Page 10 of Turret

Unsurprisingly, Quinn immediately reacted to my declaration. “You mustn’t say that, Princess. It’s too soon to give up. We’ll get you home if it’s the last thing I ever do.”

“You don’t understand.” I stopped walking and turned to face him. “I don’twantto go home. Ever.”

For a moment he and I had a silent staredown before he released a whooshing breath. “This tower is a rather effective warden.”

My heart flared in defense. “Awarden? The tower’s purpose is to protect me. Its showing me what’s really going on outside its walls will prevent me from leaving to find out for myself, sparing me that heartache.”

Quinn’s frown grew pensive. “Is that really what it’s doing…or is it using any means necessary to keep you trapped?”

My breath caught. “What do you mean?”

“Somethingis going on with the tower’s magic,” he said. “From my early investigations I’ve already discovered its powers seem to be fading. If they weaken enough as is my hope, then the enchantment keeping you here will no longer be in effect. There will be nothing keeping you from leaving…which means the tower needs another means of trapping you. It appears it’s doing all in its power so that you won’twantto escape, even once you have the freedom to.”

I gaped at him in disbelief. “You think it’s showing me bad thingson purpose?”

He tightened his jaw. “I do.”

For a moment panic swelled, causing the anxiety I usually experienced whenever thinking about going outside to rise…except this time it was coming from the tower itself, making it much more difficult to escape.

No, I couldn’t lose the sanctity of these walls. This was my protection, one that allowed me to experience more of a life than I ever had back home at the Malvagarian palace. I couldn’t doubt the tower’s motives and lose the peace it granted me.

I shook my head. “I don’t believe that.”

He released a frustrated breath. “You don’t believe it, or yourefuseto believe it? You’d rather believe there’s nothingmorethan what you’re currently experiencing?”

For a moment doubt prickled my heart, for that very belief was almost as familiar as the illness I’d experienced throughout much of my life. But I forced myself to shove it away. “How can you be so convinced the world is as beautiful asyoubelieve it to be?”

“Because I’ve experienced it; I know the beauty the outside world has to offer. Considering you don’t, I’m surprised you’re so determined to believe otherwise.” At my wounded look, he took several steadying breaths, each one softening his frustration. “Forgive me, I only want to help you. Despite your determination to remain here forever, I firmly believe you deserve a life far greater than what can be found within these tower walls.”

He said nothing more, but though the conversation had ended, his words lingered to join the rest of my frantic thoughts. They made me weary, adding to my exhaustion and causing me to slow. I prayed Quinn wouldn’t notice, but a falter in his usual observation was clearly too much to hope for.

He stopped just outside my door, his attention riveted to me. “You’re looking tired. It was quite a long walk, and you’ve been out of bed for several hours.”

I didn’t even have a chance to answer before my body chose this inopportune moment to seize up in a raspy cough. Quinn’s eyes widened and his arm tightened more securely around mine. He opened the door to my bedroom, where Melina sat not near the window where I’d left her but frantically pacing the room. Her gaze snapped to the doorway as we entered.

“Thank goodness you found her.” Her eyes widened as she took in Quinn’s fierce expression and my weary one. “What’s wrong with the princess?”

“She’s overexerted herself.” Quinn led me to a chair, his movements urgent.

“I’m fine—” I began when my coughs subsided enough for me to speak…before another wave began. It took a full minute for it to stop. “I’m fine,” I managed again, but he ignored my protest; whenever Quinn was in such a state there was no reasoning with him.

He gently eased me into the chair, his movements careful despite his stocky build. Then he crouched in front of me, his gaze riveted to my face. After a moment he heaved a frustrated sigh and scooted closer, his gaze almost…strained as he looked at me in the faint light.

He took longer than usual to examine me but was eventually satisfied, which allowed his usual command to overcome him. Whenever he worried about my health he behaved like a captain in charge of a warship, barking out fierce orders even though the only one to see to them was Melina.

I glanced towards her for help, for she was the only one Quinn occasionally listened to, but she chose not to interfere; instead she stood along the wall looking rather amused. She caught me watching and gave me a rather mischievous smile. My brow furrowed. What did that mean?

Quinn turned to her. “Fetch Princess Gemma some tea and a cool cloth; I thought I detected a fever.”

Melina didn’t hesitate to do his bidding, far too used to his frantic nursing to object. All signs of her earlier mischief vanished and she cast me a concerned glance before hurrying towards the kitchen. Quinn eased my chair closer to the fire before bustling around like a mother hen ensuring I was comfortable.

He gathered several pillows and blankets and practically buried me beneath them. “Are you feeling better, princess?” he asked.

I heaved an exasperated sigh. “I’mfine. Really, Quinn, I only needed to sit down—”

But he seemed not to hear me. He seemed more agitated than normal, and I wondered how much of this had to do with my physical well-being and how much had to do with what had transpired in the tower’s mirror room and the conversation that had followed. As sweet as his concern was, his mothering was rather suffocating.

Just as Quinn was starting to fret about what was taking Melina so long, she returned with the tea. The moment she handed it to him, he crouched in front of me, once more all gentleness. “Would you like me to help you, Princess?”

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