Page 52 of The Beast King's Bride

13

TALEN

I’m staring into the jumping flames when familiar steps enter the study room. Without looking up, I say, “Jassin.”

“Sire.” He approaches but stays a few paces back, though I told him repeatedly not to stand on ceremony around me. “Do you require my presence to help you undress?”

“That might be… a good idea.” Taking a fortifying breath, I straighten in the chair and try to ignore burning wounds and protesting muscles. “Did you see Lady Elayne to her room safely?”

“Yes, Sire. I didn’t lock the door, Sire. After all, last night she escaped from it regardless.”

I find a grin tugging at my mouth. “Indeed she did.” I start heaving myself out of the chair and stop, caught by surprise by the shooting pain in my leg and annoyed at my body for betraying me like this.

“Here, Sire, let me help you.”

“I’m fine,” I grind out and force myself to get up, swallow the pain and pretend it’s medicine, push down the fire in my leg, and tell myself it’s nothing. It appears I’m getting quite good at this new skill. But it shouldn’t be like this.

I’m a Fae king. One of the most powerful beings in my world. And here I am, reduced to this.

“Apologies, Sire.” Jassin bows. “I didn’t mean to offend.”

“Don’t apologize,” I grunt. “I feel like an old man. And I’m relying too much on you, Jas.”

“It’s an honor, Sire.” He goes and brings my coat from the dining room, bows again. “Shall we, Sire?”

“A baron’s son like you should not be waiting on me like a servant.”

“And a king should not have to toil day and night to keep his kingdom whole,” he says, “but here we are.”

He uses a torch to light the way. Long ago, I had enough magic to light up the whole palace if I so chose, or to send lights dancing on the air during dinner to amuse my guests. I used to be frivolous, I realize in retrospect. Then again, it happens when you have wealth and power and health. Then you lose all that in one fell swoop and your whole perspective changes.

You are no longer invulnerable, no longer untouchable. Fate’s long finger has found you and you will never be the same again.

“Sire?” Jassin is holding a door open for me and I realize I have stopped moving, lost in thought.

With a nod, I go through and limp my way into the empty part of the palace. “Did I make a mistake, giving her the room next to mine?” We make our slow way through silence and echoing corridors as I turn the question over in my mind. “I thought she would try to run.”

“And she did, Sire.” I can hear Jassin’s grin in his voice without looking at him. “So you were not mistaken.”

“But if she needs anything at all, there is only me nearby, and even then…”

“She’s safest next to you,” Jassin says. “You know it, Sire.”

“I hope you’re right, Jas.”

“You’re doing all you can, Sire.”

If only I didn’t have so many damn doubts about it… “I wasn’t able to ride out today. Tomorrow we’ll know the price we’ll pay for it. The land is decaying because of me.”

“You’re not the one who put a curse on it.”

“But I might as well have. If I don’t cure it, then I’m its curse. We’re linked, the land and I.”

“Nobody could ask more of you.”

“Yes, they could. They are asking for more. That’s why they’re leaving.”

Jassin stops in front of my door, opens it, and bows. “Sire.”

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