Page 103 of Treasured
I smiled. “Not at all.”
There were hundreds of humans suffering from the Wasting Illness in Eleyta. I might have had serious issues with the queen, but I was still their prince and felt more than a little responsible for them. After all, vampires needed humans. The queen had mistreated them long enough.
We said our goodbyes, then shadowed to the lab.
* * *
A gasp left Luna’s lips when the shadows lifted. “Wow.” She let go of my hand and spun in a circle. “Odette said the plant had grown, but I didn’t expect this.”
The laboratory was pitch-black, dark even for our vampiric eyes, and every available surface was covered in pots. Isvana’s plant—Syndra’s plant—had grown. Odette must have transplanted it countless times in the few days we were gone.
“Neither did I. It’s almost—”
“Magical,” she finished for me.
She was right. I never pretended to know much about plants, but this was not normal.
For a long moment, neither of us spoke. Then, Luna turned to me. “I didn’t know.”
My brows knit together as I tried to follow her train of thought. “Know what?”
Releasing my hand, Luna touched a leaf. She hummed, running it through her fingers before canting her head. “I didn’t know that science and magic could co-exist. I always thought it was one or the other.” She turned, running the tip of her tongue over her fangs. “It’s not, though. They can work together. Maybe… maybe that was how it was always meant to be.”
Her mouth moved, but no sound came out. Luna wandered through the lab, touching all the plants. I remained at the entrance, mindful of the Tether but content to watch Luna think.
She was brilliant, this wife of mine, and she didn’t hide it. I loved that about her. Intelligence was not something to be hidden or frightened of. Luna might not be skilled in swordplay or a talented fighter like Phyrra, but she didn’t need it. Her mind was a tool, and she used it every day to the best of her ability.
After a few minutes, Luna returned to my side. “Alright. Enough time debating the logic of science and magic working together. Let’s get to work.”
I refrained from pointing out that she had been holding the debate all on her own while I’d watched her. Instead, I plucked a few leaves off each plant and brought them to the table in the middle of the room while Luna cleared a workspace.
Under her direction, we worked for hours. I collected leaves and prepared vials by dipping them in boiling water until she declared them clean and free of dangerous particles before lining them up in rows on the tabletop.
By the time Odette joined us, it was nearly dawn. “You’ve accomplished much, Your Highnesses.” She tapped the rim of a clean vial. “I must admit, I’m impressed. I wasn’t sure how much you’d be able to do.”
“I had a great assistant.” Luna pecked my cheek. “How’s Marius?”
Odette walked over and pressed a key into Luna’s hand. “He’s sleeping, but he looks well. Some of the priestesses took the liberty of moving the three of you into a different part of the abbey, so you can always be close to him.”
That was incredibly thoughtful of them. Odette gave us directions to the new room and promised to let Luna know if she ran into any trouble before we left to find our new accommodations. It wasn’t difficult, and soon, we stood in front of a black door on the third floor.
Luna squeezed my hand, passing me the key. “I just want to check on Marius.”
“Go ahead. I’ll wait.”
For Luna, I’d wait for days, weeks, or even years if she asked me. Time had no meaning when it came to her.
Cracking open the door, Luna poked her head inside the room. Less than a minute later, she exhaled, sliding the door shut quietly behind her. “He’s sleeping soundly, and he looks a lot better.”
“I’m so glad.” Hopefully, Luna would get some sleep. She’d barely rested since Odette first administered the cure. Between breaking the bond and waking Marius, the past few days had been exhausting.
Unlocking the door to our new accommodations, I slipped inside first. It was bigger than our last room, and I carefully inspected the wardrobe, under the bed, and the small water closet. Some might have considered my actions paranoid, but I believed them prudent.
Before letting Luna enter, I went through the room, placing my hands on the walls and erecting several wards around the entire space. Once those were secure, I added more until the entire abbey was surrounded. One couldn’t be too careful.
Only then did I call out to Luna. Come on in, darling. It’s safe.
The knob turned, and she slipped inside. “Wow, this is an upgrade,” she said after a moment.