When she entered the palace gates, she still saw the crowds of people who came in to inquire about Danika’s health. Apparently, the people had taken to the bitch. She seethed as she continued into the palace building. Thank heavens she hadn’t seen Princess Kamara for days. She’d heard from one maid that the princess preferred reading in her bedroom as her favourite pastime. For Vetta, that was a plus. Less time to run into that horror of a woman. She remembered the slaps the princess delivered to her cheek and did her best to tamp down the anger.
Dealing with that princess was a minor case. She just didn’t have time at that moment.
Inside the palace, Vetta was heading to the mistress’s quarters when she saw the king coming out of the royal court. Her heart skipped several beats.
Oh, no! Oh, no! She could not run into the king at this moment. What if he demanded sexual pleasures? He would discover her indiscretion, because that bastard’s release was still smeared all over her thighs. She had yet to clean up! Vetta wanted nothing more than to reach her bedroom and wash his filth from her body.
The king strode towards her, and she stopped at the sight of him, bowing in greeting. “My king.”
“To my chambers, Vetta.” He walked past her, his steps unhurried and his hands behind his back.
Vetta’s heart skipped three beats. She followed him to his chambers, closing the door behind her when she walked in. “Is anything the matter, Your Highness?” Thankfully, her voice was calm.
He turned towards her, scowling. “You have been going out a lot lately, Vetta. And you do not take the carriage or any guards with you. Do you not value your safety? Or you do not want to obey my command?”
What!? She hadn’t been expecting that.
“No, no, o-of course not, Your Highness. I just—I just needed those moments alone. It’s not really a dangerous place; I visited a friend of mine who lives just outside the border.”
Silence. He seemed to think about that. “And you go to see this friend without taking an escort like you are supposed to? Like your status is required of you?” he asked in that ridiculously calm voice of his. He might as well be talking about the weather.
Vetta didn’t know what to say, so she said nothing.
The silence stretched between them. She wished she’d never seen him—at least until she’d taken her bath and washed away Karandy’s filthy from her body. Now she stood before him, feeling dirty. It was an ugly feeling. She stared at him, and he had the usual blank face.
She did not know what was going through his mind.
King Lucien walked closer to her. He stood in front of her and palmed her jaw, lifting her chin. “I do not understand you these days, Vetta. It’s as if something is going on with you right here under my nose and I do not know about it.”
His sense of intuition had always creeped her out. “Nothing is going on with me, my king. I swear it,” she rushed out.
“You just like to disobey my instructions.” He let go of her and walked past her towards his desk. “I’m putting you under five days of house arrest for disobeying me.”
“My king!” The punishment was so unexpected, it had startled Vetta and horrified her.
“Guards,” he called without raising his voice.
The door opened and two guards entered. They knelt and bowed their heads. “Your Highness.”
“Escort the mistress to her quarters.” His eyes found hers. “You do not care for your safety, but I do. You go out alone and come back after sundown. You do not request permission from me. You do not inform me. A lot of things might have happened to you, but clearly, you do not seem to think about that.” He walked to his desk and picked up a well-worn scroll as he continued addressing her. “That is rash. Stay in your bedroom and clear your head, Vetta. Do not leave your room.”
His words brooked no argument. And, with the way he turned his back and took steady strides into his library, it was obvious he had dismissed her.
What the hell just happened? Vetta asked herself in shocked horror.
Danika did not know how much time passed. It was a long time before Baski could get control of herself again.
“All hope isn’t lost!” Baski’s exclaimed as she pulled away from Danika. Danika watched her warily as the older woman began talking to herself, as if making plans.
“We aren’t sure if the baby is gone or not, so we can’t conclude anything yet. In the meantime, I’ll go into the forest now in search of Albaress. Yes, Albaress! It’s good for pregnancies, babies in the wombs. It soothes the mother and her fetus. Repairs the body. Stops bleeding. If the baby is hurting anywhere, Albaress can heal his wounds. Yes, I must get that herb. And so many other herbs! I need to make a list…”
“Baski! What are you doing?” Danika asked warily. Already, she was weak and sleepy.
“Oh, Danika, we have to save that baby if there’s any chance that you’re still pregnant,” she informed Danika.
“But…” Danika swallowed down the lump in her throat. “Isn’t it for the best? That I lost the baby? The king will—”
“No! No, Danika, don’t ever think that way! Ever! It’s not for the best. We have to save your baby! If there’s a chance, we MUST save that child!” Danika opened her mouth to say something, but Baski shook her head. “Heavens, I’ve stressed you much. I’m so sorry. It’s not good for you at all, stress.”
Baski walked to Danika and helped her lie down on the bed. “Here, get some sleep so that you’ll feel better and stronger later. Princess Kamara has come here countless times today to see you, but you’ve been sleeping and aren’t strong enough for visitors yet. For now, just focus on getting better, and I’ll take great care of you.”
Danika was feeling exhausted, so she didn’t bother arguing. Baski had behaved strangely to her today, but she didn’t let herself think about it.
Baski rushed to the table and brought her potions and helped Danika swallow them. “It’ll help you sleep well for a long time. A good sleep is best for your health.”
Danika stared through dazed eyes as the older woman fussed over her. Finally, Baski drew her blanket to her chin and kissed her on the cheeks.
“Thank you so, so, so much, Danika,” she whispered.
Danika was already halfway asleep, but she still murmured, “For what?”
“For. Everything.” For being a ray of sunshine and a basket of hope to our people. But Baski didn’t say it out loud.
As Danika fell into soft slumber, her thoughts were with King Lucien: How much she missed the king! How much she wanted to be with him. Lie against him.
Her conscious self might not remember the events of the night before, but her fuzzy, drugged-up mind remembered.
As she fell asleep, she wondered if the king would come to her again tonight.
.
.