Chapter 96

I quickly excuse myself from Joyce and his group and rush from the room, with Charlotte following me.

“The doctor should be in with her now,” Charlotte said. “Mark sent a guard to retrieve her just as I left to find you.”

“Good,” I said. We did not speak again as we hurried through the hallways and up the stairs.

Finally, when we made it to the room, we found the doctor tending to Elva in bed while Mark watched on. He greeted me when I came to stand near him.

“How long has she had a fever?” I asked. I hadn’t been gone all that long myself. She had seemed okay before I left, but I had not thought to take her temperature.

“She only really started to feel bad in the past twenty minutes or so,” Mark said. “At first we thought she had overexerted herself when playing, but after sitting for a while, she still didn’t feel better. When I touched her forehead…” He lifted his hand and glared at it like it had betrayed him. “She was burning up.”

We watched on for a while, as the doctor examined and tended to Elva. When she finally stepped back, she caught sight of me and motioned me over. I hurried to her. Elva was sleeping soundly in the bed.

“This fever is not as severe as those in the past, partially because we caught it so quickly, but also, I believe because of the continued treatments and care we’ve taken over the past weeks,” the doctor said. “The fever itself is already going down.”

“So she is okay?” I asked.

“Yes. She will be herself tomorrow. For now, she only needs rest. We will continue to monitor. Call me if I am needed, else I will check back first thing in the morning.”

“Thank you, doctor,” I said.

She nodded. “She’s a brave little girl, and a fighter. She will be fine.”

I thanked her again for the added assurance. Then Mark walked her to the door.

I sat on the edge of the bed, watching Elva as she slept. The doctor had spoken true, she did not seem to be in as much pain as usual. Her sweating was minimal, and when I touched her forehead, it was only warm and not hot.

Staying in the palace had been doing wonders for her illness. The high end medical care and treatments might just have been saving her life. The problem, of course, was that this was all only temporary. As soon as we left, Elva’s health would likely decline again.

With an elimination ceremony only a day and a half away, that unpleasant reality was creeping in on us sooner rather than later.

I couldn’t let that happen. I had to make sure we stayed for as long as we could.

I needed to speak with Julian.

I stayed with Elva for a few hours, until the fever truly decreased. Mark continued to stand diligently at the door. I wondered when he slept.

He immediately noticed when I came closer to the door.

“It’s after midnight, Piper,” he said.

“I just need to go for a walk to clear my head.” It wasn’t a total lie. More of an omission. If my walk just so happened to take me by Julian’s door, well, who would know? “Can you keep an eye on her? She’s resting and shouldn’t wake.”

“Of course,” he said.

I hated leaving her while she was under the weather, but nothing could delay this. Julian may have disappeared during the day, but it was possible he was holed up in his room, simply avoiding everyone. That wasn’t entirely like him, but I couldn’t rest until I was sure.

Elva’s future rested entirely in his hands.

So as not to arouse suspicion in Mark, I walked toward the stairs and then down them. Once I was out of his line of sight, however, I veered down a series of hallways to bring me to the second staircase, which I quickly climbed.

The rules stated that we were to avoid the personal rooms of the royal family unless explicitly invited. I was taking a great risk by sneaking here now. But for Elva’s sake, this was only the beginning of the level of danger I was willing to take on.

I walked to Julian’s door and lightly tapped on his door. I pressed my ear against it, listening for any sound of movement within. Then I knocked again, a bit louder.

There was no answer. Beyond the door, I heard no sound of footsteps or talking. The room was most likely empty. Still, I tried for the handle. I cursed when I found it was locked.

“He’s not in there.”

My heart leapt from my body, and I nearly fell, catching myself on Julian’s door as I turned around.

Nicholas stood behind me, his arms crossed over his broad chest. He peered down at me with mild disapproval. Otherwise, his face was an emotionless mask.

“Julian left two days ago and didn’t tell anyone where he was going. He hasn’t been seen or heard from since.”

“You aren’t worried?” I asked.

“About Julian? No. He always does this to escape his responsibilities. He’s not dependable.”

I wasn’t sure that was entirely true. At least, not totally. Julian was a free-spirit, sure, but he usually had reason for his actions, if they weren’t entirely put on. He placed into people’s perceptions of him. How easy it was for Nicholas to believe the worst.

That itself wasn’t shocking either. Nicholas believed the worst about everyone, and he was stubborn too. It was nearly impossible to change his mind once he was set on something.

“So you won’t be able to meet up with him tonight,” Nicholas said.

“I suppose not.”

Nicholas’s veneer cracked and anger shone through. “So you won’t be able to fuck him tonight.”

“I… wait, what?” I had to have misheard. Did Nicholas think I came to see Julian for sex?

Unhooking his arms, Nicholas walked closer. He leered down at me with fire in his eyes. “Is this the person you are now? Sneaking out in the night for casual trysts with my selfish brother?”

“It’s not like that…”

Words failed me as Nicholas closed the distance between us. His hands fell onto my shoulders and he guided me backwards until I was up against Julian’s door. Then he closed in around me, his arms on either side of my head, his chest pressed to mine. He was taller than me, I had to look up.

“I bet he takes and doesn’t give. You deserve better.” Nicholas’s voice was growing rougher, like he had gargled with sandpaper between his last sentence and this one.

I shiver ran down my spine. I might have been embarrassed by how quickly I was aroused for him, if the lust wasn’t currently fogging my entire brain. I pressed my thighs together to give me a hint of friction. More than anything, I wanted him to touch me.

“He can’t give you what you need,” Nicholas leaned down. His hot breath brushed against my cheek. “Only I can fuck you like you deserve.”

God, when he spoke so filthy, it made me dizzy. I pressed my hands to his chest for balance, but the hard muscle there only amplified my desire.

I wanted to be tough and demand he stop bullying me. He was being a pushy asshole right now, and I should want to push him away.

Instead, I curled my fingers like claws and pulled him closer.

“You talk a big game,” I said, giving a soft growl of my own. “Why don’t you prove it?”

His lips curled into a snarl. That was the only warning I was given before he pressed his lips to mine and claimed my mouth as his own.