Chapter Twenty-Six
Saoirse
It had taken her hours to stabilize him. She’d called in every healer across the city, explained his injuries, then had led the five who claimed they could heal such extensive wounds right to her brother.
They’d balked at the sight of him, but she’d threatened to maim their hands if they refused. Or if he mysteriously died under their care. She didn’t care if the demand was unreasonable, if Rion might die anyway. She’d do everything in her power to prevent it.
She’d watched their every move. Only one had tried to use their magic in a way that she’d deemed threatening.
They’d left without an appendage.
From there, the others worked tirelessly.
The medicine she’d given him kept Rion sedated.
None were sure he’d live.
She’d kept her tears at bay, even when they advised her to say her goodbyes.
Saoirse refused. Rion was strong. Her little brother would pull through. He had to.
When there was nothing more to be done, the healers left her with strict instructions to keep his wounds clean and change his bandages often. They said if he made it through the night, then he’d live with nothing more than a few scars on his body. He’d lost a lot of blood. And if the blades had nicked his organs, then he’d bleed internally. From the position of them, it would be a miracle if they hadn’t.
It was a long night. Saoirse stood vigil the entire time, watching the rise and fall of his back as he lay on the blood-soaked sheets.
She didn’t bother cleaning it up. Not yet. She wouldn’t risk jostling him and undoing what the healers had done.
Saoirse didn’t know exactly what had happened, only that Selina, the viper, was involved. She’d told Rion not to let her get to him. Saoirse could only imagine the things that female had done. Said.
Her heart ached for her little brother and the pain he’d endured. His last words stabbed through her heart.
I tried.
He’d fallen for her. Fallen hard and yet he’d still managed to kill her. Other males hadn’t been so fortunate. Saoirse should have done it herself years ago.
Rion woke a few times but was hardly lucid. He muttered under his breath and she carefully coaxed him into drinking the medicine left by the healers, along with as much liquid as she dared force down his throat.
Saoirse rubbed her hand over her face and glanced out the window to watch the first traces of dawn illuminate the sky.
If he makes it through the night . . .
He’d made it, which meant he wasn’t bleeding internally, at least. She’d prayed. She’d been praying to the gods all night.
Saoirse stood and removed her little brother’s boots. She cut away his pants and tended to other small wounds, wiping away crusted blood and dirt. His magic had fallen still when he’d gone unconscious.
Small bits of color had returned to his face, though his eyes were both still black and sunken in.
Saoirse draped a fresh sheet over his body and cut away the blood-soaked ones, still careful not to jostle him too much. She’d clean the bed once he was talking again.
Rion muttered in his sleep, the words indecipherable, but she could feel the heartbreak behind them.
Saoirse stood and stared down at her little brother. She’d known who Selina really was, but it was Alec who’d assigned her. Had their older brother arranged the whole thing or had Selina been working of her own accord? She needed to find out.
Her gaze shot toward the door. Saoirse had commanded her second, Fin, to stand guard. He was one of the few Fae she could trust. He’d never failed her, but could she risk leaving Rion in his care?
Caol had promised, and yet—
Her jaw worked and Saoirse pulled the door open. Fin turned, then bowed. The two warriors who followed his command bowed lower.
“Is there something you need?”
Saoirse didn’t invite them in. She just stared at him, studying the male who’d vowed to serve beneath her. She glanced back at her brother again. “I need to see Alec.” Her mind was at war with itself. All it would take was one bad decision and Rion would be torn from her forever.
“I’ll see to it that no one enters this room.”
She turned back. “Will you?”
He bowed again and placed a hand over his heart. “My loyalty is to you, My Lady.”
Saoirse clenched her jaw and lowered her voice to a near growl. “If anything happens to him, you will pay for it with your life.” She turned to the other two and met their gazes. “All of you will pay for it. Your families will pay for it, too. I’ll destroy your entire lineage if anyone so much as steps a foot in this room and you don’t intervene.”
One of them paled, but Fin nodded in understanding. “Understood, My Lady. I will guard him as if he is one of my own.”
She sniffed the air, searching for any hint of deception. He’d been loyal since the day he was stationed at her side over fifty years ago. He’d never stepped out of line, and he’d saved her life on more than one occasion.
Saoirse gave him a final nod, then locked the door and marched down the hall. She found Alec seated in the throne room, pouring over maps and documents. The council sat with him. She was supposed to be here, too. These meeting were always of utmost importance.
Today it didn’t matter.
Everyone looked up at the sound of her boots thudding against the marble floor. “Leave us,” she commanded.
None hesitated. Alec didn’t even bother looking up as they scrambled from the table. “That was an important meeting,” he said in a bored voice.
Saoirse clenched her fists and stood at the bottom of the three stairs that led up the raised platform. She was already shaking as she said, “I want you to look me in the eye and tell me you didn’t command the assassination of our little brother.”
Alec didn’t move. “He’s no brother of mine.”
Her blood heated. Blazed. “He is our blood. Our responsibility.”
“Not anymore.”
“Why?” She threw up her hands. “Because of a prophecy? What did he do before his magic appeared? Nothing!”
“And yet, when it did appear, he killed our father.” Alec didn’t raise his voice, didn’t speak as if he felt any emotion at all.
Saoirse just stared at him as if he were a stranger. Her brother. Alec was her brother too, and yet, ever since their mother’s disappearance, he’d morphed into someone else. He wasn’t the same male that had taught her how to ride horseback, how to hold a sword, or control her magic. Maybe she should confess everything right here. Admit that she’d been the one to cut down their remaining parent.
But if she did that, there’d be repercussions. Rion was injured; she couldn’t risk being detained.
Her voice was cold and lethal as she said, “You will never touch him again.”
Alec finally looked up. His face reminded her so much of their father. “Last I checked, I was the High Lord, not you.”
Saoirse didn’t back down. “If you ever raise your hand against him again, I will make you regret it.”
He stood to his full height and his lips pulled back in a snarl. “Is that a challenge, Saoirse?”
She scoffed. Laughed. “You’re worried about your throne? How low have you fallen to think I’d want the stupid thing?” She stepped forward, her magic tingling beneath her skin, begging for freedom. “Leave Rion alone, or I’m out.”
His gaze hardened. “What do you mean you’re out ?”
“I’ll leave.”
He smirked at that. “And where would you go?” He turned his attention back to the maps spread across the table. As if her threats were nothing more than a child throwing a tantrum.
“The human lands. The western continent.” She shrugged. “Maybe I’ll find another continent below the southern isles.”
“Don’t be dramatic.”
He reached for a pen and Saoirse exploded. Magic fed the seeds stored in her sleeves and the greenery raced through the air and hit the table so hard it slammed against the back wall and shattered. Alec’s maps and documents went flying, floating through the air.
“You will not touch him again.”
Her brother growled. “Go cool off before you do something foolish.”
She met his unflinching gaze. He was so much like their father that it hurt to look at him sometimes. But he wasn’t their father and he didn’t control her.
“Enjoy your lonely reign, My Lord.” He grimaced at the title and tone, then she sketched a bow and pivoted on her heel.
“I’ll see you in an hour,” he called to her retreating form.
No. He wouldn’t.
***
Saoirse returned to Rion’s room and thanked Fin upon finding Rion safe. Fin was happy to report that Rion hadn’t stirred. She almost wished he had, just so she’d know he was okay.
Saoirse began planning. She sent a slave to pack her belongings. Just a few things. It would be a few days before she could move Rion. Until then, she’d remain here and watch over him.
Once he was back on his feet, Saoirse would pull a few bags of gold from the vault. It would carry them over for a time. Afterward, she could take various other jobs, as could Rion. It would be a different life. A simpler one where she wasn’t responsible for an entire country. The thought was almost refreshing. Her only regret would be lacking the resources to continue searching for their mother.
But their mother had been missing for years. Rion was right here in front of her, and she’d face hell itself before she let anything happen to him.
Maybe she’d leave a letter for Alec explaining what really happened to their father that night. She could hide it in one of his books. Even if it took years for him to find it, one day he’d eventually know the truth.
Saoirse invited Fin into the room and quietly explained her plans. He vowed to remain at her side until she found a safe place to settle.
She knew Rion would object to leaving, but she’d find a way to bend him to her will. She was fed up with everyone hurting him. Caol had almost been her breaking point. Alec’s involvement—she clenched her fists. Damn him to hell.
Saoirse remained in the room with Rion for another three hours. A light knock on the door indicated her slave had finished packing. She’d told the half-breed to leave the two bags by the door. One for her and one for Rion.
It would be . . . fun, she supposed, to wander different parts of the country.
Another knock had the hairs on the back of Saoirse’s neck rising. She took a relaxing breath, then crossed the room and pulled the door open.
Alec stood on the other side, leaning against the back wall with his arms crossed. He eyed the bags by the door, then her. “You didn’t show for the meeting.”
“And?”
His jaw flexed and he swallowed hard, the only bit of emotion he’d allow himself to display. “You’re really leaving.”
“That’s what I said.”
“I didn’t think—” He loosed a breath and ran a hand through his hair. “For him? You’d really give up your country for him?”
Her second and his underlings looked like they’d rather be anywhere else. They didn’t move.
“I’m not giving up anything. One of my siblings wants to murder the other, what do you expect me to do?”
“You know the ancient texts just as well as I do. Probably better. He should have been put down as soon as his magic showed up.”
Saoirse growled. “Well, I guess Father failed then, didn’t he?”
“ You failed,” he seethed. “You were right there, you should have been the one to do it. He killed everyone in that room.”
“And how old was he when he did that?” Saoirse questioned. “Tell me, Alec, do you think you could stomach killing an innocent child?”
“Sometimes sacrifices are necessary.”
“Says the one who re-homes orphans. Or did you forget your own decree? Have you turned so cold-hearted that you’d have killed our little brother yourself?”
Alec clenched his fists. “I would do what is necessary for my country.”
Saoirse just stared at him. “You disgust me.”
“Do not treat me like the enemy here.”
“You are my enemy.” He flinched. “Everyone who tries to hurt him,” she pointed toward the bed, “is my enemy. I don’t care how close we are or what we’ve been through. If you come after Rion, I will put you down.”
“You’d kill me?”
“How about we not find out?”
Alec growled. “If you keep—”
“Do not threaten her.” Saoirse spun to find Rion sitting at the edge of the bed, his feet on the floor, bent forward as if he intended to stand. She ran into the room to put a hand on his shoulder, hopefully to hold him down. If he tried to fight right now—
Alec followed her. “Or what,” her elder brother spat. “Plan to kill me, too?”
“If fate demands it.”
Alec glared at him, his gaze drifting to the bloody sheets on the bed. Saoirse stood between them, ready to intervene should Alec strike out.
“I never thought I’d see the day when my own sister stood against me.”
“Neither did I,” she said quietly, still keeping one hand on Rion’s shoulder. “Go rule your country, Alec. I’m sure you’ll find another adviser to fill my place.”
“I could have you tried for abandonment.”
Her gaze turned cold as she met Alec’s stare. “If you send anyone in here to put me or Rion in chains, you’ll discover exactly how ruthless I can be.”
“You wouldn’t kill your own people.”
Saoirse bared her fangs at him. “Try me.”
Alec opened his mouth to speak again, then decided against it. He glanced between the two of them. Locked eyes with Rion, then Saoirse. His jaw worked. “Fine.”
“Fine, what?” she demanded.
“No one will touch him and I’m giving you a one month leave to sort your shit out.”
“I want your word.”
Alec huffed. “I already said—”
“Your word, Alec. I’ll settle for nothing less.”
He met his sister’s gaze. “You have my word. I swear I will never send anyone after him again, directly or indirectly.” He sighed and his tone softened. “Now will you stay?”
She glanced back to Rion. “I’ll think about it during my leave.”
Alec nodded, stared at them again before pivoting on his heel and marching down the hall, his guards in his wake.