“Both…will reign…” He barely uttered the words. Lioran’s hand slid over his lips, and his bloodshot eyes widened.
Terror lingered in his gaze.
It undid me—my tears tumbled freely.
He pulled me into him, his fingers settling on my tattoo.
Black lines formed beside the vines—wildflowers bloomed into a point. I reached for Lioran’s arm. New ink settled on his skin—thorns angled upward from the vines.
“Does that look like—” I started to ask.
“A crown.” His throat bobbed as his voice cracked. “You will both reign…”
“Maybe I misunderstood.” I hope I did—I didn’t want that life.
He kissed my hand. “If the stars ask it of us—we will serve them, but right now—you’re alive. It is the only thing that matters. We’re going home.”
“Can we go now?”
As he lifted me, green greeted me from every corner of the Grove. My body felt heavy again, and I crashed into him. “I’m so weak.”
Chapter 37
Iclung to Lioran. My body settled against his as we raced back to the Heart on Veylar. The world was spinning with tinges of emerald.
“Lioran…” I groaned. Each beat over the rocky path jolted me.
Fyn and Cora raced silently behind us with Gaia.
“We’re almost there.” Lioran adjusted his grip on me, pulling me closer into him. Nausea gripped me harder.
Veylar slowed cautiously as we approached the castle. Fyn darted toward us and lifted me from the saddle. Once Lioran dismounted he placed me back in his arms—his gaze softened as he looked at me and nodded to Lioran.
“We need the healer,” Lioran desperately cried. A tear trickled down his cheek and fell onto mine. He carried me through the halls and into the infirmary.
I gripped him tighter as he lowered me into the slender bed.
“Rowena, thank goodness you’re here.” Lioran knelt beside me.
“Your Highness? What happened?” Rowena asked, her eyes scanning me. “The princess…she’s…”
He had barely caught his breath. “She nearly died, Rowena.” He tried to steady his voice. “I need you to check her out—to make sure she’s okay. To check on…” His jaw tightened.
“What is your concern, Prince Lioran?” An uneasy silence settled between them and Lioran turned from us both. “I will make sure she is okay…I will checkeverything,” she promised him.
I didn’t know what he saw—what he was so afraid of.
“Your Highness, may I examine you?” Rowena asked.
She studied my eyes as I nodded.
Her hands shifted over me, down to my abdomen. My lungs tightened—my body dripped with sweat. I was no longer me.
“She’s panicking, Your Highness, you need to try to calm her. Princess Aelira, you need to breathe…I need you to focus on your husband. Breathe with him.” Rowena’s voice was steady.
Lioran braced me as every part of me quaked. He took my hand in his and settled it on his chest. Each breath he took was my anchor—I mirrored it. “You’re safe—you’re home. We came home.” He smiled softly, but the ache still lingered in his words.
“Your body needs lots of rest. Things are new—very new.”
