Page 5 of Blood Weaver
His implication hung heavily in the air. For all his attractiveness and charisma, Ronan was a force to be reckoned with. But what he didn’t know was that he and his people were already my enemy, whether they knew it or not. Not just for their presumptive announcement that they held the lost princess hostage, but also for their part in Valoria’s attack ten years ago that prompted me to flee my homeland.
For many centuries, the Kingdom of Keldara was at odds with Valoria, their temporary truce teetering on the verge of snapping at any moment, until the day it did. Ten years ago, Keldara invaded Valoria, forcing my parents, the King and Queen, to smuggle me out of Valoria for my own safety. My guard, Sir Edric acted as my guardian as we roamed Asteria. I was meant to return after the dust settled, but Sir Edric told me it wasn’t safe. He claimed Valoria wouldneverbe safe for me. He knew he was going against my parents’ wishes, but he was adamant that even though Keldara lost and had to retreat, I would never be safe at home. Sir Edric was like another father to me growing up. And even though I knew my parents wanted me to return, I believed him without an ounce of evidence. He said he’d tell me the truth once I was of age, but unfortunately, he died before he could make good on his promise. He took that truth to the grave.
Ronan's eyes lingered on me as he tried to read my thoughts, unaware of the flood of memories swirling in my mind. Every time I thought of the Crimson Clan, I was filled with a deep,festering rage. To the world, they were a separate entity from Keldara, but to me, they were synonymous with pain and loss.
“Once an enemy, always an enemy,” I muttered.
In four quick strides, Ronan was upon me. He grabbed my face, gripping my cheeks tightly as he forced my face up to look at him. “I have patience, but not much of it.” He glared down at me as he looked at my forehead. “You don’t bear the crescent moon of the Valorians, so what is your strife with my people?”
I tried to pull out of his grasp, but he only squeezed tighter.
“Please, sir!” Selene pleaded as she came out from behind me. “She meant no harm! Please!”
I glared at him and tried to ignore the pain in Selene’s cries. “Don’t bother, Selene. They’re all a bunch of barbarians.”
His crimson eyes turned blood red and his jaw locked. If he could snap my neck in this moment, he would.
I was about to spit on his face when I noticed a rash creeping out of his collar and up his neck. He’d been poisoned. And recently, too.
“You don’t know a thing about the Crimson Clan,” he growled.
I grunted. “Possibly not, but what Idoknow is that someone hates you enough to poison you,” I gritted out and pointed to his neck. “If you’re not treated within the hour, you’ll die. I guess I have nothing to worry about.” I attempted a smirk as he squeezed my face even harder.
He narrowed his eyes. “Poisoned? Impossible.”
“Leila can treat you!” Selene chimed in. “She’s the best physician in all of the Central Plains, possibly even Asteria.”
His gaze went from Selene back to me.
“Does your mouth feel as dry as a cotton ball? Are your hands beginning to sweat?” I asked knowingly.
He released me as if I’d burned him, his hand reaching for his neck. “What did you do to me?” he demanded.
I snorted. “Nothing at all. But someone else did something roughly an hour ago, so you don’t have long.”
“Help him, Leila,” Selene urged.
I scoffed. “Why should I? If he dies, it’s just one less brute roaming Asteria.”
Ronan took a menacing step toward me and placed his face inches from my own. “Heal me.Now.”
3
My clinic was surrounded by Crimson Clan members as they waited for Ronan to be treated. Ronan stormed in like he owned the place, then snapped his fingers at me to hurry and treat him. Before he could speak, I grabbed a handful of herbs and stuffed them in his mouth with a smirk.
“Your throat is about to close up, and I need time to make an antidote,” I said when he glared daggers my way.
He chewed on the bitter herbs and coughed from the unpleasant taste. His reaction brought one of his men inside my clinic.
“Are you okay?” the newcomer asked as he surveyed my clinic. “Did she do something to you?”
Ronan shook his head. “I’m fine, Silas,” he choked out, waving him away.
Silas growled. “You don’tlookfine. For all we know, this Central Plain whore is the one who poisoned you!”
I paused what I was doing and looked up at Silas. “Central Plain whore?” I repeated icily. “If you want me to save him, I suggest you watch your words. I’ll happily let him die.”
“If he dies, you die with him!” Silas threatened.
