Chapter 17

Davi’s pulse pounded in his head and there was no respite from the pain.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

A cool cloth touched his chest. Where had his clothes gone?

“He’s burning up,” a voice said. It was a sweet voice that sent warmth through Davi’s chilled limbs.

“Rissa.” Someone else must be in the room with her. This voice was deeper.

Davi moved his lips, but no sound came out.

He put all his energy into opening his eyes. Rissa hovered over him, her blazing hair hanging over one shoulder. If he could only lift his arm, he could run his fingers through the silky strands.

She smiled slowly. “Trystan, he’s awake.”

The king in question appeared.

Davi’s chest inflated painfully. “What happened?”

“You don’t remember?” A third voice asked.

He hadn’t seen Lorelai at the end of the bed, but he was glad she was there.

Rissa bit her lip. “It’s probably good he doesn’t remember, yeah?”

Panic clawed at Davi’s chest when the thought struck him. More memories gone. Lost. Was he lost again? No. He was home. His pounding heart slowed as relief washed through him. Home. Not Dreach-Dhoun.

Trystan reached across and swatted Rissa’s arm. “The man could have been hurt and you’re making fun.”

“I don’t understand what’s happening here.” Davi’s eyes flicked from brother to sister.

Rissa’s eyes challenged Trystan. “But he didn’t die, did he? Not this time and dammit, brother, if I have to laugh to recover from how scared I was, then I will.”

Confusion clouded Davi’s mind. He lifted the sheet and peered down at his body. “Why am I naked?” He twisted his head. “So help me, Trystan, if the king of Dreach-Sciene stripped me down…”

“You’d enjoy it?” Trystan smirked.

Rissa laughed, her cheeks growing almost as red as her hair. “Relax. It was me.”

“You…” Davi shook his head. “How did I stay unconscious for that?”

“Oh earth.” Trystan put a hand to his forehead. “I definitely didn’t need to hear that.”

Davi flashed him a grin.

Just then, the door burst open, and Ramsey ran into the room. He held his hand out in front of them. “Help. Help. I’ve been wounded in battle.”

Rissa brought both hands to her mouth. Trystan turned away to hide his grin.

“What is so funny?” Davi yelled.

Lorelai’s glare swept the room. “They’re assholes, cousin. That’s what’s going on.” She rounded the bed and picked up the cloth Rissa had discarded before dipping it into a bowl of water near the bed. She dabbed it across his brow. “You took in too much magic earlier today and you were not yourself.”

That explained it. The pounding head. The aching muscles.

“But wait… That doesn’t explain my current state of dress.” He settled his accusing eyes on Rissa. “Did you take advantage of me?” At her gasp, he smirked. “I knew it.”

“You were soaking wet,” she said matter-of-factly.

Trystan chuckled. “I’m glad you’re okay, Davi. Thanks for the entertainment earlier, but now I must attend to a few things this evening. I am king after all.”

“Show off.”

Trystan flashed him a grin before shutting the door behind him. It felt good to joke with his old friend even if he currently felt the need to vomit.

“Alright, boy.” Ramsey patted the bed. “Up up.”

Davi groaned. “If you think I’m moving from this bed, you’ve lost all sense.”

“No time for rest. We have to get you outside.”

Davi’s entire body recoiled at the thought of being in such close proximity to magic.

“Are you crazy?” Rissa asked her grandfather. “He was almost killed by magic and now you want him to take more?”

Ramsey tapped his chin and studied them. “Davi’s current state has nothing to do with taking in too much power earlier and everything to do with releasing it all at once. He depleted his body of every bit of magic. The earth breaks us, yes, but it can also heal us. Give him a minute in the forest and he’ll be good as new.” He cocked his head. “Well, as good as Davi gets anyway.”

“I feel like I should be offended.” Davi groaned as he sat up and slid his feet over the edge of the bed. “Are you all going to stand there watching me dress or give me a bit of privacy?”

Rissa stepped to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, dropping a kiss onto the curve of his neck.

He squeezed her arms.

A moment later, she released him and followed Ramsey and Lorelai from the room.

Once he’d clothed himself, he joined them. The stones of the courtyard were slick with water underneath his feet. He gripped Rissa’s arm to steady her.

“We’re just going right outside the gates,” Ramsey said. “It’s getting dark, and I think it’s better if no one strays far.”

The guards at the gate nodded as they passed and as soon as his feet left the stone path, Davi felt the power all around him.

Ramsey had been right. As each ache faded away, he remembered more of the day. He rubbed a hand over his eyes. “I made a fool of myself today.”

Rissa shrugged. “As opposed to other days?”

He shook his head, a grin spreading slowly. It didn’t matter to him. He’d walk back into that palace and hold his head high.

He cut off the flow of magic into his body just as a horse thundered up the road to the palace.

He froze beside Rissa as a man in Dreach-Sciene livery rode as if his life depended on it, aiming for the gates. He yelled as he got near.

“They’re coming!”