Page 148 of Sharpest Court

I kept myself from breaking.

Distant voices drifted into my awareness. The light had taken on a rusty hue, the air as thick and sweet as orange syrup.

Something stung my arm, and I recoiled. But Stian smiled down at me a moment later, humming as he packed his equipment.

“That song,” I mumbled, half dreaming. “I don’t like it.”

Stian chuckled under his breath, and I didn’t like that either.

“You’re laughing at me,” I said, my voice sounding strange and whiny.

“I would never, my lady.”

I scowled, and his mouth twitched again, as though he was trying to suppress his amusement.

Then Keil’s voice grew louder from outside the door, which was ajar. “Winker said she needed to rest.”

“What do you think I plan to do in there?” Rheya asked. “Take her on a hike? This is to be a simple conversation.”

“Then the minister should not be part of it.”

“He simply wishes to see how the young woman is faring. Especially since you have barred from our assessment the other young woman in your care.”

“You have no jurisdiction to question Lady Perla,” Keil said darkly. “Not in this house.”

“Perhaps not,” said Rheya. “But we do have a vested interest in Lady Alissa.” Then, with more bite: “And it is now in your interest, Prince, to heed my command.”

A spear of warning lanced through the fog of my mind.

But the urgency was quickly draining out of me, my sluggish heart rate echoed in the slow rhythm of my humming specter.

Then Rheya sighed. “Really, Keil.” Her voice softened. “I would not have chosen to harm her with or without it.”

I frowned. With or without what? I tried to interpret her meaning, but I was melting into the pillows now, suddenly too comfortable.

And I knew, distantly, that I shouldn’t have been.

I looked groggily at Stian, whose face appeared to be wavering in the light. I tipped my head, oddly unsettled as his wrinkles smoothed out in my blurring vision. “What did you do to me?” I asked, voice garbled.

He just propped my head more comfortably on the pillow and backed away.

“You did something,” I said, too loud, making the voices stop abruptly outside.

Stian put his finger to his lips, a secret order for silence, as the empress of Ansora breezed into my room. She was a vision of black silk and gold, her copper skin luminescent in the glow of sunset.

“Lady Alissa. I’m pleased to see you awake.” She held a platter brimming with cold meats and breads, glistening fruits, and doughy morsels swimming in syrup.

Arun ambled in after her, his gaze immediately running over my face. Just as I glimpsed Keil’s dark expression at the threshold, Rheya kicked the door closed with her heel, shutting him out.

Arun looked at Stian, who’d stationed himself against the wall. “Your services won’t be required for this, old friend.”

“I’d like to stay anyhow,” Stian replied, amiable but firm. He dipped his head to Rheya. “If it suits Your Majesty.”

The empress waved her hand in dismissive agreement, her golden claws clicking. I jostled as she sat on the bed and set down the tray.

“Perhaps you should eat, child. You look ghastly.”

I blinked slowly at the meal. “Is it poisoned?”