Valencia

    I had been fast asleep, but the noise was loud enough to even wake up a dead man from sleep. Killian stirred beside me, and I put a hand on his shoulder to make him lie back on the bed again.

    “What is going on?” he asked in a weak voice.

    “Nothing, just rest, and I will be back in a few minutes,” I said and meant to get up but then I felt warm fingers wrap around my wrist.

    “No”

    I heard Killian’s voice grow sharp. His grip was also firm for a person who had been at the brink of death and passed out for a long time.

    The head of the royal guard, who had spoken to me earlier, looked at the prince and addressed him.

    “We have orders to bring her to the King’s quarters.”

    Killian again opened his mouth to argue, but I asked him to stay quiet and indicated that I would handle it.

    “Why? What is the matter?”

    I inquired.

    The head of the guard gave one look at Killian and nodded his head once as an acknowledgement.

    That was it.

    He didn’t ask him if he was okay and didn’tment on the huge bandages covering his shoulder and half of

    his torso.

    And for some reason, it pissed me off.

    “I don;t knowi. /iI was told to bring you there as soon as possible.”

    But I was not going anywhere. Not until Killian had healed at least.

    “I am noting. The prince needs me here.” I stated and turned around to return to the bed but the head of the guard called me out again.

    “Miss Valencia Raskin. The King’s health is at its worse and we have exhausted all possible alternatives. As ast resort, I was asked to bring you to the royal chambers of His Highness.”

    As ast resort?

    Killian was the one to react to it before I did. He tried to get up too fast, but the sudden movement made him sway dangerously to the side.

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    “What…what happened to the King?”

    The head of the guard shrugged.

    :

    b74 /b

    55 vouchers.

    “I have no idea, but the Crone and the other priestesses believe it to be some kind of poison that they are unable to flush out of his system. It appears as though…”

    He trailed off and looked from Killian to \me warily.

    “It appears what?” Killian asked, his voice straining, and the tall guard with white streaking his hair and wrinkles covering his face answered.

    “….that if we waste any more time, we might lose him.”

    “What?” I let out a stunned exmation.

    Killian would not listen to me, and he had already gotten up to wear a shirt over his torso.

    “I aming with her,” He said while buttoning up his shirt.

    “No, you have to rest. The bandages are still fresh, and you can’t move too much or…” I began to argue, but he shook his head.

    “I am done resting. I will see the King with you as well.”

    He looked at the royal guard, who hesitated for a second.

    “Is there a problem?” Killian asked, and the guard gave him a curt bow.

    “I was asked to only bring thedy to the King’s private chambers.”

    But Killian ced a hand on my wrist and held it firmly.

    “I am sure you don’t think I have poisoned him, do you now, Loyd?”

    Loyd shook his head.

    “We might have to enforce emergency protocol, and as per the rules, we aren’t allowed to bring in anyone except those who have been granted permission to visit the King.”

    My gaze flicked from Kilian to Loyd tensely.

    So it was really a life and death situation, and they were serious. I peered back at the fleet of guards standing outside the doors and tried to hide behind Killian’s back.

    “You don’t think she had anything to do with the poisoning, right?”

    Killian asked, and the guard let out a sigh.

    “It is not my opinion that matters, Prince. But to answer your question, no, that doesn’t seem to be the case because we were asked to bring the girl to the King’s private chambers, not throw her in the dungeons where

    8:32 Thub, /bSep 4

    she would await punishment for her crimes.”

    The words made me stare at him in disbelief.

    :

    They would really throw me in the dungeons just on the ount of suspicion?

    I slipped out of my hiding and faced Loyd.

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    55 vouchers

    “Let me be clear that I have nothing to do with the King and I would onlye with you if Prince Kilian is with me.”

    That made him wonder about the situation I had put him in for a while.

    I did not want to be selfish and drag Killian out of bed, but I also was not well versed with the scheming politics and wanted to have somebody knowledgeable with me.

    Mary or Sarah would be of no use to me there, so I had to choose Killian. Not that he had an issue with it.

    “Very well then. Follow me.”

    He said, and walked out of the door.

    “Sorry to drag you into this mess,” I whispered to him, but Killian cupped my cheek and murmured.

    “I should be the one saying that to you. I brought you to Elorin. And I am not letting you out of my sight.”

    I gave him a smile, and we interlocked our fingers as we walked behind the head of the guard.

    The troop of guards divided into two lines and marched on either side of us as if we were being escorted as criminals for our trials.

    Killian sensed my apprehension and gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

    “Dont worry. We will return soon to sleep again.”

    He said, and his eyes twinkled in mischief.

    “If sleep is what you really want to doi.” /i

    Despite the tension and exhaustion, my heart started beating loudly against my chest. I looked at him to see him staring at me hopefully.

    “You dont mean that,” I breathed out.

    His father was on the verge of death. I didn’t think he wanted to just return to bed and fuck me in such conditions.

    But the smile on his face told me he was really serious about that offer.

    Was he just ying cool so as to not let me see him flustered? Or maybe he was sure the King’s health was okay, which is why he was not as worried as I thought he should be?

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    This man was confusing as hell.

    I kept staring at him for a few seconds, and he asked.

    “What?”

    I shook my head. “Nothing, let’s go.”

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