"I'm going to have to tell the King that you can't make it today," he says, packing everything away.
I freeze with the glass hovering at my lips. Fuck. "Wait...no! I forgot. Ihaveto meet him. I have to get this deal for our people."
"Renna, your eyes are starting to glow. I'll tell him you're sick and ask him to see you in a few days."
"Do you know how hard it is to get his time? I stayed on my best behaviour and listened to Queen Lana talk about her digestion issues for three hours in a meeting room to impress Rexxan. Digestion issues, Onyx. Digestion. Issues.Three hours. If I cancel, he won't give me a second chance."
"We have no other choice," Stellan interjects, already eating his second bowl of fruit of the morning. "Unless you want to not drink this?"
I have no choice. “I’ll do it,” I snap, turning away from them both.I hate them. I don't. That's not true at all. I just hate that they're right.
"Rennalya," cajoles Onyx, gently turning me to face him. "You know this is for the best. But, if you change your mind and you want to live differently, I'll spend my life protecting you. I'll support you in all of your decisions. You're my little sister, Ren. I'll do what it takes."
I start to down the drink, but it scorches my throat, tightening my airways and leaving nothing but foul disgust in its wake. Onyx plucks it out my hand, muttering something along the lines ofI hate doing this, before forcing the rest of the drink down my throat and clamping a huge hand over my mouth. I choke on it until it is all down, and Stellan wipes my watering eyes with his thumbs. "We'll look after you."
I nod, standing in his embrace for a moment. A pained cry fills the air, my vision swims, and then I'm doubled over in agony, fighting for consciousness.
Chapter5
Unknown Causes (Rexxan)
Iscowl at Ascan, but it doesn’t scare him off. Gods, I hope I’m not losing my touch.
He walks over to my desk and I resist the urge to slip a shot of sedative into that stupid glass of water of his just to grant myself an hour of silence. "My lord, the Shadow Commander's brother is outside your halls."
"And you're telling me this…why?" I ask, tired of my staff bothering me when I tell them not to.
"He says it's urgent."
"Everyone says it's urgent. Send him away."
"Yes, my lord. Your afternoon is free, the Shadow Hunter can't attend your meeting."
Oh, little trespasser. She's pressing my buttons today. "Shecan't attend?" I don't know what possessed me to be generous enough to even give her the time, and now she's the one cancelling?
"Onyx says she's sick."
Hungover, I imagine. She's sure as fuck not getting a deal for her people now. "Send Onyx in here."
"Really?"
"Ascan, I don't pay you to question my decisions."
"Of course. I'll send him in, my lord."
Onyx bows as he enters, dressed already in hunting gear despite the early hour. I’ve not met many people who are as serious as I am, but Onyx must be close. He has the build of a warrior, his hands battered and bruised, and I wonder what he’s been up to every night since he’s been here. I’ve had all of their rooms watched, and he hardly sleeps.
"She's sick?"
"She is, my lord. She says she's very sorry."
"Then you can meet with me in her stead."
"I'm sorry, my lord. I don't know her plans well. I can't read or write. She's the brains, I'm the brawn."
Bad leadership. What if she died today? What would her people do then? "What kind of sickness?"
He pauses, his eyes giving nothing away. "I don't know, my lord."
