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“Has to work. Need alive.”
Rick gritted his teeth, growing impatient too. Just as he was about to ask, the glow faded and Emerald was released. He quickly shifted her to a sitting position, waiting. Her breathing was no longer harsh and the larger cuts on her body had reduced, but she was struggling to open her eyes. When they did, they lasered in on him.
“Tired,” was all she said before she closed her eyes again.
Erin reached over, pressing a hand over her wrist and chest. “She’s alive but she needs rest. And she needs our healers to continue working on her. Wait.”
Before he could carry her again, Erin was taking over. “Erin—”
“I will take her to the healers and I will make sure our folks see. I will watch over her and make sure everyone knows. Call it a warning to anyone who tries another attempt on her life.”
“Erin…”
“It’s the least I can do after she found the magic user for us. Besides,youneed to deal with the guy. And Merrell. It’s what a crown prince would do.”
“Erin!”
“Deal with it fast, brother.”
Her voice held no room for argument, and she didn’t elaborate on her statement as she created an ice block to lay Emerald down on. She nudged the block out of the graveyard with Yu in tow, leaving him staring after her. But she was right. Emerald was alive and the healers would do their work.
And Rick needed to move quickly if he didn’t want this happening again.
The first time Rick hounded Emerald’s new room for her status, the healers refused to let him enter on the reasoning that he would disrupt their process. While he trusted them, he still wanted to see her with his own eyes and argued with them until Erin had to intervene.
“You can’t come in. You heard them. You will disrupt their process.”
“I just want a peek at her.”
Erin relented, letting him peek, but all he saw was an ice block with Emerald encased deep in the center. Before he could move closer, she was dragging him out.
“I know you,” she said. “I know you’re ready to set up camp here and watch her all night. But you can’t. You have to trust the healers. That means not insulting their rituals and keeping visitation to a minimum.”
He was stubborn about it, of course, but there was no budging Erin. When she was finally annoyed, she grew stern and kicked him out.
“I’m banning you from visiting this area.”
“What—”
“You have an investigation ongoing. You have eyes everywhere and people already suspecting what this woman truly means to you.”
“She means—”
“I know what she means to you. I don’t agree with it, but I despise murder and traitors more and am grateful for what she did. If you want the crown back, you need to behave under scrutiny.”
“Don’t you want the crown?”
“I do, and I think I would make an excellent ruler.” Her chin lifted. “But I don’t want it at the expense of you thinking the worst of me, so I don’t mind voluntarily giving it up.”
He didn’t think the worst of her, not anymore. But his apology was cut off when she held up a hand.
“Anyway, it’s not just my call. You need the approval of the others and until you are proven fit, it’s best to show them the image of fit.”
Fit, meaning responsible, on top of things…not involved with a non-Fae, especially a witch. Sex was fine and excusable, but Erin was right. Their court would have a riot if they knew he had almost gone crazy at the sight of Emerald close to death.
“I’ll stay away,” he finally agreed, albeit reluctantly. “But I will need updates.”
Erin agreed readily. The surprise came when it was Yu who ended up providing updates, peppering him with Fae terms of Emerald’s progress and what was happening in the healing room. While it fed Rick’s relief it didn’t feel enough. But it would have to do.
