• DIANA •
"Eloise?" I shook her gently, but she wouldn’t budge.
How did this happen?
As we talked, I noticed how her eyelid grew heavy, and suddenly she was unconscious. I brought my fingers to her nose, and thankfully, she was breathing okay.
Oh, Eloise, this was certainly sothing severe, and I understood her worries. She cannot go a day without sleeping, and it happens so suddenly. I see why Drevon confined her. She might end up passing out in dangerous places.
I adjusted her body to lie on the divan and grabbed the blanket. After making sure she was comfortable enough, I stepped out of the room and closed the doors quietly.
Talia and Osha were waiting outside.
"She’s sleeping."
"Again?" Osha said in worry.
"This is the fifth ti today, less because you ca to see her," Talia explained.
"That bad?"
"Sotis she goes a whole day without waking up. We make sure she has enough food when she wakes. She consus far too much."
That’s why Eloise barely saw my brother. She can no longer stay awake for too long.
"What does Celia have to say about this? Shouldn’t this be treated with care? Her fatigue is too great, and she’s only at ten weeks. What happens when more weeks co?"
I feared Eloise might end up sleeping without ever waking up again. I had many fears in my life, but this stood out at the top for .
"She cos for daily check-ups, and so far she has claid there is no issue with the queen or the baby," Talia answered.
"So this is normal?" I questioned, finding it difficult to believe.
"It seems like it."
"This is unbelieveable," I mumbled under my breath as I paced the corridors with my handmaid following behind .
Why isn’t Celia acting with imdiate effect? She was the Royal Healer, and yet she’s brushing off this issue. Sothing was wrong, and I needed to figure out what it was. As Eloise slumbers, I shall act as her eyes and ears.
I headed straight for Drevon’s study, knowing he would be there. The knights tried to stop , but with one look, they backed away.
I pushed open the doors and stepped into the vast room.
"There’s still no sign of the warlocks. It’s like we’re in so wild goose chase. Can’t Corvin help?" Ravyn said to Drevon. "He’s only here because of the deal you made with him, but I expected him to be more helpful. Are you certain he won’t play sides next?"
"What kind of deal did you strike with Corvin?" My question caught their attention.
"Your highness," Ravyn greeted.
"Haven’t seen you around lately."
"Helping Garrick patrol the empire for the warlocks."
"Sounds like there is no progress..." I walked up the stairs, finally noting how exhausted Drevon looked. "I’d like to speak to my brother alone."
"I’m busy, Diana. Whatever it is can wait."
I felt a sting in my chest, but I ignored it.
"No..." I replied sternly. "I want to talk to you now, and it concerns Eloise."
He furrowed his eyebrow. "You went to see her."
"Yes, I went to see her. Am I not amongst the selected guests?"
"You should know better. Eloise is not in a position to receive any visitors."
"She’s my sister, and I have every right to see her. If you think you can stop , then I’d like you to try. I’m not the Dowager."
Drevon was trying to isolate Eloise, and that only confirms my suspicion that sothing was wrong and it didn’t just have to do with her heavy fatigue.
We shared a heated look before Ravyn broke the silence by clearing her throat.
"I think I shall take my leave. Alpha, Princess..." Ravyn backed away, her retreating footsteps echoing through the air.
The mont the doors slamd shut, I placed my palm on the marble table.
Drevon eyed quietly. "What?"
"When was the last ti you slept?"
"Does not matter."
Seems like I won’t get any more than that, but I’m not stopping anyti soon.
"Eloise’s condition should not be considered normal."
"I never considered it normal."
I narrowed my eyes. "Then why isn’t Celia doing the needful?"
"She is doing the needful. You’re not just very much inford."
"Then keep inford!"
He stroked his jawline. "It’s nothing you should concern yourself with."
I slamd my palm on the table. "Really? You think you can just bear everything?"
"Yes!" he snapped. "I’m her husband, and it’s my duty to care and protect her. Whatever I may do to achieve that."
I scoffed. "Eloise ans a lot to , too, and if you think—"
"You should concern yourself more with the inner court. Eloise cannot manage it in her condition. You’re needed there more than ever."
"Eloise needs ," I said through clenched teeth. "She’s heavily fatigued and barely stays awake, and when she does stay awake, there’s no one to talk to, not even you. It’s not fair."
"I never said it was fair. Do you think I’m happy with all this? Knowing the slim chance I get to see my wife awake is not enough? Or that—" he paused, jaw clenching.
I gulped as the silence suddenly got solemn, but I still didn’t want to end it there.
"You know you can tell . I’m your sister, and I care for Eloise more than anyone."
"Leave, Diana, I have work to do."
"Right..." I mumbled. "It’s not like you have ever bothered about ." I turned on my heels, eager to get away from here.
I made a mistake coming to see him and hoped to figure out what happened. I’m always kept in the dark. No. I’m always pushed aside, and the only one who kept close was Eloise.
I have never felt more alone.
~•~
I tossed so breadcrumbs into the pond. Physically, I was here, but ntally, I’m not. I couldn’t discern the footsteps behind , or maybe I did but chose to ignore them.
There was shade above .
"Leave be, I do not wish to tolerate anyone’s presence."
"Sothing weighs your mind," Corvin said behind .
"I’m back to being a ghost again."
"But I can see you."
"That’s not what I—"
"I see you."
I turned my gaze to him. "Why did you make a deal with my brother?"
He tipped his head. "You asked if there was a chance of profit, would I take it, and I gave my answer."
I folded my arms. "What was this deal about?"
What’s the use of asking? It’s not like he’s going to tell .
"Forget about—"
"In exchange for finding a cure for the Mother of the Endless, I shall nurture the child when it’s born."
I froze. "Wha-What? Cure? What are you talking about?"
"Hmm... are you not aware?"
"Aware of what?!"
"There are risks to the pregnancy."
Eloise was right when she assud her lingering ailnt was returning, and with Celia acting the way she does, she was secretly trying to find a cure.
"Then why does this involve you? Celia is an expert and certainly has it under control if she’s acting so carefree."
"This is not sothing your Royal Healer can deal with alone, because of the traces of magic."
"Traces of magic?" I mumbled with wide eyes. "Are you saying Eloise has magic blood?"
"Yes."
I took a step back, but Corvin quickly grabbed by the waist before I could fall over the pond.
"You should be careful."
"That explains a great deal of everything. I read the oracle sees only its kind in its sphere. I was right."
"You should clearly watch where you’re—"
"That ans Zevrin the White will not stop. How does Drevon intend to deal with this? He’s not thinking of taking on a warlock all by himself, is he?"
He may be an Alpha but warlocks had sothing he doesn’t. Magic.
"You’re worried about him?"
"No course, I am. He may be acting like my least favorite person right now, but he’s still my brother."
"I see..."
"I overheard you’re only in for the deal. Is it true?"
"Yes."
It’s understandable given what he was. However, I wanted to sohow convince him. I felt like I could.
"If you truly want to nurture the baby, then don’t you think you should help deal with the warlocks?"
He placed a hand beneath his chin. "I suppose?"
"Then help! If Zevrin still walks, then his attempts to take Eloise’s baby will only go out of control or worse. Don’t you agree?"
"Zevrin’s specialty is dreamwalking. He makes dreams beco reality and vice versa. He’s a master in that craft, and I don’t hold a candle to it."
"Then he’s a powerful foe, isn’t he?" I said, trembling slightly at the re thought of it.
"Only if you dream about him more than once, the stronger he becos."
A cold seized my body. Drevon clearly looked as if he hadn’t slept for a long ti. Could it be?
"There has to be a way or so kind of weakness."
"There is a way, but it’s dangerous."
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