Page 27 of The Duke’s Bloody Bargain

Alex didn’t flinch. “Your children are starving and dirty on the street. The houses are decrepit, and Lucy was left alone. A leader is supposed to take care of his community.”

“And you’re such a good leader, aren’t you?” Knight’s voice lowered.

“No one is starving in the Dark Court.” Alex’s eyes turned obsidian.

“But you threaten to kill whoever disagrees with you.” A growl rumbled from Knight’s chest. “What about that?”

They got closer, their muscles swelling. Fur started to grow underneath the collar of Knight’s shirt, and Alex’s biceps bulged.

“Gentlemen.” Darius produced a golden light that sneaked between the two hot-headed men. “There’s no need to start a fight.”

Especially since Alex had been careful not to start a conflict with Knight in the past. But now he had got bothered all of a sudden?

Knight swatted the golden light away, or tried to. “Bloody wizard.”

“Mage.” Darius took a small bag out of his pocket and popped a chocolate bonbon into his mouth.

“Semantics,” Knight said, taking the narrow alley leading to Lucy’s home.

Darius deliberately tilted his head from side to side, pursing his lips. He wolfed down another bonbon.

His magic needed fuel, and every time he cast a spell, he needed to replenish his energy with rich food. Which made me think of Carabosse. The energy to cast such a strong spell had come from Alex’s sacrifice. Whatever that had been.

I drew in a breath, following Knight. “Talking about Lucy. Did someone attack her?”

“No, but she’s sick and stubborn.” He entered Lucy’s home with a quick knock and crossed the room, functioning as an entrance hall and sitting room, to stop in the bedroom. A lavender light shot through his aura—sympathy. But it lasted a moment. “There. Look at her.”

Lucy was lying in her bed, shivering. Sweat glistened on her skin, and her matted hair was plastered to her cheeks.

“My goodness.” I rushed to her side, and her pain hit me in the chest like a punch.

Her aura was a violet cloud of agony. Any other emotion was subdued by her pain.

“What is it?” I touched her forehead; it was boiling.

Knight kept his distance. “I sent for a physician as well.” He angled towards Alex. “Because, despite what someone might think, I do care for the people in my territory, even though Lucy isn’t part of the Moon Court. The physician examined her and said she had influenza. But I don’t believe it.”

“Why?” Alex came closer, calm once more.

“No one else has caught any disease.” Knight averted his gaze from a corset lying on a chair. A crimson flame of embarrassment speared through his aura.

My, my. The mighty Moon Duke was prudish.

“She’s the only one sick in the entire court,” he said in a gruff voice.

He put a hand on the back of a chair where a pair of stockings was draped. The moment he touched them, he withdrew his hand, and his aura glowed a deeper shade of crimson.

“Not you again.” Lucy waved a hand either at Alex or at Knight. “Leave me alone. It’s nothing.”

“Irene.” Darius stared at Lucy intently. “Can you tell me exactly how much pain she is in?”

“Of course.”

I focused on her feelings, embracing them and letting them flow through me. A gasp came out of me as I started to shiver and boil as well. She had a terrible headache and felt exhausted and cold. But there was something else. A sharp pain, like a stab, in…her leg.

I blocked the connection with her. “Her leg hurts. It burns and throbs. It’s either a wound or an infection.”

Darius turned around and twirled a finger to signal Alex to do the same. “Can you take a look at her leg?” He snapped his fingers at Knight who was still facing Lucy. “Give the lady some privacy.”