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Lyssandros shrugged. ‘She had a fractured ulna—’ he gestured to his forearm ‘—and several broken ribs. I only mention it because it’s uncommon for an adult to fracture only one of the two bones in the forearm, unless they are defending themselves.’
‘Could she have done it horse riding?’ Theo queried, unable to quite understand how else it could have happened.
‘I would have expected more damage, or less, depending.’
‘You think it was a person. You think she was attacked.’
The older man nodded. ‘As I said, it’s only because of her status that I ask.’
Theo clamped his jaw on a million unasked questions, able to voice only one. ‘May I?’
‘Of course,’ Lyssandros said, directing him to the door to Sofia’s room.
* * *
Sofia’s throat felt as if someone had poured sand down it, and she was half convinced that someone was trying to prise her head open with a jackhammer. When the door opened she managed to force her eyelids up enough to take i
n a figure wearing blue scrubs, and promptly closed them again. If she never saw another doctor again, it would be too soon. She wanted to go. Where, she wasn’t sure. She didn’t want to be back in Iondorra yet, and she wondered why Theo hadn’t arrived to whisk her away. Had he left her? Had he finally decided that even his wine sales weren’t worth this much hassle? The thought rocked her. Is this what he’d felt that night? Tears began to gather behind her closed eyes, but she wouldn’t cry. Not in front of some stranger.
‘Sofia...’
Her eyes flew open to find Theo coming to sit on the edge of the bed.
‘Theo? What are you doing in scrubs?’
The rueful smile on his perfect lips did nothing to hide the fierce concern in his gaze. ‘Lyssandros, the doctor, told me that I was getting his medical centre wet, so forced me to change into these,’ he said, pulling distastefully at the blue material.
‘Why were you wet?’
‘Do you not remember? You fell into the sea, and I went in after you.’
‘You did?’
‘How else would you have got out?’
Sofia sighed. ‘I’m surprised you didn’t leave me in there,’ she grumbled, frustrated with herself for not being able to put the pieces of what had happened together in her own mind. The doctor—Lyssandros—had explained that it was to be expected, and, as long as the confusion was only around the accident, he wasn’t too concerned. All her tests had come back fine mostly. A bang to the head from the fall, a decent bruise to her shoulder from where the boom had caught her, but aside from that she’d been lucky.
‘I was tempted. But the Greek government might frown at the manslaughter of a princess.’
‘It would have been murder if you’d intentionally left me.’
‘I’d have got away with it.’
A smile pulled at the corners of her mouth, just as a wave of exhaustion descended. ‘When can I get out of here?’
‘Tomorrow.’
‘I hate hospitals. Can you sneak me out?’
‘Lyssandros is as close as a friend, but even he’s not taking risks with you.’
And neither am I. She felt his words, without him voicing them.
‘I want to go,’ she said, the words slightly slurred.
‘I know. But you’re safe here. I’m not going anywhere.’
Sofia tried to shake her head, but that hurt, and whatever she’d been about to say disappeared as she fell into the welcoming arms of sleep.
