Page 90 of The Rebel's Prize

He frowned, his head shaking a slow no. "When did you return from Anglion?"

Anglion? He doesn't remember that I came home?Bile rose in her throat as, from behind her, she heard Deandra laugh triumphantly.

"Get her back to her cell. Use sanctii. She can't hurt them," Chloe hissed at the nearest soldier. "Lock her down. Lock them both down. No one is to go near them."

She focused back on Lucien, who still stared at her as though he couldn't believe she was real.

Like he hadn't seen her for ten years.

Goddess.She swallowed hard, not sure she wasn't going to be sick.

Had Deandra just ripped the months since her return from his mind? The bond felt so distant, and her own head throbbed as though someone was driving nails into her skull. "And someone fetch the Duq of Arbronet. Quickly."

Deandra laughed again, and Chloe whirled to face her. "I wouldn't laugh if I were you. Assaulting a Truth Seeker is a capital offense. Think about that when you're back in your cell."

Lucette and Rene stepped up beside Chloe as sanctii appeared to surround Deandra and Istvan, bundling them both away. "Lieutenant de Roche, what's wrong?" Lucette asked.

"I think Mamsille Noirene just stole my husband's memories."

As she spoke, a wave of dizziness washed over her as the reality of the words hit home. He didn't remember her. Didn't rememberthem.

Sweet goddess,no.

She couldn't breathe and bent forward, trying to force air into her lungs while still keeping an eye on Lucien.

Octarus appeared beside her again, rumbling a warning at Lucette as she stepped closer. Chloe leaned against the sanctii, hoping he would keep her upright.

The next few minutes passed in a blur as she tried to breathe while Lucien said nothing.

Lucette touched her arm, face creased with worry. "We should get Lucien to the infirmary."

Chloe nodded in agreement and straightened. Lucien still looked stunned, his expression half wary, half joyful. "When did you get back?" he repeated.

She ignored the question. "Can you tell me what day it is?"

He frowned for a moment, rubbing his forehead, and then named a date that made terror run down her spine. It was the day she'd set sail from Kingswell to return to Lumia.

He really didn't remember.

"We can fix this," she said, more to convince herself than anybody else. "We will fix this." Panic drummed through her already aching head.

He frowned. "Is something wrong?"

She fought down the fear to summon a reassuring smile. "You've been hit by a charm. It's affecting your memory. I think it's best if you go to the infirmary, and we'll get the healers and Valentin."

He frowned at her. "You call the Duq of Arbronet by his first name now?"

She shook her head at him. "Just come along," she said, hiding the urge to either panic or return to the cells and tear Deandra's heart out.

She slipped her arm through Lucien's, ignoring the spear of pain when he looked startled at the gesture. But he relaxed soon enough. When Deandra had fogged her memory, she'd felt...almost drunk. Lucien just seemed confused yet calm. Of course, Deandra had only taken a few moments from her. Notmonths.

Inside her head, she asked Octarus, [Can you fix this? Canwefix this?]

[No, not yet.]

Not yet? What does that mean?She fought back the panic and tried to think. Notyet? So they had to wait? For what?

Oh. [Can Elarus fix this?]

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