Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The crisp linens were not her own. Not only that, but Fiore was no longer purring against her, the absence leaving Lia cold. But male voices trickled in as she fought the fog that sleep had pulled over her senses. She caught several words, but none made sense.
“I’ve tried, Jace, I tried last night. It’s just…”
“If you do nothing…”
“…I don’t want…”
A third voice, not as deep as the second but higher than the first. “Nothing in life is guaranteed… You need to have courage now…”
Kristof. That’s who spoke, Lia realized.
“Like Father always says, ‘Courage is having the strength to push through your fear’,” said Jace.
Both brothers were speaking to Kayce. Did they know why she fell ill?
Did they know she was losing her grip on everything?
Because unlike her last dream, Lia couldn’t don Aurelia’s mask. All her memories were there, even her body ached from that—
No. Not here.
Again, that recoil. That revulsion from what reality held. But Lia was still…Lia. Groaning, she shifted under the sheet, raising her hand against the light. “Kayce?”
Footsteps, then a hand in hers. “I’m here.”
Their faces came into focus, sharpening on the relief evident there.
Lia touched her own face, realizing she didn’t have her glasses.
Not that she ever needed them in Norenth.
She dropped her hand. Why would it be any different while dreaming?
Her mental wires kept crossing, not exactly a comforting sign.
Her dream had resumed where her rude awakening left off. But since that was the case, why did she feel so…aware? Not that she minded—she just wanted to keep the horror of her waking world behind the dam in her mind.
Maybe she could try to be Aurelia, Norenthian ranger.
Not Lia, prone to debilitating headaches and imaginary gremlin attacks while mourning the loss of the most important figure in her life.
That person—and his last story—were far too complicated.
More unknowable than she thought. Yet she couldn’t shake the fact that the headache during the inaugural ball had followed her to the waking world—
No. Lia wasn’t going to focus on that. Not when she was here. Safe. Free. Even if she couldn’t step into Aurelia’s name. Imposter.
Looking around the marble columns and latticed windows framing a view of Highguard’s arched bridges, Lia licked her cracked lips. “Where am I?”
“You’re in the palace infirmary,” Kayce answered, his taut shoulders sagging. “It seemed you came down with a fever. I brought you in not long after.”
Last thing she needed was being the laughingstock of court.
She winced, sitting up against the headboard.
Kayce still held her hand, and she gave it a squeeze before he caught his eldest brother’s look and dropped her hand to rake his own through his hair.
The tie was gone, but he still wore his fine clothes, the jacket slung over the back of his chair.
Skies, had he been with her all this time?
Lia cleared her throat, ignoring the lingering warmth in her palm. “Please tell me I didn’t cause a fuss.”
Jace seemed to swallow his smile. “You didn’t, but Kayce sure sounded the alarm.”
“Between him and Terranth, the whole infirmary came running and could have tended to the entire ball,” Kristof added.
“I wasn’t sure what had happened,” Kayce snapped, low. “I was concerned she had a concussion or was bleeding internally.”
Kristof snorted. “A tad dramatic, don’t you think?”
“He acts like a mother hen where I’m concerned.
Though, I recall distinctly asking you not to.
” Lia rubbed her face, grateful for being spared that mortification, even if it was due to Kayce’s mother-hen-ing.
“I’m not worth this much fuss. Please tell me the inauguration ceremony happened.
” She cut a glance at Kayce. “Much to your dismay, I’m sure. ”
He turned his glower on her, though it lacked teeth.
Jace spoke. “It did. Once you were here, there wasn’t much else we could do.”
“It was an effort to pull Kayce back to the ceremony, however. He had no desire to leave your side,” Kristof said.
“Anyhow!” Kayce shot another glare at his brothers, both sharing an amused glance, before Kayce truly softened. “How are you feeling? You’ve been asleep a long time.”
She watched the exchange with a suppressed smirk. “I’m all right, truly. But…skies and seas, that came out of nowhere—”
Papa!
Lia winced, the memory and sorrow that came with it thumping against the dam. Time to distract herself.
Despite the aches in her body, Lia pushed the covers back and swung bare feet to the floor.
“Can I break out now? After giving my sincerest thanks to your parents, of course.” Lia rushed to ease the concerned looks on their faces, unwilling to deal with…
everything. The mess she was hardly able to contain.
Only she needed to drown. She couldn’t drag anyone with her. Lia was determined to leave her grief—and likely, her insanity—for the waking world. She hadn’t been conscious of this dichotomy before, and now it unsettled her.
The brothers shared a glance, as if they could sense the pressure teasing against Lia’s grasp on reality.
“Please?” she insisted. “I fear I’ve overstayed far too much already.”
There must have been something in her voice. A strain even she couldn’t hide. Kayce’s eyes narrowed before looking at his older brother.
“You’re practically family, Aurelia,” Jace responded. “You’re not intruding. I’ll go get the healer.” A jerk of his head caught Kristof’s eye, who also excused himself.
Kayce watched them leave before turning back to her with a shrewd glare. “Are you sure you’re all right? And don’t even think about calling a fine specimen of a man such as myself a ‘mother hen’ again, or so help me…”
“If someone asks me one more time—” She exhaled her frustration before relenting. Genuine concern scrunched his brow, despite his attempt at humor. It touched her, a gentle prod that made her want to open up. To release the waters just a little. “Physically, I am fine.”
“Physically?” He paused, picking up on the omission. “Before you passed out, you called out for your grandfather. You sounded distressed.”
Her throat constricted at the question. Grief sloshed in her overflowing soul. Lia didn’t want to ruin this dream, not yet. But his amber eyes were dark with such concern, looking at her as if he could see something rising in her, consuming her…
As if he wanted to jump in after her.
And she knew, fairy tale or not, Kayce deserved the truth she couldn’t out-swim, no matter her desperation.
“Ask me again later, please? I’ll tell you, but not here. Not yet.”
A muscle flexed in his jaw as he looked away.
It wouldn’t be hard to imagine the reason behind her plea, the heaviness which she had carried lately.
He knew she’d been off. When he met her gaze again, concern remained, with softness alongside.
“Know that I will. Some fresh air would do some good, don’t you think? ”
“We can still go to the alcove, like you wanted. I remember that before my grand exit.”
“And here I thought I was the one with a penchant for dramatics.”
A healer arrived and checked Lia over, declaring her healthy if a bit dehydrated.
Another generous gift from the queen was delivered: a fresh sage green tunic with brown slacks.
Lia smiled at the embroidered lions on the collar, donning the clothes quickly behind a privacy curtain before tying her curls back.
She almost missed the cuts encircling her ankle. Lia’s stomach revolted at the sight, but she shoved her boots on over them nonetheless. She could only focus on one world at a time. Try to, at least. Why was it so hard? Was it that story? Because she’d let the dam slip?
Fresh air could do her some good.
As Kayce straightened to head out with her, the Lioness of Norenth herself breezed through the infirmary. Both of them dipped into a bow for the queen, who was resplendent in a fitted dress of burnt orange that highlighted the copper hues of her eyes like flecks of metal.
“Kacerion,” she said, as she bid them both to rise.
Kayce inclined his head, unsuccessfully trying to smooth his furrowed brow. “Mother.”
Lia watched the two with interest. What could the Lioness possibly want? Perhaps now was the best time to give her thanks. With the hectic schedule of royalty, who knew if Lia would get another chance soon, but even that reminder made the Lioness’s appearance now all the stranger.
Those reserved eyes slid to her. “Aurelia, how are you feeling? I was glad to hear your fever broke.” She took Lia’s hand and felt her forehead at the same time.
Lia straightened at the maternal gesture. At the latest inquiry to her health, she caught Kayce smothering a chuckle. Oh, he’d pay for that mirth later. “I’m well. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Your mother must be sick with worry,” Lioness Silva added.
Kayce frowned as Lia did. While the queen was never unkind, the sudden emotional interest in Lia’s welfare was disquieting.
So much so that Lia blurted out the first words that came to mind.
“My mom isn’t the overly worried type these days, I’m afraid.
At least where I’m concerned.” She chewed the inside of her cheek.
While she wasn’t one to belittle what her mom did to keep their family afloat, to criticize her so openly shook Lia from her discomfort.
Besides, it wasn’t like Lia allowed Mom to see her struggle to tread water.