Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
Alina sat on the edge of her bed, turning her head experimentally from side to side.
“How do you feel?” Lilah asked, bustling into the room with a cup of hot tea.
“Good,” said Alina. She gave her friend a bright smile as she accepted the tea. “So much better. I think I’m back to normal.”
“Let’s not get carried away,” Lilah said in a dampening voice that didn’t suit her at all.
Alina chuckled. “Well, maybe a little tired still. But honestly, I feel good. And I want to move around. I’m sick of this bed.”
“That seems like a good sign,” Lilah said encouragingly. “I don’t blame you. You’ve been pretty much stuck in it for two days.”
“It feels longer,” Alina said, making a face. She looked toward the window, but she couldn’t see much from where she sat. “I wonder if there’s an update in the investigation. They’ve probably moved on, maybe back to Alton?”
“No, they haven’t left,” Lilah said, surprised. “They’re here, waiting for you to recover. Didn’t you know?”
Alina frowned. “What do you mean?”
“The prince has been to the shop twice a day since you got back, to check on you. He said yesterday to reassure you that they’ll be waiting when you’re better, but not to rush the recovery.
” A resigned look crossed Lilah’s face. “Benji was supposed to pass on the message when I sent him up with food yesterday. I should have realized he would be stubborn about it.”
Alina didn’t know what to say. Xavier had come to check on her? Not once, but regularly? She felt her cheeks warming, and busied herself drinking her tea in hopes of hiding it from Lilah.
“Poor Benji,” she said lightly. “He means so well, and he can’t see that he’s making himself ridiculous.”
“He just doesn’t want to see you get hurt,” Lilah said. She paused, her voice becoming softer. “And neither do I.”
“I know,” Alina assured her. She gave her friend a quick hug. “But I’m tougher than either of you realize, you know. I’ve been looking after myself for a long time, and I’ve never gotten myself into strife yet.”
“Alina,” Lilah said, exasperated. “You just spent two days in bed recovering from nearly killing yourself.”
“Oh, well, that’s different,” Alina laughed. “And I didn’t nearly kill myself. I monitored my energy levels the whole time, and I wasn’t in danger of fully depleting myself. Obviously I pushed myself further than is ideal, but the circumstances warranted it, and I still had enough energy.”
Lilah sighed. “We can agree to differ on what ‘enough’ means. You always think you both need and deserve less than you really do.”
“If you say so,” Alina said lightly. “I’m very ready to acknowledge my needs right now. Namely, getting out of this room. Is the investigation team still at the inn?”
“Yes, but the prince said we should send someone to fetch him, or failing that, a guard, to escort you there when you’re ready,” Lilah said, following her out of the bedroom.
“Nonsense,” said Alina, frowning. “Who would we send? And who would safely escort that person? It’s a short distance, and it’s daytime. There’s no need for anyone to escort me to the inn.”
“I’ll take it further and say there’s no need for you to go there at all.”
The surly voice surprised Alina. “Benji! I thought you’d already left. Won’t you be late?”
“I’m not going to the farm today,” Benji said. “I haven’t been for days.”
“He’s wanted to keep an eye on you,” Lilah said, moving past Alina into the small living space.
“I just felt like hanging around and making myself ridiculous,” Benji said, scowling.
“I’m sorry, Benji,” Alina said. “I didn’t mean you to hear that.” She drank the last of her tea. “Although it is true.”
Benji protested, but she cut him off. “I don’t want to waste this lovely morning arguing with you. I’m desperate to stretch my legs.”
“Fine.” Benji sighed, rising. “Come on. I’ll walk you there.”
“What?” Alina raised an eyebrow. “Benji, if one of us is at risk, it’s you. You’re as skilled with magic as I am, and you don’t have the protection of being connected with the investigation.”
Benji ignored her, pulling on his boots. Since she knew there was no danger walking to the inn, she didn’t fight him. She could tell that his relief at her recovery was genuine, which helped her to be patient with his overstepping.
“I’m sorry you’ve been missing work at the farm because of me,” Alina told Benji, as they stepped out into the crisp morning air.
“They’re actually needing me less, anyway,” Benji admitted. “I might have to try somewhere further afield for work.”
Alina frowned. “I don’t think you should, Benji. Not while we still haven’t caught whoever’s taking people.”
Benji shrugged. “What choice do I have? I need work.”
“You can afford a break,” Alina insisted. “They’re paying me a ridiculous amount to help with the investigation. We’re covered for now.”
Benji’s face relaxed into a smile, the few freckles on his nose wrinkling. “You’re a good egg, Alina,” he told her, with the air of a gracious older brother. Alina’s lips twitched. “But I’ve taken too much help from you as it is.”
“You’ve given me much more than you’ve taken,” Alina told him.
She saw his skeptical expression, and pushed on.
“It’s true. With or without me, you and Lilah at least have each other.
Before I met you both, I had no one at all.
It’s awful being all alone, Benji. I’m so much happier now than I was then.
I wouldn’t trade our little family, such as we are, for ten times the cost of covering your board. ”
They’d reached the inn now, and Benji squeezed her upper arm encouragingly as they came to stop.
“Well, you’ve got us now. So let us look out for you. The ones on their own are the ones most at risk of being preyed on.”
Alina nodded agreement, the movement stilling as she realized Benji was looking over her shoulder, his brows pulling together.
“And I don’t just mean by the kidnappers,” he muttered.
Alina looked behind her to see that Xavier had appeared in the doorway of the inn. From the tightness of his expression, he’d heard Benji’s words. Turning back to Benji, she gave him an innocent smile.
“How do you know I’m not the hunter rather than the prey?”
Benji spluttered, taken aback by her words, and unimpressed by the small wink she sent him before turning away.
She could hear him grumbling to himself as he headed back toward home.
Unrepentant, she turned to find Xavier leaning against the post of the inn’s elaborate entryway, his arms crossed and one eyebrow raised as he considered her.
His hair was brushed to one side, and he was wearing new bracers which reflected the morning light dully.
This time his jacket was a deep purple, still with the same large, silver buttons.
He looked very dashing, she freely acknowledged to herself.
“Hunting me, are you?” The prince’s lips were already quirking in expectation of laughter.
“Not you, precisely,” she told him angelically. “But certainly your deep pockets. I’m setting myself up for life with the exorbitant wage you’re paying me.”
“Hardly.” Xavier pushed himself upright, moving toward her with a few firm strides.
Alina swallowed. She’d been trying not to dwell on it, but now he was before her again, certain memories screeched for her attention.
Xavier, lying across her lap through that endless night in a posture of total trust. His arm strong and protective around her as she rested against him in the carriage.
It didn’t help when he paused just in front of her, his eyes scanning her features with an earnestness that brought forcibly to mind the desperate way he’d pleaded with her not to get hurt in his defense.
“I’m glad to see you up,” he said. “How are you feeling?”
“All better,” Alina assured him. “You?”
“Never stronger,” Xavier said. “The effects of the basilisk were fully gone within a day.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Alina said. “I don’t suppose there’s anything new with the investigation?”
“There is, actually,” Xavier said. “We received word yesterday evening that there’d been another disappearance, this time from the city just inside the forest.”
Alina stiffened. Where her aunt’s family lived? Surely not Robbie or one of her other cousins?
“It was too late to set out, so some of the group planned to leave first thing this morning,” Xavier went on. “But then a messenger arrived just after dawn, saying that the young man reported missing had turned up at the bailiff.”
“He escaped the kidnappers?” Alina gasped. “He might be able to tell us who’s behind it!”
“That’s what we’re hoping,” said Xavier. “But it’s not clear whether he escaped, or whether they were mistaken about him being taken in the first place. Either way, we were hoping to go today. You’ve timed your recovery well.”
“Of course,” Alina agreed. “I’m ready.” She hesitated. “That is, if you still want my assistance.”
“Are you kidding?” Xavier took the liberty of flicking her braid back over her shoulder with a casual gesture.
It was a welcome sign that he’d recovered his spirits since their last meeting.
“After your performance in the desert, I’m too afraid to go anywhere without you.
You’re now my official personal protector. ”
“After my performance in the desert, I think the captain would like to see me in chains,” Alina muttered dryly. A mulish look crossed the prince’s face, and she hastened to add, “I’m only joking.”
Xavier said nothing, just gestured for her to precede him inside.