I turned to say something to Allete’s sister in the hope that I could somehow talk her into letting me see the princess, but the door was shut before I could get a word out.
I leaned my back against it and thudded my head against the wood as the frustration that had been growing inside of me rose to a dangerous level. I did not understand my driving need to see her. I loved her, but did that mean it would be my demise if I was unable to make sure she was well? Would I survive if I was not the one caring for her, ensuring that she was healthy and safe? I didn’t want to answer those questions. I already knew the answers. I’d never been tied to anything so tightly as I was to Allete. She was the weakness I’d never had. But she was also what made me stronger in so many ways. I smiled to myself as I thought of how challenging she could be at times and yet how compassionate she was at the same time. She was stubborn and yet she was funny. She made me want to do anything for her, to be anything she wanted me to be, and that meant she was also dangerous. There was no one I wouldn’t destroy, no country I wouldn’t crush, no god I wouldn’t challenge, if it meant keeping her safe, or if she even asked me to, for that matter.
“You can only hide for so much longer, Allete,” I muttered under my breath. “Before the ‘morrow, I will see you again.”
I took a deep breath as I sat on the edge of my bed. “How’d he look?” I asked my youngest sister as she closed the door.
“Thoroughly put out,” Dayna chuckled.
“You enjoy torturing him way too much,” I told her.
“Maybe, but he’s a big strong warrior. He can handle it. And if he can’t handle it, then he is not worthy of your affection.” She paused and took the seat next to the bed. “Speaking of affection, dear sister, are you ever going to tell me what happened between you two?”
My eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play coy with me,” Dayna tsked. “It’s written all over both of your faces. Something more than words has been exchanged between you two. You’ve kissed him.”
“That is quite an accusation against an engaged woman,” I said as I brushed invisible lint away from my night dress. It was the third one I’d worn in the past few days because I’d been too tired to get up and dress myself properly. Saving the little girl had taken much, much, more out of me than I’d realized it would. For some reason, I just couldn’t seem to bounce back like I usually did. Even after three days of rest, I felt just as exhausted as I did when Torben had put me to bed.
“You aren’t engaged,” she snapped. “What you have is a farce. Cathal isn’t worthy to be the groom of a prize hog. Actually, he isn’t worthy to be the groom of a regular hog, much less a prized one.”
I shook my head at her. “One of these days that tongue of yours is going to get you into trouble that you won’t be able to get yourself out of.”
She waved me off. “When that day comes, I’m sure I’ll deserve whatever happens. I rely on my cleverness to function, sister. If I haven’t got that, then I don’t have anything.”
I laughed, and even that simple action seemed to zap what little strength I had been able to regain over the past three days. I lowered myself back and she jumped up to help me. “You are a silly woman,” I told her as she helped me pull the covers up.
“Ah,” she said as she tapped me gently on the nose. “But you are finally admitting I’m a woman, and not a kid.”
“That you are, sister mine. And I will admit you are turning into quite an amazing one.” My eyes felt heavy, but even through the small slits I was holding open, I could see the worry on her face.
“You should be better by now,” she said, not for the first time. “I don’t understand why you aren’t getting better.”
I shrugged. “I don’t think I have ever brought any one back to life before. The girl’s spirit was almost gone, Day. Much longer and I don’t think I would have been able to help.” My words felt heavy in my mouth, and I could no longer hold my eyes open.
“Just rest, Allete. We will keep watch,” I heard Dayna whisper and felt her warm lips against my temple.
“Don’t let him see me like this,” I managed to whisper back. She knew I meant Torben. I hadn’t let him into my room in three days because I knew his reaction would be severe. If he saw how pale I had become, and how I shivered as if it were snowing in my chambers, Torben would demand I see a healer. And a vain part of me didn’t like the idea of him seeing me in such a mess, although he’d already seen me as such. I would prefer to keep such things to a minimum if possible.
Sleep swept over me and I knew nothing that went on around me as the darkness consumed me. My sleep was far from restless. Fire, screams, and roars filled my mind. I felt as though there were so many injured, so many sick, and there was nothing I could do. There were many more than I was capable of healing. But I had to try. I kept searching in the darkness, hollering out for them to tell me where they were but there was no reply to my questions. There was only more yelling and more cries for help. Eventually the dream changed, and I was no longer surrounded by the screams. Instead, I was faced with Torben, a very angry, very large, Torben.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, his voice sounding strange to my ears.
“What are you talking about? Tell you what?” I asked quickly, confused by his anger. I did not want him angry with me.
“I could have helped you; I could have fixed this.”
“I don’t understand,” I tried again. “What didn’t I tell you?”
“You needn’t have done this on your own, princess. That is why I was made for you. I was created to help you. You should have let me help you.”
Help me with what? I wanted to scream, but I was suddenly unable to speak. I reached for him, but Torben began backing away from me, the pain in his eyes becoming a mirror of what I knew he saw in my own. He was leaving me. I kept reaching for him, but he just kept getting farther and farther away.
I woke with a start, sitting straight up in bed with my hands fisted into the duvet. My heart was beating painfully in my chest, and I felt as though I couldn’t get enough air into my lungs. Gradually my eyes adjusted, and I realized how dark the room had grown while I’d been asleep. I wasn’t sure of the time but, judging by the lack of light and the silence that filled the castle, I judged it to be the middle of the night.
I took several deep breaths, attempting to gather myself. No matter how hard I tried, however, I couldn’t seem to calm down. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I slowly began to scan the darkened room. I wasn’t alone. I didn’t know how I knew, but with a certainty that matched the inevitability of the rising sun, I knew without a doubt that there was someone else in my chambers. Whoever was here was someone like me—someone with magic.