Chapter 37 Claeg
I returned to Anastasius' chambers to find a nightmare in its place. Rohit paced the room, running bloody hands through his hair, deepening the already crimson color to a darker shade. His eyes narrowed, watching me as I shifted on the balcony. Upon entering the room, the source of his vexation became clear. Anastasius laid in his bed, stripped of clothing but coated in a thick layer of blood. I rushed to him, ignoring the throb in my side, my heart immediately racing at the sight of him injured.
“What happened?” I sensed Rohit over my shoulder. “Why haven’t you helped him?” There was so much blood. I couldn’t identify the source of it all.
“Relax, Ruptor. Prince Anastasius is fine. This isn’t his blood.” Rohit rested a hand on my shoulder, making me wince. “You, though, look like shit,” he commented. I grunted, ignoring him in favor of searching Anastasius for a wound, turning him over to view all sides of him, but there was no weakness. Only when I saw he wasn’t bleeding did I relax slightly. But only long enough to demand a cloth and warm water from Rohit. When he handed them to me, I began the laborious task of washing the blood away. Surprisingly Stas didn’t even stir from his slumber.
“Whose blood is this?” I asked, gently scrubbing the caked blood away from his scars. Behind me, Rohit hissed. I arched a brow at him. “Rohit,” I pressed, and he turned away.
“The Circulus fledgling,” he answered quietly, his shoulders stiff and hands straying toward the weapon sheathed at his side. Anastasius killing Ajal didn’t make sense. “I found him passed out in his cell. When he awakened he—he panicked. I couldn’t get him to calm down. I had to use a sleeping spell on him.” That explained his lethargy. I examined him closely for any injuries as I finished washing his front, where the majority of the blood had dried. I didn’t speak again until my task was done. Sitting back on my heels, I watched Anastasius sleep. His brow was furrowed, jaw tense.
“Why would he do this?”
Rohit sighed. “To protect you, of course.” He shrugged as if he wasn’t surprised. What he said didn’t make sense, but I didn’t bother questioning Rohit. It wasn’t him that had some explaining to do.