Page 11 of Blood Weaver
I hesitated until Marcellus spoke. “Please, Leila,” he said awkwardly. “We really appreciate your aid. This is the least we could do.”
With no other choice, I accepted the money and dropped it into my satchel. “He’ll wake momentarily. It won’t be long.” My heart pounded as I looked at Marcellus and wondered if he recognized me beneath the disguise of age and years apart. His blue eyes studied me with a keen interest that made me uncomfortable. It felt like he was trying to pierce through the façade, to find some familiar feature or semblance of the girl he once knew.
“I can’t thank you enough,” he finally said, his voice a rich baritone that had deepened over the years. Genuine gratitude shone in his eyes, but there was something else – a hint of curiosity, maybe even recognition.
“You’re welcome,” I replied, doing my best to maintain a calm exterior. “Just ensure that he doesn’t consume any more fae fruit. It can have severe consequences.”
He nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. “We'll ensure it. Your expertise has been invaluable.”
The governor, relieved and grateful, added, “Lomewood owes you a debt, Leila.”
Feeling an overwhelming mix of emotions, I simply nodded. “Please let me know if there are any changes in Prince Caelan's condition. Otherwise, I’ll take my leave.” I gathered my things and headed for the door when I heard my brother speak.
“Thank the gods you’re fine. Lyanna would skin me alive if I let you die,” he whispered.
The sound of my real name sent tingles down my spine.
As I stepped outside the governor’s manor, the weight of the encounter, the closeness to my past, and the realization that my identity was still safe washed over me, leaving me both relieved and melancholy.
5
Iwalked back to my clinic in a daze of memories as I thought about Marcellus and Caelan. They were here. For me. Except the Crimson Clan didn’t actually have me. I needed to figure out a way to let them know about the ruse without giving myself away. If only I could discover the secret Sir Edric kept from me so I could return home.
I opened the door to my clinic and found Selene waiting for me with baked goods from Anna’s bakery.
She beamed at me. “I took it upon myself to pick up your order.”
“Ah, and this is why you’re the best, Sel.” With a spring in my step, I walked over to the table to dig in on some fresh pastries.
“Where were you? I’ve been waiting for a while,” she commented as she nibbled on a mooncake.
I sighed and reluctantly answered, “I was at the governor’s residence.”
Her perfectly shaped brows shot up. “How come?”
“Prince Caelan was ill and needed a physician,” I answered, hoping it would go over her head.
She nodded and continued to eat until the words finally settled in and she realized who I was talking about. “Prince Caelan from Eldwain?” she nearly shrieked.
I nodded. “The one and only.”
“Was your brother with him?” she asked nervously. I’d told her my secret long ago, and she knew they were inseparable.
“He was … and he didn’t recognize me.”
She frowned. “How? You’re his sister. You couldn’t have changedthatmuch.”
“True, but it’s also been ten years, Selene. The last time he saw me I was eleven years old. A child. I would have been surprised if he recognized me,” I said, slightly disappointed but relieved at the same time. “Either way, they’re here for me … to rescue me.”
Selene looked at me with a mixture of sympathy and confusion. “You must be feeling so many things right now,” she whispered.
I took a deep breath. “It's complicated. On one hand, I want to wrap my arms around them and let them know I'm okay. But on the other, I don't know if it's safe yet. Until I find out what Sir Edric hid from me, I can't risk revealing myself.”
“But Leila,” Selene said gently, her eyes filled with concern, “how much longer do you plan on hiding? You can't run forever. And from the way you talk about them, it seems they care as deeply for you as you do about them.”
A pang of longing hit me. “They do, but the circumstances of my disappearance ...” I shook my head. “I still don’t have all the answers. I need to know why I was sent away, what dangers may still be lurking for me in Valoria, and most importantly, why Sir Edric never told me what was going on.”
Selene hesitated for a moment, then said, “What if I help you find out? You know I can uncover just about anything at the Rose Petal Lounge.”
