Kaelen’s POV
“Save me,” she whispered. “Please...”
Her fingers tightened in my cravat. Her dilated ice-blue eyes locked onto mine. Empty of everything except need. Raw, aching, unnatural need that turned her pupils into black moons.
“Elara.” I kept my voice level. Barely. “We’re going to the royal hospital. The physicians will—”
“No.” The word tore out of her throat. Ragged. Almost a sob. “No physicians. No hospital. Just you.” Her other hand found my chest, pressing flat against my bare skin. Her palm burned like a brand. “It hurts, Kaelen. Everything is burning. Please.”
Mark her, Alec snarled. He was clawing at the walls of my skull. She’s asking. She needs us. MARK HER.
I shoved him down. Hard.
“Elara, listen to me. You’ve been drugged. That bastard gave you something. You’re no
