• ELOISE •
I slowly opened my eyes, blinking several tis to make out my surroundings. This wasn’t my bed chamber. I recognise the aesthetics, it was Drevon’s.
I felt a presence, so I moved my gaze and found Drevon sitting beside . He had his gaze downcast, his inky dark hair obscuring from seeing his eyes.
I have never seen him like this. So far away, even when he sat next to .
I moved my hand, causing him to flinch. I sat up, but before I could make note of anything else, I was wrapped in strong arms as he embraced tightly and buried his face in my neck.
Having his arms around made warmth flush my insides; it was a comforting feeling, and I never had the chance to grasp what it felt like. Maybe this is how it felt to have soone hold you so tight, as if they were afraid you’d disappear. This was a hug, rooted with affections deeper than anything.
A hug.
My eyes saddened. I never thought I’d experience one, given the circumstances of everything. I’ve read about this in a book, and I still rember how the ink slled as I traced my hand on the drawing with longing.
Drevon pulled away from and fondled my cheek so tenderly as if he were afraid he would break . His eyes had the rawest emotions, so pure, so true, and srising.
"You’ve no idea how worried I was," he murmured. "How are you feeling? Are you in pain?" He asked, giving a bit of space so that he could access .
"Tell where it hurts?"
I leveled my eyes to the bandage that almost covered my entire arm. My body jerked when I recalled how the Lycan sliced its claws into my skin. I looked at the other small plasters where the shards had cut , and my body reacted just the sa.
The ache from my feet as I ran, the impact of the floor as my body collided against it, the growls, Osha’s pleas.
"Eloise?" Drevon’s masculine voice dragged back from the hellish recollection of that night.
"Talia, Osha." I could barely hear my voice.
"Osha is healing well; she should be fine soon," he replied.
"Talia."
His gaze softened. "Eloise..." he began.
"Talia," I said again.
But he wouldn’t give a reply, so I clenched his linen shirt even though it ached. "I-I want to see her."
"I don’t think that is wise, Eloise."
I shook my head softly. "I have to."
He gripped my hand against his chest and stroked tenderly. "Trust , you don’t want to do that to yourself."
"Please..." I begged. "I owe it to her."
I was beginning to think Drevon wouldn’t agree because his hesitation was very clear, but after what seed like a minute, he rose, just to drop to one knee and help wear my shoes.
He stood and aided up, clutching the robe from the cloak hanger, draped it around , and I slid my hands into the sleeves.
"Can you walk? I can carry you."
"I’m fine," I mumbled, not eting his eyes.
With a hand at the small of my back, he led to Talia.
~•~
I stepped into the room alone. Because I wanted to do this myself. My eyes moved to the bed, and I found Talia there.
My lip trembled profusely as I took in the sight of her. The bandages covered what it was ant to, but that alone couldn’t hide what had been done to her.
"What are you doing on that bed?" I questioned, unable to speak properly because of the sobs. "Get up."
On our way here, Drevon told she was barely alive; they had done what they could by treating her wounds, but they were too severe, and it left her in a critical condition. She might not make it through the night.
"Get up!" I yelled. "If you don’t get up, you won’t see your sister again. You said you’ll not die yet, not until you do, so why are you letting this happen? Why are you lying there and not fighting?"
I walked closer, and when I did, my heart broke more. "Who will scold or knock so sanity into if you’re not there?" I placed my shaky hand on my mouth to muffle my cries.
I turned away, heaving, breaking. My sobbing stopped when I found the drawers open with a stack of letters inside. I swallowed, walking closer to it, and pulled the wood open.
I held a letter in Talia’s writing: ’To the Archduchess.’ My lips pressed in a thin line as I opened it, as well as the many others.
I discovered that Talia wasn’t just assigned as my handmaid, she was spying on , and these letters were detailed accounts about the success of my wedding night and our travels, how I’ve won the monarch’s favor, and the alliance is secured. Everything, and I an everything, was under ink.
But there’s sothing else...all these letters were never sent, they were still sealed when I opened them. She was spying on for my stepmother, but she never sent them.
My hands fell to my sides, the letter scattering to the floor. I just stood there, numb, before moving my attention back to Talia.
I said nothing, watching and recalling the tis we were together. She ntioned I shouldn’t trust her from the very beginning, that she was with only because of her survival.
"Liar," I croaked. "You did care for , didn’t you?"
I walked closer to her. "As did I."
Because at the end, the only reason I kept going was her. I had already surrendered to my fate when I married the monarch, but Talia changed that notion; I felt responsible for her and wanted to keep going.
What am I to do now? Without her, I have no will to live.
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