"Rhane, you can’t... I an... you shouldn’t!"
Percy’s voice cracked in the morning air as he trailed behind Rhane, half-dressed and frantic, but Rhane only kept buttoning his shirt as though the world hadn’t nearly ended for him the night before.
The young man had been asleep, dead asleep when the rustle of fabric and the sound of running water pulled him back to consciousness. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, only to find Rhane standing by the window, freshly bathed, a towel slung over his shoulders, steam still rising faintly from his skin.
"By all the gods," Percy cursed, stumbling out of bed. "You almost died yesterday...you did die for a mont— and now you’re putting on boots?"
Rhane didn’t respond. He was busy fastening his cuffs, but his lips curled subtly. His reflection in the mirror looked ghostly pale, his eyes shadowed by exhaustion and fever.
Not that he didn’t know how dire the situation was for him the previous night, Rhane knew it all but he couldn’t stop now, not when he could see his happily ever after with Jenna near.
Percy stord up behind him, snatching the coat from his hands. "You’re not going anywhere! The physicians said you needed rest. Rest, Rhane! You know what that ans?" the young man barked with wide eyes.
Rhane tilted his head slightly, his lips curving in that dangerous way that made people unsure if he was about to laugh or do sothing reckless. "Rest," he repeated softly. "That’s a luxury for those who can afford it, Percy."
"You can barely stand," Percy shot back, his voice breaking. "You think you can walk into that trial like nothing happened? You think anyone will care that you’re bleeding? They wouldn’t!"
"Good." Rhane nodded. He reached for the coat again. "As long as only Percy cares, right?"
Percy opened his mouth to argue but closed it, a faint blush gracing his cheeks. "I know I’m— wait!" He shook his head.
"Rhane, listen to yourself! You’ve been feverish for hours. You almost died! Do you even know what day it is?"
"Of course I do." Rhane turned toward him, his eyes suddenly clear. "It’s the day of the Veil. And my dear Percy, I don’t intend to miss it."
Percy ran a hand through his hair, pacing in small, frustrated circles. "You can ask them to cancel; it doesn’t have to be today. She’ll still be there even if you wait another day—"
"She’ll be there today," Rhane cut in. "And so will the tournant end."
There was sothing final in his voice sothing that told Percy no plea, no reason, could reach him now but he was still worried. If Percy hadn’t witnessed what happened last night, he’d have let it go.
"Rhane..." Percy’s voice softened. "You were dying in my arms last night. I thought I lost you."
Rhane stopped for a heartbeat, his hands pausing mid-button. He humd softly, then continued.
Percy knew it was never going to end well, advising Rhane. Sothing else bothered him now that he was awake. Did Rhane really not know he was in another woman’s arms the previous night? Now Percy was torn between telling him or keeping it to himself. But that woman he saw Rhane with didn’t look ordinary at all. Desperation had made him co up with a way to escape.
After Rhane finished dressing, he picked up his belt and sword, fastening them around his waist with a hiss of breath as pain shot up his side. Still, he didn’t falter.
Percy stood there helplessly, watching the man who should’ve been in bed turn himself into sothing dangerous again.
"Rhane, please..." he whispered. "You’ll reopen the wound. You’ll—"
"I already have," Rhane said quietly. Then he smiled, and it wasn’t the smile of a man at peace. It was the smile of soone who had made peace with pain.
Percy swallowed hard. "If she sees you like this...my mistress will kill for letting you leave."
Rhane chuckled under his breath, pulling on his gloves. "Then you’d better not tell her." He reached for the door, steady despite the ache that pulsed beneath his ribs.
"Rhane!" Percy ran behind him. "Where are you even going?" he cried out loud.
"Rhane, please...stop for once!" Percy’s voice chased him down the corridor.
Rhane cut him a look. It wasn’t angry, just quiet. "Then stop wasting your breath begging a man whose ho is pain to sit still."
Outside, the air was cold and gray, the sky swollen with the threat of another storm. Percy followed silently, but his face gave away his plan. He was ready to whine if Rhane showed any sign of pain.
They hadn’t walked far when, there waiting at the foot of the steps, stood Nikolai. The sight of him made Percy stiffen instantly. Rhane, however, didn’t slow his pace.
"Well," Nikolai began, his tone syrup-smooth. "I didn’t expect you to be up and about already. Word reached that you were... indisposed."
Rhane only tilted his head, his lips curling faintly. "You seem to take great interest in my health, Nikolai. Should I start believing you care?"
The older man chuckled softly. "Let’s call it curiosity. After all, you hold the eyes of the entire court today. I rely wondered if you’d be able to stand without assistance."
Rhane’s gaze narrowed, his voice cool. "Curiosity, is it? Then maybe I should ask what took you to my estate during the drinking contest. Surely the great Lord Nikolai has better things to do than sniff around my doorstep, no?"
Nikolai’s smile didn’t falter, but his fingers tightened inside his pocket. "I missed my daughter."
Rhane’s scoff ca low, bitter. "You missed a convenient excuse."
The wind stirred the hem of Rhane’s coat, and Percy stood awkwardly beside him, feeling the chill crawl down his spine. He’d already filled Rhane in earlier on what he witnessed in his estate, censoring the point from where Kali had cried.
Rhane turned away first. "If you’re done playing great father, I have a trial to attend."
He took a step, but Nikolai’s voice cut through the air.
"Those n your mother took to Kali’s bed..." he said, just loud enough, "—they ca for Kali."
Rhane froze mid-step. His hand stopped just short of his sword, his head turning slightly but not fully.
"What did you say?"
Nikolai’s expression remained calm, almost amused. "The ones you tried to protect her from. They returned. I thought you should know... before the trial begins."
Percy gulped; he could feel Rhane’s eyes on him even without him turning.
Rhane exhaled slowly, eyes hardening. He said nothing else. Then, without another glance, he started walking again.
Once he had left Nikolai’s earshot, he said, "Percy."
Percy jumped. "Y-Yes?" Afraid that Rhane would scold him.
"Go back to the estate. Stay with Kali. Don’t let her out of your sight. If anyone cos near her- anyone... you draw steel first and ask questions after. I’ll be quick with today’s event and will return quickly."
Percy hesitated, torn. "But Rhane, the trial—"
"That’s an order, Percy." Rhane said quietly.
Percy nodded, biting his lip. As Rhane moved toward the waiting horses, he lingered for one last mont, staring after him. "You’re not fit for this," he muttered under his breath. "You’ll need soone watching over you before you collapse in front of the court."
He turned toward the opposite path. "I’ll tell Jenna first," he murmured, glancing back one last ti at Rhane’s retreating figure. "She’ll know what to do. She always does."
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