Page 64 of Restored

“To dream of such things is a dangerous game, one I cannot afford to play.” I bite my tongue from saying what I truly want.

He stares at me, the wrinkle in his brows and the frown on his mouth giving away his frustration. I know he wants me to fight for this life, for myself, for him.

I can tell he wants to argue, desires more of an answer from me, a real answer, but the truth is that I simply don’t have one. He nods stiffly and my heart squeezes. His disappointment is palpable, and I force my eyes away. Archie,Mia, and Cam walk in, breaking the tense moment. I lose a relieved breath taking a few steps back.

“Hope we aren’t interrupting anything,” Archie comments wiggling his eyebrows.

“Not at all,” I respond, forcing a smile. “Did Ledger happen to mention he received a threatening note from the King of Bellehaven?” I ask, and Ledger shoots me a furious look.

“He did not.” Mia looks at Ledger pointedly as she brushes past him, her scent of vanilla tickling my nose. “What did it say?”

“What do you think it said, Mia?” Archie grabs a book and plops down on the settee. “If I had to guess, it probably read something like, ‘Give her back or else,’” he says, and Cam barks a laugh.

“Archie, this is serious,” Mia scolds. “You, of all people, know what he is capable of.”

“I do, and that is also why I am in no hurry to return Layla to him.” He frowns. “Why does it matter what the note says? She can’t go back until Callum is healed, and last time I checked he is still unwell.” Archie turns his attention back to me. “You’re too important, Layla, and we knew there would be consequences when we took you.”

“Let the King of Bellehaven come; we will be ready for him,” Cam chimes in.

“I would never ask anyone to fight for me like that and even a drop of blood shed over me is too much. What wouldKing Callum say?” Everyone is silent after I ask the question. “I’ll take your silence as confirmation he would not agree with you.” I sigh, losing my desire to argue.

“Now that you all are here, you can at least help. If we can find the answer to healing Ledger’s father, then I can return to Bellehaven, and maybe we can avoid retribution.” Even as I say the words, I know the King of Bellehaven won’t let this go unpunished one way or another.

“Grab a book. If you see anything about nullifying powers or something useful that may help her breakthrough to my father, show me,” Ledger addresses each of them.

“Get comfortable, we may be here a while,” I add, grabbing a book and sitting next to Archie.

We all read for hours, stopping only when a housemaid comes to bring us food. My head lays on a pillow in Archie’s lap. I pop grapes into my mouth as I scan the pages of the text I hold.

“Grape,” Archie says, and I place a grape into his open, awaiting mouth. “You know, if you were wearing less clothing, this would be fulfilling one of my many fantasies.”

Ledger growls from the chair across from us. “And if you don’t start feeding yourself grapes, you’ll find out what fantasies I have been having, Archie.” The chair squeaks across the floor as he pushes up to stand. He throws his book onto the table and yanks another off the shelf.

Archie gives me a wide-eyed look, and I smother a smile.

“Grape,” Cam calls and I toss him one, laughing as he catches it in his mouth.

“Not you too, Cam.” Ledger scowls, making Archie snicker. “Are you even reading, Archie?”

“Of course, I’m reading, Ledge. I can’t help it I get hungry.”

I push myself up, scooting over to the other side of the settee, not wanting to further Ledger’s irritation. “Guys, I think I found something,” Mia calls from the table where she sits. We all jump up, crowding her. “It is in Urtash, the language of the old gods, so I can’t make out much, but I keep seeing the word blood. Ledger, can you translate it?”

“Let me see.” He grabs the text. We all hold our breath as he reads. My heart pounds as I wait. “It says if a healer’s power was diminished or unreachable, a select few had the essence of healing within their blood. If they so desired, they could complete the sacred act of blood sharing to channel their healing ability.”

My heart pounds. We all look at each other wondering the same thing. Could it work?

“We should go to your father. It’s the first idea we have found in days, and I think it’s worth trying,” I suggest, letting hope swell within me.

“Okay,” Ledger agrees, looking at everyone else, who nod back at him.

We leave the library together and make our way to the King of Westray’s room. My stomach flips nervously thecloser we get. Ledger orders the guards outside to stand down and they comply, opening the King’s door. My palms sweat as we walk in.

Ledger’s father looks worse than the last time I saw him. More frail, his skin yellow and sticky with perspiration. His breathing is loud and labored.

I reach for my dagger, dropping my hand and looking at Ledger when I realize I’m not wearing it.

Ledger grasps the hilt of his dagger. “Are you sure?” he questions.

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