Page 41 of Rook of Ruin
“I said get a Grey Sister. That Rook is going to die!” the female Rook snaps at them.
The auburn-haired guard shakes his head and steps forward. “He is—” The Rook strikes Alec’s friend across the face.
“You.” Venom rolls off my tongue as I cross my sitting room to her. “Apologize.”
She flicks her eyes up and down my bloody body. “No. They are obviously—” Her nose cracks beneath my fist. My right knuckles sting, but I heal myself quickly.
The two guards look at each other, stunned. “You obviously don’t know who I am to strike someone in my chambers. Apologize.”
She slowly heals herself—what takes me seconds will take her at least a half hour. The Rook healer flinches.
“I-I apologize.”
“I am your fellow fucking Rook, and the man in there is the Spider. If that doesn’t move you, then you may use my given name, Lady Verlan, sister to the future queen.” She looks at me sluggishly, realizing how much she messed up. I’m shocked she doesn’t know who the Spider is. It would be funny if it weren’t such a dire situation. “You are unable to heal the Spider?”
“Yes. He is burning up with fever, and I can’t see or feel anything wrong with him.” Her nervousness is very apparent, and she cowers from me.
“There were no other wounds when you took off his clothes?”Shit.
“I didn’t remove his clothing. I tried to heal him, and he didn’t respond.” She whines. “He is going to die. It’s our responsibility to get a Grey Sister.”
“Get the fuck out of my chambers.” I warn.
“What?” The healer looks surprised and anxiously twists a lock of her blonde hair. “Is this because I didn’t know who you are?”
“Leave.Now.” I unsheathe the knife still strapped to my thigh. A threat.
She squeaks before scrambling out, then I place it back and give the men an encouraging smile. They glance at one another.
“I need your help. What are your names?” I say as we enter my bedroom.
“I’m Christoph.” The smaller man with dark auburn hair holds out his hand with a small, awkward wave and then points. “That’s Nolan.”
Nolan nods in amused acknowledgement, but it quickly fades as he heads into my bedroom and we follow. Alec is still in his leathers, his face twisted in pain.
“Let’s get him undressed. If you see any open wounds, no matter how small, let me know. We might not be able to tell until we get him clean.” Nolan and I start on the leathers while Christoph fills my tub with warm, soapy water.
Simon strolls in, freshly bathed and smelling like bergamot. “O, we will take care of him. You need to go clean up.”
“Ineedto be in here with him. I need to make sure he is clean. I must have missed something, Simon. We might be able to find it. He is burning up.” I start to unclasp Alec’s leathers, and Nolan clears his throat. Both men stare. “What?”
“My lady, if you want him to be clean, perhaps you shouldn’t getthaton him?” Below me, pieces of flesh fall from my hair, and brownish black blood is flecking off my skin.
Slightly embarrassed, I pluck the flesh off Alec’s body, unsure of where to dispose of it. “There is an unused room a few doors down. I’ll be there. Use my bathing chamber for him, but get me immediately if you see anything.” I glance over my bed. “If you can, please replace the bed linens before you lay him back down. I would appreciate it.”
A half an hour later, I finished in the tub and pull a brush through my thick hair. The oversized royal blue tunic and matching soft breezy pants I found in a random drawer in the guest room hang off my body. I hold up the pants as I run quickly down the hall and back into my sitting room.
Simon comes out of my bedroom and leans against the door frame, watching me hold together my pants as I walk. He gives me a once-over and smiles, but I squint at him and huff. “I’m surprised you have lips to smile with after kissing Clairene’s hand.” His smile grows wider as I come closer to peek into myroom. Alec is sleeping, his body covered with blankets, the two guards gone. “Did you find anything?”
Simon’s face falls. “No. We looked—those guards were thorough. I don’t know what is happening to him, but you did everything you could.”
“There has to be something more I can do.”
Simon catches my elbow as I walk past, and I hold his gaze for a moment too long. His dark brown eyes say everything in that moment.Prepare yourself to lose him.
Holding up my pants, I continue in. I gently tuck the thick blanket under his body and push back the damp hair from his forehead. A shadow of stubble lines Alec’s sharp jaw, and sweat gleams off his forehead. Just for good measure, I try to heal him again.Nothing.
Nora brings Simon and me dinner into the sitting room, and I quickly change in the bathroom, donning a silk burgundy nightdress and dressing gown. I add a cool washcloth to Alec’s head before going back into the sitting room, where Simon hands me a plate of food as I sit down on my leather sofa next to him. The bread is warm and buttery on my tongue, and I sigh with delight, eating my fill of the rest of the dinner. Simon watches me with amusement and pours ruby-colored wine a second time. Silence fills the room—normally comfortable, now feeling restrictive.
