Page 53 of A Fate In Moonstone

My mother set a cup of tea on the nightstand. “Your fever is gone. Do you feel well enough to take a bath?”

I sat up in my bed and stretched. Nyx kept me “clean” with her power, but I still felt dirty. Like the grime and sweat remained despite there being no physical evidence.

“Sounds good.”

Nyx drew me a bath and left my mother and I alone.

“I know you told Rista about the food you ate in Crystoria, but is there anything else that could have caused this?” she asked while helping me stand. The muscles in my thighs shook with each step toward the bathroom. I felt so weak, and I hated it.

“I don’t know.” Our short time in Crystoria felt so far away. Like a fever dream.

“Did you talk to anyone? Touch anyone different? Did your mate—”

I nearly slipped in the bath, but she caught me. “You know?”

My mother rolled her eyes. How very un-queenly of her.

“Yes.”

I sagged into the water. The warmth spread into every ache and washed it away. These few seconds in the blissful water made me feel whole, more myself.

“Back to my other questions. Was there anything different? Someone?”

The only person I touched was… Oh… right.

“Yes, actually. I met one of Father’s relatives. We were talking. I slipped on the stairs, and he caught me. I didn’t get a chance to ask what his core magic was. He knew me and had to know my power, but still.”

Did I absorb something from him that caused the fever? I didn’t know of such power to cause illness. Though illness was natural, I guess it made sense someone had the core to cause the body distress. Maybe his core was part of the nightshade family or something.

My mother’s hand landed on my shoulder, gently, but her eyes narrowed, telling how serious she felt about this situation. I hope she didn’t kill Desmire for possibly making me sick.

Sure, I was in my thirties but also the only child of the queen. The protective mother was watching me now.

“Desmire. His name was Desmire. He said he met me when I was a baby. Talked about you a bit, how amazing you were. Said he was related to Desiniri which I could see it in looks with the white tattoos, and why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?”

The beautiful queen froze, her mouth parted, and her eyes closed briefly before she cursed. Covering her face with her hands.

“Is he bad? Is this part of the incoming war with Verin Celestine told me about?” I needed in the know. She knew something.

“That male. I told him. Ugh. So stubborn.”

Um... What?

“Who is he?”

“You don’t need to worry about it. He’s of no importance to you.”

The water chilled and it took me a second to realize that sensation came from my hands. Tor’s power.

She lied.

“Well, if he made me sick, then I think I should know what power I absorbed.”

The look and authority of the queen of Crysia flared in my direction. The water felt cooler but for another reason.

“He is the reason for your illness, and but that’s over now. You’re fine. Everything will be all right.” She said that last part for herself, but I couldn’t prove it.

The queen paced in my bathroom.