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My heart skips and the bond zings with unease. “Will you take me to him?” Prometheus drops onto my shoulder with a heavy pant and blinks up at me. I give the dragon a reassuring pet. The little wound Harald left behind hurts but nothing matters right now except finding my mate.
“Right away, Your Highness.” He catches the attention of another guard down, this one with the grayish skin and build of what I assume is a gargoyle, and that one climbs down from his spot at the top of the gate to take the one the minotaur abandons. He’s wearing the same uniform except he has shiny black boots.
“Medical wing. Isn’t too far,” the minotaur explains with a pained look before setting off at a clipped pace, whether to be rid of us or get back to his post, that’s unknown. Honestly, I don’t know how he’s not crying after being stabbed in the tongue, but I cry when I throw up, so I’m not exactly what most people would consider tough.
In fact, if all the soldiers are this tough, I’m impressed.
But if they’re all brutally strong, how did Orcus end up hurt? My chest tightens as we’re led into the entrance hall and immediately directed to the right. The inside of the castle walls are smoothed and appear as though someone carved elegant designs where crown molding usually exists. We pass uniformed creatures stationed throughout the castle as the minotaur guides the way. Some with wings, some with hooves, and a few with those unsettling snake-eyes, though none are the same vibrant yellow of Basil’s. Each uniform is customized to fit the needs of the individual monsters. The ones with wings wear tops with slits cut into the back, allowing their webbed appendages to spread out behind them.
It’s all fascinating, but I can’t focus on them for long. Orcus is close and I still can’t get a sense of him through the bond. We take a few more turns and end up in the infirmary. My nose wrinkles at the scent of strong herbs and spices. Aside from the smell, the medical wing is essentially what you’d expect. Beds for patients, though wider and longer. Various tools—some somewhat identifiable and some not. Curtains are pulled shut around certain beds, and a centaur with a long mane steps out of one. A long medical jacket is draped over the monster’s shoulders and buttoned closed at the bottom of its neck, leaving the horse half of its body exposed.
Its eyes narrow on Harald. “Absolutely not. Take the trull somewhere else.”
“What is it with you monsters hating on trulls?” I ask, shifting to shield Harald from the centaur’s glare.
“Avery. This is Daisy. Orcus’ mate and theprincess,” the guard says. “The trull is her companion.”
Avery’s gaze whips to meet mine. “I’m so sorry, Princess. Forgive my tone. I’m Avery, they/them, and the castle’s primary healer.” Shifting on its hooves, the human half hinges forward into a bow.
“It’s fine, but you should really apologize to Harald.”
“Right.” Their eyebrows pinch together as they straighten. “I’m sorry,” they say this to Harald who harrumphs and ignores them.
Oi, he’s so dramatic.
“Right. Now that that’s settled. Where’s my mate?”
Avery scurries a few beds over, mane swaying and hooves clacking on the stone floor, and whips a curtain back.
“Oh my god.”
TWENTY-FOUR
Accidental erections
DAISY
Orcus’ face is black and blue, covered in bruises. Dark red blood is dried along a nasty split in his bottom lip. There are more than a few fang marks decorating his skin. My chest aches and the bond fills with worry in response to my concern. It’s so strange that it seems to have emotions as well, or perhaps it simply amplifies my emotions. With trembling fingers covering my lips, I rush to his side. He doesn’t even stir as I plop down beside his sleeping form and stare at him.
Orcus is so strong it’s difficult seeing him like this. Not normal at all. Prometheus whimpers and nuzzles the side of my face.
“What happened?” I whisper the question and study the fingerprint shaped marks around part of his throat. My own aches, an invisible hand clamping around my neck as if to let me experience exactly what Orcus had.
“Vampires.” Avery’s tone is grim as if that should offer me all the information I need.
Harald, still sitting on one arm, grabs hold of his cart and hops onto the bed with a tiny thump. He marches toward Avery. “Ya better start using yer words before I find a way to pry them out of ya. My princess asked ya a question.”
“Right, of course, I’m so sorry,” Avery says in a panicked breath. “From what I understand, our soldiers were helping evacuate a small village just east of the border between our land and the vampires. The blood suckers came without warning. Orcus and a few others barely made it out alive.” They move to the other side of the bed to check his pulse. “He’s been asleep like this since he got here.”
“When was that?” I ask.
“Two days ago. He lost a lot of blood.” Avery sighs. “He’s healing, though. The swelling has gone down on its own. I’ve given him some medicine as well. He should be awake, but every time I try to rouse him, he grumbles and whispers your name before falling back into a deep sleep.”
“Is it his head or something? Like a concussion?” I don’t know anything about medicine.
“He didn’t hit his head, but the worst of it is in his ribs. He broke three of them. That coupled with the blood he lost when he was bitten aren’t helping his recovery.”
Holy shit. Tears well in my eyes and I swipe at my cheek, sniffing loudly.
