Page 174 of Severed Heir

I stared at him. “Strayed bloodline? That’s what this is about? You’ve been cruel to me because we’re not pure Winter?”

“Our mother was born in Summer,” Charles bit out. “It was a figure of speech.”

Rok laughed under his breath. “Your blood’s muddier than hers, Charles. At least her parents were born in the same realms.”

Charles ignored him. “Get to bed, Severyn. If I catch you out again, you’ll sleep in the dungeons for the rest of your time here.”

Rok wiped blood from his lip and clapped Charles on the shoulder. “You look tired. Anger’s not a good look on you, Charlie.”

I didn’t wait for them to finish. I ran straight back to Lorna’s cabin. It wasn’t until I reached the door that I realized, in the chaos of the fight, I’d forgotten the damn water.

I shoved the door open. “Mal, I forgot the… water.”

But Malachi was gone.

Lorna lay motionless on the cot, completely unconscious. How the hell hadn’t she woken up?

“Lorna,” I hissed, rushing to her side. “Malachi’s gone. I think someone—”

A small clink cut me off. I looked down as a glass vial rolled off the edge of the bunk and hit the floor.

Cintron.

My stomach dropped.Oh gods.Shit.

It was the same potion Amria had given me before the prison. And the vial was empty. She’d warned me that two doses were enough to kill someone.

Then came a sharp and impatient knock at the door.

I froze, panicked, and shoved the vial behind my back. “Hello?” I called. “Um… we’re sleeping.”

“I don’t give a damn,” came Rok’s voice.

I glanced at Lorna. Still out cold. “We’re indecent!” I blurted.

He scoffed. “Then getundecent.I didn’t give you back your quell so you could nap through another crisis.”

I cracked the door open, and Rok immediately shoved his boot into the gap. “Okay, give it back and then leave,” I said quickly, trying to block his view.

He raised a brow. “Are you all naked or something?”

“No.”

He pressed a palm against the door and leaned in. “I’d rather not have an heir making excuses for me again. That was foolish of you.”

I barely looked at him. My mind was spinning. “How does your little rider bond work with the other guards?”

A dark brow arched with intrigue. “I can open it whenever I want. Why? What’s wrong?”

I yanked him inside and slammed the door shut behind us harder than I meant to. Whatever ward Lorna had placed must have dropped. Or maybe no one had bothered breaking in since she passed out.

I pointed at her. “She drank cintron.”

Rok crossed his arms. “She drank a deadly root that makes someone sleep for days. Why?”

“Fix her. You must have a cure.”

His smirk stayed in place. “I rather like this version of Lorna. Quiet. No barking orders.”

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