Chapter 87
Eleanor's POV
I felt Sebastian's unease through our bond before I even opened my eyes. His concern about my trip to Dawnshere tomorrow radiated from him in waves. I wanted to tell him that I would never leave him, that nothing could ever make me abandon him the way Cassandra had, but the words stuck in my throat.
Instead, I snuggled closer to his warmth, pressing my face against his chest where his scent was strongest. Seraphine purred contentedly in my mind, reveling in our mate's proximity.
"You're awake," he murmured, his fingers tangling in my hair. "We need to see Quentor today."
I nodded against his chest. "I know. When do you want to go?"
"As soon as possible. I want to get this over with. The longer we wait, the more time the elders have to interfere."
I started to sit up, but suddenly my stomach lurched violently. Nausea hit me like a punch, and I barely made it to the bathroom before emptying the contents of my stomach into the toilet.
Sebastian was beside me in an instant, his large hands gathering my hair away from my face, his concern pulsing through our bond. I could feel him struggling to maintain his composure as I heaved again.
"Berry," he said, his voice deceptively calm, "what's wrong?"
I spat into the toilet, trying to rid my mouth of the sour taste. "I don't know. I felt sick yesterday afternoon too, after having tea and cookies, but it passed. I threw up once last night while you were in your meeting, but I felt fine after. Until now."
His body tensed behind me. "Who brought you the tea and cookies?" His tone sharpened with suspicion. "Was it one of the staff? The kitchen should know better than to serve anything questionable."
"No one did anything to my food," I insisted. "Before eating, I had the person who delivered the food taste it, and I also had her stay for a while. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. Probably just something I ate earlier disagreeing with me."
Without another word, he lifted me to my feet and guided me to the shower. His movements were efficient as he stripped my clothes off and turned on the water, adjusting the temperature until it was perfect. The cool spray felt heavenly against my feverish skin, and I wanted to stay under it forever.
"You're burning up," he said, his hand resting on my forehead. "You can't go to Dawnshere like this tomorrow."
I managed a weak smile, feeling slightly better as the water washed over me. "Are you just saying that because you don't want me to go?" I teased, reaching up to bump my nose against his.
"I should call a doctor," he said, ignoring my attempt at humor. "If someone's trying to harm you—"
"No, I'm fine," I insisted, though my body betrayed me with another wave of nausea that I barely managed to suppress. "It's probably just stress, and breakfast didn't sit well. Maybe my body's just reacting to everything that's happened lately. I still want to see Quentor today. This is too important to postpone because of a little upset stomach."
I knew how important it was to him that I to Dawnshere. I wouldn't let a little sickness stop me, even if it meant pretending I felt better than I did.
As we left our room, we passed by Amelia's door. I tensed, wondering if she would emerge and confront us, but the door remained closed.
"Where did your mother go?" I asked Sebastian as we continued down the hallway.
"I don't know, and I don't care," he replied, "She can bring whoever she wants to plead Evanth's case. I won't listen. She doesn't understand the severity of what he's done. All she sees is her favorite son in trouble."
"I don't think he did it," I said carefully. "Evanth may be proud and arrogant, but he's not stupid. He wouldn't leave such an obvious trail if he was giving illegal orders. And his pride would never let him beg for forgiveness either. Someone wants him to take the fall. Think about it, Sebastian. Everything is too perfectly aligned against him. It's like someone laid out a path of evidence for us to follow."
"We should talk to Theron first, not Quentor," I continued. "We need to keep the elders from taking over Evanth's case. If they do, he'll be convicted regardless of the truth. Look how they handled your situation. They didn't investigate thoroughly before pinning the blame on you. They just wanted a quick resolution that suited their agenda."
Sebastian sighed, reaching for my hand. "I wish my mother could see that you're trying to help," he said, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my head. "But don't get your hopes up about Evanth, Berry. Even if he didn't do this, there are plenty of other things he's done that I can't ignore."
As we reached the manor entrance, a black Jeep was waiting for us. We climbed in silently and headed toward Goldenvale, where the Clifflands prison was located.
I stared out the window, troubled by Amelia's sudden trip. What was she planning? And why did she blame me for everything? I admitted I might have crossed a line by demanding she control her son, and I might have said some scary things, but I didn't want to come between her and Sebastian.
I thought about the good times we'd shared—shopping, talking about family traditions. Had it all been an act? Her love for Evanth seemed genuine enough. She was fiercely protective of him, almost desperately so. I wondered why.
When we arrived at the prison, Sebastian surprised me by announcing that we would see Theron first, not Quentor. The antiseptic smell of the facility hit me hard, making my stomach roll again. I breathed through my mouth, trying not to let my discomfort show.
Water, I linked to Sebastian. Can I have some ice water?
He frowned at me, concern darkening his eyes.
"I'm just thirsty," I said with a smile.
I was very aware of my symptoms, nausea, fever, sensitivity to smells, but I refused to acknowledge them. If Sebastian realized how sick I was, he wouldn't let me go to Dawnshere tomorrow, and I needed to be there.