Slaying the Blood King

♤•Chapter 8•♤

"-et me through!" an angered voice resonates from outside. I've only been in the infirmary for about a half hour when I see Albesk walk through the door. Anxiety shoots through me as he stalks toward me, his steps filled with rage, but when he kneels beside me on the floor, his piercing blue eyes relax a little.

"Are you okay?" he asks with concern, his eyes travelling to the bandage on my chest. His voice carries a hint of despair. I nod.

"The arrow hit closer to my collar bone. The bones kept it from sinking too deep," I retort, thinking back to the searing pain when Liona pulled it from my chest. Albesk heaves a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness," he says. I watch his brows furrow as his thoughts turn darker.

"How could I have been so blind?" he asks, his normally soothing voice harsh. Reaching out, I place a hand on his arm. I try not to let my mind think of the fact that his lean muscles are poking through his black tunic. Stop with that thought, Lunar! I scold myself inwardly.

Albesk casts his eyes to me. A mixture of shame and worry crosses his perfect features. "I should have been paying more attention to the surroundings. I'm sorry."

I shake my head at his apology. "There is nothing to be sorry for. I doubt that you had been expecting an attack. Especially one on me," I say reassuringly. He shakes his head.

"I should have paid more attention. I sh-" Leaning toward him, I quickly press a finger to his lips. "Bashing yourself is not going to fix the problem. So please, focus on what you can control," I start. With that, he straightens up a little. A mocking smile spreads across his lips, his arrogant self coming to the forefront. "Well, well, look who is all high and mighty now, Princess," he says, a laugh escaping him. I roll my eyes, but a smile plays on my lips.

At that moment, I hear more voices outside of the infirmary door, and a moment later, Liona and Antonious walk in. Albesk stands up quickly. "Anything from the assailant?" he asks Antonious. Antonious gives Albesk a wary gaze.

"This assassin is just that. An assassin. That is all we can gather from him. No matter how much I've tried to break the words out of him, he won't budge. I suspect a traitor," Antonious says, a hint of anger edging his voice. I notice blood coats his tan hands. As if catching my gaze, he quickly wipes it off on his red robe, before coming over to me.

"Liona tells me that you'll be fine, but humor me for a moment," he starts, before leaning down close to my face. I start to fidget as he nears me with his piercing stare.

"Just what were you trying to pull? You could have gotten yourself killed," he says in a deeper tone. His voice doesn't sound angry. Instead, it takes a note of interest.

"I-I was trying to get the man to keep his attention on me. Speaking allowed your men to assess the situation and react. If I am the intended target, then I want to use it to my advantage," I say, holding my chin up. A small smile spreads across his face. He turns toward Albesk.

"Strategic. Willing to make the sacrifice," he says, before turning to me. His amber eyes regard me with mild adoration. I quickly look away, but Antonious takes my chin in his hand, pulling my face to meet him. The touch alone sends shivers down my spine. "She is an excellent addition to our guard." He holds my gaze for a bit longer, his eyes travelling between my lips and my eyes, but just as quickly as the moment appears, he rises from his crouched position. He turns and stalks toward the door leaving the rest of us in the infirmary.

I hear Albesk grumble. Looking to him, his gaze remains where Antonious had been. Liona looks between him and the door, a look of mild amusement in her features before scurrying to me.

"You definitely have caused a stir around here," she says, but a smile plays on her lips. "You alread have Antonious head over heels," she says a little louder. Albesk turns an evil eye toward her, before he too, stalks out of the infirmary. Liona gives a small laugh. "He as well." I roll my eyes at her.

"I didn't gain their affection, Liona. I just made it easier to get the bad guy."

She scoffs. "Child, I know Albesk better than anyone. He has his fair share of fey women walking in his den, but he's never worried over them the way he did over you." she says. "And Antonious? Expect to be at his side. He likes strong women," she adds. I shake my head at her.

"Liona, as much as I appreciate the sentiment, I can't love anyone right now. Both of our people, my people, are suffering at the hands of my father. I watched my father slay a little girl, Liona. All she wanted was food that he has been taking for himself while his people starved. He killed her. No remorse. No mercy. I cannot let love for a man outweigh my mission for my people," I say, hot tears streaking down my face. Liona throws her eyes downward as she tends to my bandages. A tear slips from her own eyes.

"I'm sorry," she says after a moment. "I knew things had been bad, but to see that," she says, breaking her words off. I know in that moment, she is thinking of Embrance. Thinking of the pain of her flesh and blood being slain. My chest constricting, I reach out and caress her face. She looks up at me with her tear-stained eyes.

"I won't let anything happen to her, Liona. She won't meet that fate." I say to her. She only nods at my words.

Clearing her throat, she finishes patching me back up. "You're all set. Rest here for a bit and tomorrow, you should be healed enough to head back to your quarters." Liona gets up to rise, turning from me, but I quickly grab her hand. She casts her golden eyes on me.

With a small smile, I say "Thank you." She gives my hand a gentle squeeze, before turning and walking out of the infirmary, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

It feels like forever that I stare up at the ceiling of the chamber. Thinking back to what Liona said about Antonious and Albesk, my heart gives a flutter. I've never been liked by other guys. Or at least, I never gave them the chance to want me. No one my father associates with is kind. They beat their wives, their horses, their children, their sisters... anything they feel control over. Here, I haven't seen a man raise his hand to his woman or his children. Instead, I see women and children happy, and the men seem happy as well.

Regardless, I can't trust my heart, not when it has seen so much pain, so instead of letting the thought of love lull me to sleep, I think back to my mother, wishing I knew the strong woman she had been.