Page 4 of The Seeker

“I’ll send Friar right in!” He pressed a kiss to my lips before dashing back to the door. “Finally!” he cheered before closing the door behind him, the lock sliding into place with a click.

I sank down on the soft bed, taking deep breaths to try to minimize the pain. I must’ve disassociated though, because next thing I knew, Friar was sitting down next to me.

I threw my arms around her neck. “I’m so glad to see you.”

She pressed her palms to the back of my shoulder blades. “Are you okay, Runa?”

I nodded. “I wanted to see you sooner but . . .”

She smiled, her eyes glistening. “I know. I tried to see you sooner too, but Leif is . . . difficult.”

I hadn’t considered it, but Friar was likely just as much of a prisoner as I was. “What is he making you do?” I asked, voice trembling. I would never forgive myself if she were suffering because of me.

“Regular healing duties.” She set her hand on my wrist. “Don’t worry about me. Now, tell me, are you feeling nauseous? More tired than normal?”

I shook my head. “I’m not pregnant, Friar.”

Her black eyebrows moved to her hairline. “Huh, but⁠—”

I cut her off. “I needed to see you. I missed my menses—well, I still had light spotting—but I’m sterile, Friar. I can’t get pregnant.”

Her mouth dropped open, her gaze scouring my face. “But⁠—”

“You can’t tell Leif. Please. We can come clean later, but . . . I—” A tear slipped down my cheek. “I need to see someone who isn’t him. Just for a bit.”

Friar was still shaking her head, probably in disbelief at my dishonest antics, but she brought a hand to my cheek all the same. “It’s a great plan, Runa.” She paused, glancing over her shoulder at the door. “Especially because I have a plan to end this.”

CHAPTER 2

“You do?” It was my turn to be shocked.

She motioned with her hand to lower my voice, checking over her shoulder a second time. There was a guard stationed outside the door, but he remained in the sitting room, and I couldn’t imagine him eavesdropping, but maybe Friar knew something I didn’t. “I can’t tell you much right now, as I am still working on it and you might . . .”

“I might what?” I pressed, an emotion I couldn’t name bubbling in my chest. I would do anything to escape Malheim. Anything.

She shook her head. “I don’t want you to be able to be tortured for information. Once I need your input, or for you to do something specific, I will inform you.” She stood, brushing down the front of her dress. It was in the same style as the ones I normally wore, and something told me she’d been instructed to wear it in the same way I had.

I grabbed onto her hand, pulling her back down. “Wait.” My chest tightened. “Collum . . . my cousin. She was here, the night Otho rescued me . . . Is she . . .” I’d meant to ask about her first, but seeing Friar was so relieving I’d forgotten.

“Healing nicely.” Friar smiled and stood once more, pulling her hand from my grip. “Now, I really do have to go, but I will return with a pregnancy support potion soon, okay?” She said the last part loudly, with a wink.

I understood, but my chest still ached as she stepped toward the door. I wanted to ask Leif to see my cousin, but I knew any such request would be promptly denied.

If Leif was even aware Collum was here.

No sooner had the door closed behind her than Leif was pushing it open again.

“Any news, my heart?” His lips moved into a smile I could never return.

“No.” I fought to keep my voice even, so he wouldn’t suspect anything. “It’s too soon for her to tell, and I have no other symptoms. She will prepare me potions, though, and we’ll monitor everything.” My voice sounded too flat, even to my own ears. I would need to try harder to keep him convinced.

If Leif suspected my deception, he said nothing, the smile remaining on his lips. “We will know soon enough, I’m sure.” He crossed the room to the dressing table, tidying up the ones he’s dropped on the floor before picking up the first book in the pile. “I have a proposal for you.”

“You do?” My mood instantly lifted, and I hated that he had this effect over me, but still, I hoped whatever it was, it would at least grant me a chance to leave the room.

“I do.” He held the book in my direction. “I grabbed this from Adis’s palace before we left, and my sources tell me it’s a book that amplifies romantic feelings between a bonded pair.”

I frowned. I didn’t like where this was going. And if I knew Adis, which I had, he would have had no such books in his possession. Which meant Leif’s sources were wrong.