term. Obviously, Lucien had wanted to give her some space when she first arrived, but I looked forward to the day when their rooms would be closer together.
Or share a set of chambers, even.
It hadn’t really sunk in that it might be a possibility, or more than. Lucien had brought her to Hell to be his queen, and generally, a prince and his queen might share the same room.
I could only hope that she would still have her own space; that there would be nights when I could curl around her, hold her tight, and feel the warmth of love flowing between us.
Though, if Kyveli trailing behind me was anything to go by, Rava would have to create some kind of roster to keep us all satisfied. It was... not comforting, exactly, to think of it like this, but reassuring knowing that I would never be asked to meet her sexual needs. Someone else could fill that role and leave me with the parts of a relationship I genuinely enjoyed.
I felt bereft to think that she might set me aside for Lucien; though it sounded like she might be willing to do anything to get him to help her sister. Family mattered to her. The best I could hope for was that she had begun to see me as family too.
"I wish there was something I could do," Rava said, again. I could see her twisting her hands together from the corner of my eye, could feel the frustration and impatience practically dripping off her. Given any choice, she'd have been going to see her sister with Lucien.
I didn't respond to her words, didn't think that commiserations would help her right now. She knew why it had to be this way and the empty words I could offer wouldn't make a difference.
We turned the corner and a trace of smoke hit my nostrils. I froze, and Rava slammed into my side. I reached for her arm, gripping her so that she didn't stumble to the ground.
"Why did you stop?" she asked, looking at me with a frown, but then her gaze turned down the hall as the clatter of metal filled the air. "What's happening?" Her eyes went wide and she shuffled closer to me. I could sense Kyveli moving in behind her so that Rava was secure between the two of us.
I didn't have an answer for her, but when one of the guardians who had been posted outside her door turned the corner ahead and ran toward us, I knew that it wasn't good. Blood streamed from a cut to his head and the tip of his tail was missing. Close behind him was the other guard, followed by half a dozen attackers clad in red.
