Page 5 of Fated Flames: Volume Two
A range of emotions passes over her face—confusion, apprehension, and though she tries to hide it, a trace of fear.
Good.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
My sister is unperturbed by both my presence and my demeanor. Instead of attending to the king in her presence, she picks absently at a loose thread on the blanket in front of her.
I see I have more than one error in need of correction.
“Lady Tilanthia,” I drawl, “I thought you were going to send for me when the princess awoke.”
“Oh, I was just about to,” Tilly says, still focused on her string. “We were talking.”
“Is that so?”
Princess Serah’s eyes dart to my oblivious sister and back to me. “We were speaking of…womanly things, Your Majesty.”
“I see.”
A long silence follows, and I let its stifling effects build to the point of discomfort before continuing.
“How are you feeling, Princess?”
“I’m well, thank you.”
Her pain must be great, but she answers with all the poise and composure of a queen. Insufferable as her mother may be, no one can deny that she trained her daughter well. If only Tilly had possessed such an influence. Instead, she was given a brother who hadn’t known what to do with her.
“I’m glad to hear it,” I say. “The palace physician says your injuries should heal without issue.”
He’ll suffer if not. He’ll beg for mercy if she—
“Was he here recently?” she asks.
“Yes.”
A trace of irritation crosses her face at my clipped tone. “Have you spoken to Lord Lyken yet?”
Lord Lyken? A growl gathers at the back of my throat. “No.”
“I hoped to thank him later today, once I felt well enough to be up and about, of cour—”
“I thought I made myself clear.”
The princess’s lashes flutter with surprise. It’s like watching the wings of a trapped butterfly. “Pardon?”
“You are not to leave this room without me.”
She draws back. Her eyes shift to my sister, who’s actually paying attention now, before returning to me. “I thought we were past this.”
“Then you were mistaken.”
“We both agreed that we behaved childishly before. You said—”
“That was before an attempt was made on your life.”
Those exquisite lips of hers press together, but they stay that way only a second before demanding, “So I’m to be punished for that?”
“No, you’re to be protected.”
