Chapter 42: The fate of a prince
AYLA
I did not realize how heavy my body felt until I lowered myself into the bath.
The hot water swallowed me whole, creeping up my neck, my shoulders. I could feel the ache behind my eyes that had settled in sometime after I had watched Cassian collapse release itself.
Astrid had added lavender oil, and the steam carried the scent in thick waves, filling my lungs, trying to coax the tension from my muscles.
I let my head fall back against the rim of the tub and closed my eyes.
"You look exhausted," Astrid said from where she sat on the stool near the door.
"I am." I agreed.
"And when was the last time you ate something?"
I opened one eye to look at her. "You sound like my mother."
Astrid made a face. "Do not insult me like that."
A short and tired laugh escaped me before I could stop it. I sank deeper into the water, letting it lap at my chin.
"Is he going to be okay?" Astrid asked quietly.
"Yes, I think so."
She nodded, her fingers twisting in her lap. "The whole place is buzzing with whispers. No one knows exactly what happened, but everyone knows something did."
I did not answer. I let the heat soak into my bones, let the lavender do its work. By the time I stepped out, my skin was pricked with steam and I felt like I could hold my eyes open without them immediately wanting to close.
I dressed in a simple dress, pulling my hair into a braid while Astrid handed me a plate of bread and cheese that I ate standing up and staring out the window at the darkening sky.
"How long have I been here?" I asked.
"A few hours."
I set the plate down. "I need to get back to him."
...
I hurried to back to Cassian’s room. Two guards stood guarding his door on orders of Alpha Kieran. They did not stop me as I approached the door and pushed it open.
Master Aldric was back and now stood at Cassian’s bedside with his fingers pressed against Cassian’s wrist, counting his pulse.
He looked up as I entered.
"Ah, Lady Ayla." He released Cassian’s wrist and straightened. "I was told you have been keeping vigil."
"I have." I crossed the room, stopping at the foot of the bed. "How is he?"
"Stable. The man who tended to him did fine work. I am quite impressed."
My eyes moved to the corner of the room where Damon sat in a chair, his arms crossed. He gave me a small nod, which I returned.
"Where is the antidote?" I asked.
"Alistair is finishing the final preparations now," Aldric said. "He should be here shortly. I must say, I did not expect such competence from a herb gatherer."
"Will you keep him on as an apprentice?"
Aldric stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I think I might. The boy has instincts. With proper training, he could become a fine healer."
I said nothing. My mind drifted to the way Alistair had grabbed my arm that day, the look in his eyes when he said I needed to know who I really was. The way his expression had shifted the moment Damon appeared, sliding into meekness like a snake shedding its skin.
I did not know yet what to make of him.
"I will go check on Alistair. The antidote should have been here by now."
I moved to another chair beside Cassian’s bed and sat down.
"He looks better," I said, more to myself than to Damon.
"He does."
I turned to find Damon watching me, his expression unreadable.
"How are you holding up?" he asked.
"I am fine. Better, now that I have rested."
"It happened right in front of you, did it not?"
My throat tightened. I looked down at my hands, at the fingers I had laced together in my lap to stop them from trembling.
"Yes."
"I am sorry you had to witness that."
I blinked. I had been so focused on Cassian, on the antidote, on keeping myself busy so I did not have to think about the terror of that moment... of him collapsing into me.
I pressed my lips together, feeling the sting behind my eyes.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"Damon reached across the space between us and closed his hand over mine.
I looked down at where our hands touched.
He immediately started to pull away.
"I’m sorry... I should not have touched you without your..."
"No" I stopped him, my fingers closing over his. "It’s fine."
He gazed into my eyes as if looking for more assurance before his hands curled over mine. His palm was warm and soft and I felt the warmth seep into my cold fingers.
"I know you told Cassian the truth about what happened between Ares and me," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why?"
Damon’s thumb traced a slow circle against my knuckles.
"I merely told my brother he was being hardheaded. That you have a soft spot for him just as he does for you. It is not a hard thing to see, considering he made sure you were assigned to his room always when you still cleaned."
My head snapped up.
"He did what?"
Damon’s brows rose. "You did not know?"
"I thought... I only thought I was the only one available when his room needed cleaning."
Damon let out a low chuckle. "You thought wrong, Ayla. Cassian has always liked you."
I did not know what to say to that so I turned to look at Cassian’s face.
The door opened and Aldric stepped inside, followed closely by Alistair who was carrying a small clay cup, steam billowing from it. But it was his face that caught my attention.
His lip was split, swollen at the corner and a bruise was blooming across his jaw.
He stopped in his tracks when he saw my hand intertwined with Damon’s, his eyes meeting mine from across the room.
I was reminded of the look of disgust he had given me upon learning of my mating with Ares.
He turned away crossing to the bed to kneel beside Cassian, gently lifting his head and bringing the cup to his lips.
"Prince Cassian," he said softly. "I need you to drink this."
Cassian did not stir.
Alistair tilted the cup, letting a few drops fall onto Cassian’s lips. They seeped between the parted seam, and after a moment, Cassian’s throat moved in a weak swallow.
He continued, drop by drop, until the cup was empty. Then he lowered Cassian’s head back to the pillow and sat back on his heels.
"How long until it takes effect?" Damon asked.
"Not long now," he answered. "An hour, give or take. He will be groggy when he wakes, weak for the next few days but he will recover fully."
Damon nodded. "Good work, Alistair."
Alistair bowed his head. "Thank you, my lord."
We settled into waiting.
Aldric took a seat near the window while Alistair busied himself with clearing away the used bandages and soiled linens. Damon remained in his chair, his eyes fixed on his brother and I stayed where I was, my hand still resting on the edge of the bed, close enough to feel the warmth of Cassian’s skin through the sheets.
An hour passed before a sound cut through the silence.
It was a grunt coming from the bed.
I straightened, my heart lurching into my throat. Cassian’s eyelids fluttered, his brow creasing as he fought against the weight of unconsciousness.
"Cassian?" I leaned forward, my hand finding his. "Cassian, can you hear me?"
His fingers twitched against mine then his eyes opened.
"Ayla."
The tears I had been fighting spilled over, tracking hot paths down my cheeks.
"I am here," I said, squeezing his hand. "I am right here."
His lips curved, just slightly, before his eyes drifted closed again but his fingers stayed curled around mine, holding on.
And I held back.