Page 41 of Shadow Queen
He stood a moment, then yielded grudgingly, letting her pull the back of the shirt down as he pushed his arms through one at a time. Then he put on his boots. Dressed, he stopped and looked at her quietly. Silence—his means of thanks.
“Go on.” She nodded to the door. “And have that bandage changed daily.”
He gave an obliging nod and then glanced over at Alexander, who still slept, before letting himself out of the room.
Norah sighed heavily and made her way to Alexander. His eyes were closed and his face peaceful, but his back still bore the harshness of the day before. She sat on the bed beside him and brushed her fingers along the curve of his shoulder and down his arm.
His eyes opened at her touch, and he gave a small smile. She reached and swept the blond locks from his forehead. “How do you feel?” she asked.
“Sore, but better than I expected.”
Norah checked the scabbed welts. She spread salve over his wounds again, as she had for Soren. He grimaced as she touched a particularly nasty abrasion.
“Sorry,” she whispered. Her heart hurt. This was her fault. She should have sent him home sooner.
He watched her from the corner of his eye as she finished and wiped her hands on a clean cloth. He waited patiently, always so patiently. She reached her hand out and ran her fingers through his hair. He closed his eyes again under the feel of her touch.
“Do you miss Mercia?” she asked.
He opened his eyes and gingerly rolled onto his side to look at her. “All the time.”
“Me too.”
Alexander winced as he sat up.
“Easy,” she told him. His eyes burned a brilliant blue. They were beautiful, and they brought a wave of emotion she hadn’t expected.
“Hey, hey,” he whispered as he took her hand. “What’s the matter?”
Everything was the matter. She shook her head. “You have to go back. To Mercia.”
He balked slightly, his brow creasing in objection. “I’m not leaving you.”
“You have to,” she insisted.
“You need me.”
“I’m a queen with two kingdoms now, and both my military heads are here. Mercia needs you. Grandmother needs you.”
“I can send Caspian,” he argued.
“Alexander, I’m sending you.”
His face twisted. “I dishonored you, I know, but—”
“I’m not sending you back because you dishonored me!” She couldn’t fight the tears that threatened. “You could have been killed. So long as you remain in Kharav, it’s my constant fear. Simply being here puts you in danger, and it puts the king in danger.”
“I swear to you, Norah, I swear to you I won’t bring harm to the king. You have my word.”
And she believed him, but—
“It’s not enough,” she whispered. She stood and picked up a strip of linen. She pressed the end against his chest, but he reached up and covered her hand in his, making her pause.
“Norah,” he said softly, looking up at her. “Come with me.” His eyes bore into hers, begging.
Norah’s heart ached.Go with him—how she wanted to. She brought her hand to his face and grazed his cheek with her fingertips. She felt her eyes well as she gave a sad smile. “You know I can’t,” she said. “Plus, I left things… harshly with the king. I…” She paused. “He’ll be back before the moon wanes. I need to stay and settle the division of our kingdoms.”
“He left?”
