Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
As Zev disappears into the crowd, a large group of servants walks past, arms laden with trays stacked with empty plates.
There’s a loud shout behind me. I’ve barely turned—
The distinct whoosh of metal whistling through air.
An ear-splitting shatter as fine ceramic meets hard marble.
Something large barrels into me.
A sharp crack—my head slams into the floor.
A heavy weight bears down on my body, compressing my lungs.
I can’t breathe. I can’t move.
Something wet seeps through my gown, warm and thick.
“MAYAH!”
Screaming nobles. Low, frantic mutters and high-pitched wails.
“The princess!”
Frenzied sounds of thudding boots and clacking heels.
“Seize him!” Command steeped with manic rage.
My head throbs.
Chaos.
“Mayah!” Zev’s panicked voice echoes closer.
There’s someone lying atop me. Zev rolls him off with a low grunt.
My husband exhales a loud string of curses.
The front of my turquoise gown is drenched with bright, red blood.
“Mayah, fuck. Say something.” He’s kneeling beside me, fingers carefully pressing over my abdomen, coming back stained with gruesome red. His hands are steady, but he can’t conceal the storm in his eyes.
“It’s not mine,” I rasp, sitting up. The back of my head throbs like someone took an ice chisel to it. Zev narrows his eyes at me, but my focus is on the servant who collapsed on top of me, the man Zev rolled off.
The attacker’s aim was true. But the servant walked by at the right—or wrong—moment.
A dagger is embedded deep in the unlucky man’s chest, its simple black hilt the only thing visible. His white shirt is dyed with the deep red of death. His eyes are closed, skin clammy. I scramble over to him, ignoring the pain in my skull, and set my palms against his neck.
A loud shout disrupts my focus. On the other side of the hall, guards have restrained a struggling, seething man. His face is blotchy with anger, blond hair disheveled, as he shouts, “Tundrayni bitch! You killed my brother!”
The air around my husband crackles.
“Take him to the dungeon,” Zev growls, hands flexing at his sides.
More guards dart over, encircling us until we’re concealed by a muscled barrier of metal and leather.
“Is the princess hurt?” one of the men asks. Gregoran—one of my assigned guards.
“I’m fine.” I gesture to the servant, still lying motionless on the cold floor. “But I need to heal him. Zev, the dagger.”
My husband yanks the blade from the unconscious man’s chest, his other hand never leaving my lower back. I press my palms against the man’s neck, sensing. He’s lost a lot of blood, but the dagger missed his heart and lungs.
“What do you think you’re doing?” a cold voice drawls.
It’s Faramir, elbowing his way past the guards. Varad comes to stand beside him.
“Healing,” I say flatly.
“Look at her”—Faramir chuckles menacingly—“bleeding herself dry for a common. Tundraynis really are soft.”
Enough distractions.
I don’t bother responding. I carefully unbutton the man’s shirt and inspect his wound—it looks deep, but the edges are clean.
Faramir tsks. “Bad luck, baby brother. Your wife is undressing another man on your wedding night.”
Vaguely, I’m aware of Zev’s low growl answering Faramir, but I focus my attention on the servant, channeling my power into him and mending the deep gash until his chest is seamless.
It’s done.
I sit back on my heels, facing the other servants hovering nearby with worried expressions. “Can you take him to the Healing Chambers? He needs rest. Feed him well when he wakes.”
A quiet chorus of gratitude rings out as they carry him away. The remaining servants and guards observe me with wide eyes and parted lips, though they seem awestruck, not hateful.
Slowly, I scan the rest of the hall. The guards encircling us parted at some point, likely when Faramir burst through. It’s deathly quiet. Every eye is riveted to me. Again.
Their new princess, on her knees, covered in blood, healing a nonwielder.
I glance at Zev but can’t decipher the emotions swirling in his eyes.
Worry? Anger? Pride?
“Take my wife to our chambers,” he finally says. He’s speaking to the guards, but his steely gaze never leaves mine. “And make sure she eats.”
Ten guards cluster around me until I can’t see past the line of leather.
They lead me from the hall.
To Zev’s chambers.