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“Shh, Lexi, I’m going to take care of you.”
Xander got to their bedroom and swiped away the comforter before placing his beloved on the bed. She was sweating profusely. He tenderly pushed her hair out of her face. The pupils of her green swimming eyes had dilated into black orbs, terrifying Xander to his very core.
“Don’t leave me,” she pleaded.
Xander felt like his own heart had been struck when she desperately clung to him. He knelt next to the bed as her eyes remained unfixed on the ceiling above, the arrow moving smugly up and down with her panicked breathing.
“I’m right here, darling,” he said, stroking her cheek. “I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”
The head healer was unavailable again, so Harper retrieved one from the clinic to come to Lexi’s aid. The healer tried to shoo Xander from the room, but he refused, on the credence of being both the king and Lexi’s mate.
Harper remained as well, her face a ghostly white as they watched the healer do her work. She had poured herbal leaves and tea into Lexi’s mouth for her nerves and the pain, then began to slowly and meticulously remove the arrow from her chest.
Xander’s heart was ready to crawl up his throat and leap onto the floor as he watched the healer crack the arrow in half, then use small tweezer-like tools to remove what remained of the wooden weapon. Lexi was passed out by that point, which made it easier to work on her.
The healer removed all the wood, remarking to Xander that it had narrowly missed her heart. Some of the breastbone had been damaged, but the cartilage would heal quickly once her spell was cast. The healer laid her hands on Lexi’s chest, which had been stitched up delicately, and muttered something in Latin.
The color pink emerged from the woman’s hands, circling like benevolent smoke over the wound. It sank into the stitches like gentle rain, and the color slowly returned to Lexi’s slumbered face.
“Now, we let her rest,” the healer whispered.
Xander wanted to wait for her to wake, but Harper managed to take him by the forearm and into the hallway. They thanked the healer, who solemnly bowed and padded down the hallway.
Harper’s hand remained on Xander’s forearm, squeezing with intent as she spoke through hushed, gritted teeth.
“We have to do something. This has gotten way out of hand.”
Xander agreed. Although his heart remained thumping madly in his chest, he needed to be patient and wait for Lexi to come to once more.
In the meantime, there were some questions that needed to be asked.
“Come,” he said.
Xander led Harper down the hallway and into the lounge, where Stephen waited for them. He instructed Stephen to call Maureen, who arrived only a few minutes later after tending to the pack in the kitchen below.
Xander and Harper stood in front of the licks of flame in the fireplace while Maureen regarded them, her eyebrows flinching for a split second of confusion.
“Sit, please,” Xander said.
Maureen, who he rarely saw take a load off, moved robotically to the couch in front of him. She moved her eyes steadily over Xander and Harper but did not question the meeting.
“Maureen, your behavior has been suspicious as of late. I’m sure you’re aware of the kidnapping of Lexi’s enforcer. And subsequently, several attempts on the future queen’s life.”
Maureen blinked, her stillness remarkable given the circumstances.
“You believe I’m involved in the kidnapping and attempts on the queen’s life?”
Xander nodded firmly.
Maureen removed her phone from her pocket, scrolled through it, and then held it out for everyone in the room to see.
“I received a text message from someone claiming to be the king, informing me of one of Harper’s training missions. This was sent around the time she was taken.”
Xander came to her and lifted the phone from her hand. He had not sent the text, and it was strange that someone would impersonate him to his own enforcer.
He flicked his eyes back to Maureen, whose body remained still and unreadable.
“How does this remove you as the guilty party?” Xander said quietly.
