Stella
Prince Fernando kept one arm around my waist as he guided his horse to a halt
before his father.
“Explain yourself, healer,” King Sartorius ordered before we dismounted.
I bowed my head as my thoughts raced.
“We discovered her alone and bewildered over a mile away from the barrier wall. She doesn’t recall what happened,” Fernando answered for me. “Rocco and Dario are pursuing a vagabond, who, I suspect, attempted to kidnap her.”
Thank the Divine. He believed me. I prayed for Eric to reach refuge before the guards caught him.
“Horseshit! Come down. She will answer for herself.”
He’d been angry in the last iteration of this scene, but had focused his rage on Eric. Now it was just me. Regret flooded my entire being. I wished I could return to when Dario confronted me and scream for help instead of following that stupid, imaginary voice.
We obeyed and approached the king.
I kept my head lowered, but once we were close enough, he gripped my face and forced me to meet his gaze. I winced under the pressure.
“Why did you run away?” He snarled. His breath smelled sour, like he’d drank too much.
His fingers dug deeper into my cheeks, pushing the soft inner flesh into my teeth. Tears gathered beneath my eyelids, but I didn’t want to cry.
I took a shuddering inhale and struggled to speak around his forceful grasp. “I don’t remember.”
His eyes narrowed. “Perhaps the lash will reignite your memory.”
Chills ran down my spine. I silently begged the divine ones to save Bolin and me from the whipping. We’d restarted the hour. It had to unfold differently this time!
“Father, please!” Prince Fernando interjected, “She has a brain injury and probably re-injured herself after falling out of the window. She wouldn’t lie to us.”
King Sartorius glanced behind me at his son. The distraction loosened his hold, but he did not release me. I needed him to let my jaw go. The longer he pinched it, the more it hurt.
One of the king’s advisors spoke in a hushed voice, “Pity we don’t have a seer.”
“Father,” Fernando said in a placating tone, “Allow me to take her inside the villa. If she remembers anything more, I’ll inform you at once.”
King Sartorius glared, then finally freed me. He leaned close to us and growled, “You keep her at your side. If she escapes again, I’ll hold you responsible.”
Fernando nodded. “Of course. I won’t disappoint you.”
The king waved us away with a derisive huff. The prince led me up the drive toward the villa’s entrance. I gulped lungfuls of air, hoping this nightmare was over.
“Mr. Guo!” our ruler roared.
I gasped and jerked to look over my shoulder.
Bolin
My heart thudded in my chest as I came before the king and bowed. “How may I be of service, Your Majesty?”
“You failed as her ward and translator. What do you have to say for yourself?”
Not coughing at his putrid breath took all my concentration. My sore bones reminded me that I had done plenty.
“I stepped in front of a magic wielder to shield her and nearly died from my effort. Is that a failure?”
He frowned.
“I humbly apologize for Stella felling from the window and wandering off the grounds. But I was recovering from fatal injuries. Show me another individual who protected her better than me today.”
This was a bold move, but I laced each word with strength and respect.
His eyebrows arched.
For a moment, I was sure he’d order me whipped for my impertinence. Instead, he cracked a half smile.
“Get inside then. Monitor both of them.”
I bowed as relief surged in my gut.
Oooh, poor Stella.