Page 64 of Lost Heir
Tessa's body convulsed as I desperately tried to feed her more of my blood, hoping beyond hope that it would save her. Her eyes locked with mine for a fleeting moment, filled with fear and agony, before they rolled back into her head. Seconds stretched into minutes as we waited for any sign of improvement, for a miracle that seemed increasingly out of reach.
But nothing changed.
“Tessa?” I whispered, shaking her lightly. “Tessa, stay with me.”
Her body grew still and cold in my arms, the last breath escaping her lips in a soft sigh. The garden fell silent all around us, the vibrant colors fading to dull shades of gray as grief washed over me like a tidal wave. I searched the garden for a lady-in-waiting or anyone who could possibly help, but Ronan and I were alone.
Ronan placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, his eyes filled with sorrow. “I'm so sorry, Leila, but she’s gone.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I cradled Tessa's lifeless form, feeling a crushing weight settle in my chest. “No. She can’t be!” I wailed. “Why … why would someone want to poison me?”
“I don’t know,” Ronan answered truthfully. “But we’ll find out. Your father won’t let this slide, I can guarantee that.”
Before I could respond, someone screamed my name.
“Miss Leila!” Henry rushed through the gardens to reach me. He hadn’t come from the Eastern palace. Where had he been? Henry gasped for air as he took in the scene before him. “No,” he muttered, horror-stricken. “I’m too late.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
He nibbled his lower lip. “Miss Leila, I overheard Prince Caelan. I know his plan.”
Ronan shot to his feet. “What did you hear, Henry?” he asked urgently.
“I told you not to go near him, Henry!” I chided. I clung to Tessa, afraid to let her go. If I did, it would make this real.
“Henry!” Ronan shouted, trying to get the boy to focus. “What did you hear?”
Henry cleared his throat. “Prince Caelan told the Queen he was going to frame you for poisoning Miss Leila to get you out of the way. He’s already sent word to King Malik. The guards will be here any moment.”
“What?” I gasped as more tears streamed down my face. “That can’t be! He was trying to kill me?”
Ronan scoffed. “Caelan knows your food gets tested every day. He knewyouwouldn’t get hurt. This was it, Leila. This was the ace up his sleeve. If I don’t leave now, I won’t leave here alive.”
I gently laid Tessa on the ground. “Henry, watch over her, please.”
He knelt beside me. “I will, Miss Leila. I promise.”
“What are you doing?” Ronan asked as I stood.
“I’m coming with you,” I said adamantly. “You won’t be able to leave the palace without me. If Caelan has already told my father his lies, then all exits will have been cut off. There’s no way out.”
“I’m not putting you in danger, Leila,” Ronan declared. “It’s safer if you stay put and explain things when everyone arrives. Once I cross the Central Plains and reach the Grasslands, I’ll be fine.”
I shook my head. “They’ll be expecting that. You’ll never make it.” I stepped toward him. “You need to cut through Keldara.”
His eyes widened and he looked around the garden to make sure no one was listening. “Leila, youknowI can’t go through Keldara! My people are slaves there. If I’m caught …”
“I have a plan,” I said quickly. “But we need to act fast.”
“No. Leila, no,” Ronan said unyieldingly, stepping around me to leave.
I grabbed his arm to stop him. “Ronan, wait!”
“Leila, I’m losing time,” he urged.
“And you’ll get caught if you don’t listen to me!” I turned to the young boy kneeling with my fallen guard. “Henry, watch over Tessa until Viktor returns with the healer. Tell Viktor everything you told us; he’ll know what to do.”
“Lyanna!” Marcellus rushed toward us from across the garden, holding hands with Selene. “I came to warn you! Father—”
