Chapter 28
1229 Words
His lips parted—she had no choice but to look at them and then immediately back into his eyes. She could almost count the black lashes around them. But then a sadness filtered into his gaze.
“You’re right. There’s no real choice. ”
Her body simultaneously yearned to close the gap between them and push him away. The anticipation that warmed her lips made it impossible to do either. “Your Highness?”
She tilted her face toward him, the subtlest of movements. She listened to his wavering breath and this time, it was his eyes dropping to her lips.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sure this is horribly inappropriate, but…it seems that my life is about to be ruined. ”
Her brow drew together, questioning, but he didn’t elaborate. His fingers, light as a breath, brushed her elbow. He craned his head. Nora couldn’t move, barely managing to wet her lips as her eyes slipped shut.
Pain exploded in her head. Raced down her spine.
Nora gasped and folded over, gripping her stomach. The world lurched. Acid burned her throat. finch cried out and caught her as she stumbled forward, easing her onto the elevator floor.
Nora shuddered against him, light-headed.
The pain was doused as quickly as it had started.
Nora lay panting, hunched over finch’s arm. His voice began to filter past her eardrums—her name, again and again. Muffled words. Are you all right? What happened? What did I do?
She was hot, her hand sweating in the glove, her face burning. Like before, when Dr. Erland had touched her. What was happening to her?
She licked her lips. Her tongue was cotton in her mouth. “I’m all right,” she said, wondering if it were true. “It’s gone. I’m fine. ” She squeezed her eyes shut and waited, afraid that the slightest movement would bring the pain back again.
finch’s fingers pressed against her brow, her hair. “Are you sure? Can you move?”
She attempted a nod and forced herself to look at him.
finch gasped and jerked away, his hand freezing inches from Nora’s brow. Fear clamped her gut. Was her retina display showing?
“What?” she asked, ducking her face behind her hand, running nervous fingers over her skin, her hair. “What is it?”
When she dared meet finch’s gaze again, he was blinking rapidly, confusion filling his eyes.
“Your Highness?”
“No, it was nothing. ” His lips turned upward, unconvincingly. “I was seeing things. ”
“What?”
He shook his head. “It was nothing. Here. ” He stood and coaxed her up beside him. “Maybe we should see if the doctor can squeeze you into his busy schedule. ”
Chapter Twenty-Five
finch RECEIVED TWO COMMS BETWEEN THE TIME THEY LEFT THE elevator and the time they reached Dr. Erland’s office—Nora knew because she could hear the chime from his belt—but he didn’t answer them. He insisted on helping her down the hallway, despite her protests that she could walk just fine, despite the curious stares of passersby. Curious stares did not seem to bother the Princewill half so much as they bothered her.
He didn’t knock when they reached the office, and Dr. Erland, upon seeing who had burst in without announcement, did not seem surprised when he saw the Princewill.
“It happened again,” said finch. “Her fainting, whatever it is. ”
Dr. Erland’s blue eyes switched to Nora.
“It’s gone now,” she said. “I’m fine. ”
“You’re not fine,” said finch. “What causes it? What can we do to make it stop?”
“I’ll take a look at her,” said Dr. Erland. “We will see what can be done to keep it from happening again. ”
finch seemed to think this was an acceptable answer, but only barely. “If you need funds to do the research…or special equipment, or anything. ”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” said the doctor. “She probably just needs another adjustment. ”
Nora clenched her teeth as her lie detector flashed at her. He was lying to the Princewill again. He was lying to her. But finch didn’t object, didn’t question. He sucked in a deep breath and faced Nora. The expression made her uncomfortable—the look that suggested she was a china doll, easily shattered.
And perhaps a hint of disappointment hung behind it all.
“Really, I’m fine. ”
She could tell he was unconvinced but had no way of arguing with her. His communicator dinged again. He finally glanced at it, then scowled and shut it off. “I need to go. ”
“Clearly. ”
“The prime minister of Africa called a world leaders’ meeting. Very dull and political. My adviser’s about to have a breakdown. ”
She raised her eyebrows in a look that she hoped conveyed how much she was all right with him leaving her. After all, he was a Princewill. The most powerful men and women on Earth had summoned him. She understood.
And yet he was still here, with her.
“I’m fine,” she said. “Go away. ”
The worry in his eyes softened. He spun toward Dr. Erland and pulled something from his pocket, forcing it into the doctor’s hand. “I also came to bring you this. ”
Dr. Erland slipped his spectacles on and held the glass vial up into the light. It was filled with clear liquid. “And this is?”
“A gift from Queen Levana. She claims it’s an antidote to letumosis. ”
Nora’s heart lurched. Her gaze focused on the vial.
An antidote?
Peony.
Dr. Erland’s complexion had drained, his eyes widening behind the glasses. “Is that so?”
“It could be a trick. I don’t know. Supposedly, it’s one dosage—enough for an adult male. ”
“I see. ”
“So, do you think you can duplicate it? If it is a cure?”
Dr. Erland drew his lips into a thin line and lowered the vial. “That depends on many things, Your Highness,” he said after a long pause. “But I will try my best. ”
“Thank you. Let me know as soon as you find anything. ”
“Of course. ”
Relief loosened finch’s brow. He turned to Nora. “And you’ll let me know if anything—”
“Yes. ”
“—changes your mind about going to the ball?”
Nora pressed her lips together.
finch’s smile barely reached his eyes. With a curt bow to the doctor, he was gone. Nora retrained her gaze on the vial, enclosed in the doctor’s fist. Desire coursed through her. But then she noticed the whitening of his knuckles and looked up, finding herself pinned under a stormy glare.
“What do you think you are doing here?” he said, planting his free hand on the desk. She started, surprised by his vehemence. “Don’t you realize that Queen Levana is here, now, in this palace? Did you not understand when I told you to stay away?”
“I had to bring the Princewill’s droidback. It’s part of my job. ”
- Writer
