Her gaze moved away.
That was answer enough.
Rhen crossed to the bell pull and yanked it once.
“What are you doing?”
“Summoning the medic.”
“Rhen—”
“Sule ordered me to watch you.”
“He did not order you to terrorize the household.”
“He should have been more specific.”
Leena pushed herself upright.
The movement stole what little color remained in her face.
Her body swayed.
Rhen was beside her before she could fall, one arm locking around her shoulders while he kept the sleeping heir secured against his chest with the other.
“Sit.”
“I am sitting.”
“Then stop trying to stand.”
Her breath came shallowly.
Rhen’s jaw tightened.
“Leena.”
“I’m fine.”
“No. You are not.”
For once, she did not argue.
That frightened him more than anything else had.
Footsteps approached rapidly outside.
Rhen shifted the child more securely and stared toward the door, every predatory instinct sharpening around a threat he still could not name.
For the first time, Rhen wondered whether the threat had already passed him.
Chapter 11
The approaching footsteps stopped outside the chamber.
Before the latch moved, the scent of fresh blood struck Rhen.
His head snapped toward Leena.
