Page 34 of Ash and Roses

“And what do you think will happen when he finds out? You’re the fucking princess.” I’m taken aback by the harshness of his words.

“I’m third in line for the throne. I’m not missed.”

His anger fades to exasperation. “This is a matter of safety. I thought you’d see that after what happened yesterday.”

“And I thought you invited me to breakfast so you could apologize.”

“I will not have that argument with you again.”

“Fine,” I snap, standing a little too quickly. I feel lightheaded as a result, and I wish I’d eaten more before letting him get to me. “But I’m not going back to Lunae.”

He mirrors my movement and stands as well. “Yes, you are!” His words thunder across the space between us as if he were standing right next to me.

I take a hurried step to leave, desperate to get away from him, but the world shifts from under me. One second I’m storming away, and the next I’m falling. I expect to hit the stone floor with force, but a firm softness breaks my fall.

“Abby?”

I open my eyes to see Quinn’s face only inches from mine. When did I close my eyes? “Let me go,” I say, but it comes out as a muffled string of barely coherent words.

“What’s wrong?” Worried eyes search mine as if he’ll find the answer there.

My mouth won’t work, but I want to tell him that he’s what’s wrong. My vision fades again just as an impossible wave of fatigue washes over me—consumes me. My head flops against his chest on its own accord, and if I wasn’t feeling so awful, I would be downright embarrassed.

“Get Tess!” I hear him shout before his words disappear and all that’s left is an empty void equal to that of the one inside me.

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

QUINN

“Itold you to wait outside,” Tess says with a hand on her hip. Her other hand is preoccupied with brushing a wet cloth across the girl’s forehead. She’s damp, and it’s more than just the cloth. A fever, no doubt, and with that knowledge comes a fierce jab to my gut. The last time I saw a fever take such a grip over someone…

“What’s wrong with her?” I work to hide the concern in my voice, but Tess knows me too well. She sees right through it, but pretends she doesn’t for my benefit.

She weighs her words, chewing at the corner of her lip. “A fever has taken her.” She’s tiptoeing around the issue because she knows where my thoughts are.

“I can see that. What caused it?” She doesn’t answer this time, but her hesitation is answer enough. I did this to her. “Her shoulder.”

She nods. “The wound has festered. She must have been feeling quite unwell before she collapsed.”

I cross the room toward her. “And you missed it?” It’s not fair to take it out on her, I know that, but a Daughter of Lunae won’t die on my watch. I’m just as guilty of overlooking the signs. She was with me, but I took her pale face and sweat-slickened skin for anger.

“We couldn’t have known how she would react to—” She cuts off abruptly, and again I know why. No one has survived an attack without being bitten. We know the bite brings about the change, but it’s entirely possible that damage from the claws has an effect as well. Not that the monster would need anything else to make it more deadly.

“What can we do?”

“I’ve cleaned out the wound as best I can, so all there is to do is wait for the fever to break.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

She doesn’t answer, and I know she’s thinking of my mother. I claim the seat beside Abby and resist the urge to take one of her small hands in mine.

“You don’t have to stay,” Tess says, and it’s a kindness. She knows better than anyone what trauma I’m reliving just by being in this room.

“You know I do.” This is our way. When a member of the crown takes ill, another must sit with them. Abby may not be a princess of Rosewood, but her royal blood is more potent than mine. It would be wrong not to stay with her so long as I’m able, and more than that, I need to make up for a mistake I made years ago.

“Would she want you to?”

I blow a small burst of air through my nose in what could almost be a laugh. I’m not certain I know how to laugh anymore. “Probably not.” I stare down at Abby. Her face is tense with pain and every so often her eyes flutter as if they want to open. There’s no telling if she’s awake, but even if she were, this would feel but a dream to her.