Chapter 21

My stomach lurched. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to inhale slowly.

“Are you all right?” Daxx was right beside me.

I opened my eyes and realized we were lying on the floor in my room.

“Yeah, I was aiming for the bed, but missed.” She said as she moved to hover over me so I could see her. She offered her hand.

I shook my head. “Just give me a minute.”

“Ice pack?”

I nodded. “Good start.”

“I’ll call Mitz.” She moved away.

I lay there staring at the ceiling, taking slow, shallow breaths as I tried to assess how bad my ribs were damaged. The pain radiated through me with each breath, that wasn’t a good sign. This was probably the worst timing ever. In a few days’ time I had to break a spell doing things I didn’t know anything about, and now I was going to have to do it with taped up ribs.

“Are you out of your mind?” Michael’s voice boomed from the direction of the door.

I turned my head to see him stomping in my direction. Before he reached me Troy literally appeared behind him and rushed forward to put a hand on his shoulder.

Michael stopped and shrugged it off.

“While I don’t encourage what she did, it gave us the time to get there.” Troy said evenly. “If she hadn’t, we don’t know if they had the means to get through the coded door.”

Michael glared down at me, then huffed out a loud breath and turned to his brother. “They knew our guard rotation, our patrol routes…”

“I know.” Troy answered.

“Mitz is bringing ice and painkillers.” Daxx said coming out of the bathroom. She stopped and looked at her mate, then to Michael. “They knew our weakest points. How? We changed up the routine.”

“I don’t know.” Troy said through clenched teeth.

Michael stared at me, I couldn’t quite determine what level of pissed off he was, his facial expressions betrayed nothing.

“Hey.” I said as loud as I could without pain. “I didn’t block with my face.” Breathing hurt, so I didn’t even try for a quiet laugh.

“How bad is it?” Troy asked coming over to look down at me.

I now know what an ant feels like. “Broken ribs, probably a few other strains from the impact.” I inhaled slowly.

Michael knelt beside me, his emotions bouncing from vengeance to concern. He undid the strap holding his blades to his back.

Troy put his hand on his shoulder. “You can’t give her blood, brother.”

Scowling, Michael looked up at him.

“She can’t have blood in her system when she enters the palace in a few days.” Troy said in a whispered tone.

Michael motioned to me. “She can’t even get off the floor, you really think she’s going to be climbing ladders and breaking wards in a few days while she’s weak?”

Daxx came over. “Let’s get her up before we start deciding what she can and cannot do.”

I didn’t want to get up, I knew how that was going to feel, but I also didn’t want to be taken out of the game. “Leave me here. I’ll move after the ice gets here.”

Rafael and Quinton came in. “The entrances are secure.” Rafael stopped and looked down at me, then gave Michael a curious glance.

“She thinks a few ribs are broken.” Daxx went and sat on the bed. “One of them body-slammed her to the ground.” She gave me a sympathetic look. “And we can’t give her blood.”

Rafael pulled out his phone. “I’ll call Clairee, see if she has anything.”

Quinton pulled out his. “I’ll get the doc here.”

Mitz came running in. “I brought ice packs.” She stopped short and looked at me on the carpet. I didn’t get a chance to say a word before she dropped to her knees beside me and moved the hand holding my ribs.

I sucked in a breath when she put the ice on my ribs, which was the wrong thing to do as the pain to radiated through me. Blowing out tiny breaths, I watched as everyone else arrived. “So,” I blew out another breath, “why aren’t there guards outside the entrance?” I felt like I was whispering but couldn’t speak any louder without crying.

“What do you mean?” Victor moved over and looked down at me. “There are guards posted at all entrances.”

I shook my head slowly. “There wasn’t.” I glanced over to Troy, “and why isn’t there some sort of light out there?” I snorted, then hissed in pain. “I’m surprised you haven’t had break-in attempts before.”

Troy stood there, his arms crossed looking at me. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking from his expression. “You have a good point.”

“She does.” Leone said. “We need to update our thinking and protocols.”

“Why wasn’t there a guard?” Quinton looked from Victor to Michael.

Victor scowled and pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I’ll call Ira and see who is responsible.”

“I don’t think it was a lapse.” I said quietly. “They knew no one would be there.” I winced when I forgot and took a deep breath. “They knew every shadow out there, to hide in.”

“If Autumn hadn’t seen them, they could have gotten in.” Daxx got up and sat on the end of the bed. “All the door codes should be changed.”

Clairee came rushing in. She zeroed in on me. “I have a poultice that will help healing.” She stopped and looked from me to the bed. “Would you like to get up on the bed?”

I shook my head. “Firm support of the floor is better.”

Michael made an exasperated sound and got up. Going to the bed, he pulled off the pillows. Coming back, he knelt and put one under my head. Without a word, he put his hand under my knees and lifted them, slipping another pillow under them.

I was able to breathe easier. “Thanks.”

He held my look for a moment, I honestly didn’t know if it was pain or anger in them.

“Okay, we can apply the poultice and then put the ice back on.” Clairee knelt down beside me and opened the bag she carried. “I’ll get it ready.”

“I was told I was required.”

I turned to see a man that had to be a doctor standing in the door.

“We believe Autumn has a few cracked ribs.” Troy motioned to me.

His brows drew together. “Princess Autumn, have you ever considered a different hobby?” He came toward me.

I ignored the princess when I realized it was the same doctor that had helped the last time, I just hadn’t been able to see him. “Taking down bad guys is kind of my thing, Doc.” I offered a slight smile.

He stopped beside me and looked down at me. “For that, we are eternally grateful.” He slowly knelt beside me, forcing Michael to move toward my head to make room. “I have been spreading the word of your capture of Eunice Hubert.”

I smiled. “Good, tell everyone if they step out of line, I’m coming for them.” I winked at him.

“I shall.” He motioned to my ribs. Clairee nodded as she did whatever she was doing to the cloth beside me. “I apologize for the pain this may cause, my princess.”

I nodded. “Just stop the fancy names and we’re good.”

He glanced at Michael and then gave me a brief nod. “Very well.”

When he pulled my top up, I put my arm over my face knowing how much this was going to suck. He started low and did that push, circle motion doctors like to do when they examined body parts. I knew he had to do it so he could feel, but he may as well have been wielding a sledgehammer at this point. I closed my eyes, blowing out shallow breaths, hoping to not whine like a puppy as he moved closer to the injured area.

Someone took my other hand, I knew without looking it was Michael. He knew I’d tough this out, but it was a nice gesture. When the doctor hit the injured ribs, I squeezed Michael’s hand as hard as I could.

“The coloring and inflammation tell me all I need to know, I won’t cause you anymore discomfort, my—Autumn.” The Doctor said quietly.

“Can you do anything to speed the recovery?” Daxx asked.

“Ribs are…”

“We have a chance to get to Willis Hubert in a few days’ time,” Troy interrupted, “and Autumn is instrumental to that mission.”

“Oh. Oh, I see.” The doctor nodded slowly. “Ending the tyranny of the Hubert line would indeed be wonderful.” He leaned back on his heels. “We do have something that we use in emergency situations to expedite healing of important—” he looked up at Troy, “when there isn’t royal blood available, but,” he looked back at me, “there is no guarantee it will work on a bone injury.” He paused, his brows furrowed, “it is also quite painful.”

“What is it normally used for?” Michael asked him.

“Deep tissue injuries, fatal ones.” The doctor told him with a serious expression.

“So, it might not work?” I asked, trying to ignore the pain he’d mentioned.

“There is that chance.” He knelt there patiently.

“Oh, the hyper-nostrum elixir you were testing last year?” Clairee inquired.

He nodded. “Yes, it’s been quite successful.”

“I don’t recall this elixir.” Troy stood there, arms crossed, looking very king-like.

The doctor stood up and turned to him. “It’s been in the works for many decades, a failsafe in case one of the royals were injured and there wasn’t another around to aid in their healing.” He bowed his head and stayed that way. I wasn’t sure if it was out of respect, or if he thought he was in trouble.

“Should we be flattered you want us to live forever?” Chase asked from where he was leaning across the room.

The doctor looked over at him. “We thought it prudent, as none had found a mate for so many years.”

“Ah, you just want new twin kings.” Chase smiled.

“That-that wasn’t,” the doctor looked from Chase to Troy, a panicked expression on his face as his mouth worked like a goldfish.

“Relax, doc, he’s pulling your chain.” I said, then tried to clear my throat without straining and moving my ribs. “When you said painful, how painful are we talking?”

Clasping his hands together, he gave me an apologetic look. “I can’t be certain, as I said it was never tested on bone, only deep tissue injuries.”

“Awesome.” I whispered. I met Michael’s somber look. “All right, let’s give it a test on bone.” A pained look went through Michael’s eyes.

He turned and looked at his brother. “Is there no one else able to break the wards?”

Troy glanced from me back to Michael. “We haven’t been able to find anyone else we trust completely. Autumn is the only one so far.” He glanced briefly to me then back to his brother, “we’re still looking.”

My eyebrows went up, I hadn’t heard that there wouldn’t be a backup trained to break the spell and ward.

Michael closed his eyes, his jaw clenching.

“What about eufori?” Beth blurted out.

Michael looked at her.

“To help with the pain of this miracle mix or whatever.” She looked at Leone, then back to him. “It’s not royal blood and wears off fast—” She turned to Clairee, “right?”

Clairee nodded. “It would be out of her system within a few hours.”

I looked from Beth to Clairee, then to Michael. I was all for fast healing with less pain, but I wasn’t going to ask of it from him, when he wasn’t able to decide what he wanted. This decision had to be his.

All movement in the room stopped, every eye was locked on Michael. His blue eyes were moving over my face.

“I could sedate her.” The doctor suggested quietly, “but, we’ve had a few adverse side effects and she could aspirate if she were unconscious and vomited.”

I grimaced. “No sedation, thanks.”

“Go get your miracle cure.” Michael growled in a low tone, not sounding happy about his own decision.

Rafael came over quickly and touched the doctor’s shoulder. “I’ll take him.” They vanished without another word.

“I’ll go get a basin and some tea made.” Mitz got up and walked toward the door.

“Maybe we should help her get onto the bed.” Paisley came over, and gave me a sympathetic look, “so if you do throw up, you can roll on your side.”

“Sounds like fun.” I blew out a breath. “Yeah, help me up.”

Michael looked down at me, the nerve in his jaw pulsing. “It will hurt less if you walk, then if you are carried.”

Holding the ice pack with my elbow, I held up my free hand.

Michael reached under my shoulders with one hand while holding mine. “Ready?”

I nodded and focused on holding my breath. I locked my elbow, my grip on his hand tightening as he pulled me to my feet. Even with his help, more muscles tightened and the throbbing turned into jolts of pain through my chest and abdomen.

Dropping my head forward, I rested it against his chest until I was able to breathe again. Lifting my head, I nodded. “I’m good.”

He continued to hold my hand as I walked over to the bed. Truth be told, I was glad he did, I wasn’t very steady.

When we reached the bed, I looked down at my shoes.

“I’ll get them.” Beth scrambled across the bed. She dropped off the other side by my feet. “Having recently broken,” she paused and gave me a look of pain, “everything, I know your own feet seem a mile away right now.” She undid them and pulled them off as I lifted each foot as high as I could.

“Here’s the basin.” Mitz came jogging in and came over and set it on the table beside the bed. She paused and touched my cheek. “I’m going to steep some relaxing tea. To help you rest, love.” She gave me a brief look, then hurried back out the door.

“Whenever you’re ready.” Michael said with a soft tone.

“Let’s get her jacket off.” Bethany rushed back over and held my sleeve, like she was helping a child. She moved around me to the other side with my hoodie in her hand and just pulled it right off my other arm.

“My earpiece is in the pocket. I don’t think my phone survived the fall.” I looked up to Michael hoping he wasn’t mad I’d killed my phone.

“We have more.” He said drily.

I gave him a slight nod, then took hold of his arm. Down was going to suck as much as up had.

Mitz came rushing back in the door. “Everyone out, she doesn’t need an audience for this.” She glanced at Clairee. “Clairee and I will stay.”

I didn’t wait to see if the others griped or complained about being kicked out, just looked up at Michael and gave him an abrupt nod.

He grasped my hand and put the other behind me as I blew out steady, even breaths and sat slowly. That wasn’t the bad part, laying back was going to be worse.

“Rest your weight against my hand, I’ll do the work.” His eyes held mine as I did what he said.

It still hurt and I tensed, making it hurt more, but it was much better than if I’d used my own muscles to get me on the bed. Releasing my hand, he turned and gently lifted my legs onto the bed. I looked up at the ceiling and let my body settle into the mattress.

Michael sat down carefully and looked down at me. I could see the fear haunting him.

“Flashbacks?” I watched his look change to surprise. I sighed. “I asked Quinton to fill in a few blanks.”

“I see.” The nerve pulsed in his jaw as he studied the headboard above me.

“Hey,” he glanced back to me, “I’m not her. I’m still here.” I scowled. “If that jerk hadn’t of slammed me like a schoolyard bully, I’d be dancing on his face right now.”

The serious note in his expression lightened slightly. “I know…”

“I’m back.” The doctor rushed in the door and stopped at the end of the bed. “I can’t persuade you to use blood healing and postpone this task that requires our heroic princess to suffer?”

I shook my head. “Can’t do, Doc. Time is of the essence and all that. Can’t let the bad guys get away.”

He inhaled loudly and then nodded. “Very well.” He walked around Michael and set a container on the table beside me. “I do apologize for the pain this is going to cause.”

“Not necessary. How bad can speed-healing some ribs be?”

Famous last words.