“Finn.” The Queen consort ushered her out of the way to make room for Finn who was relying heavily on Emmet to get him into the room.
“What news do you have?” Faolan demanded, turning to the second injured man who was supposed to be as good as family to her. But the queen only had ears for Alona.
“She’s in Gelsi.” Finn collapsed on the bed in the corner of the room. “Queen Regan holds her in the dungeons.”
“The dungeons? How dare she put a princess in the dungeons!” Tierney’s face turned red to match her hair.
“How are you, Finn?” Brea asked over the queens’ tittering about their lost daughter. “Are you injured? What do you need?”
“Water, food, and sleep. In that order. And maybe a bath.” He groaned as he laid back on the cot.
Brea moved to sit beside him, pouring a cup of water for him. His lips were cracked and bleeding from too much time under Eldur’s unforgiving sun. “Sip slowly.” She cautioned him. “I’ll find you some food soon.”
“Where in the dungeons? Can we get to her?” Faolan demanded.
“I’m afraid not, your Majesty. Regan has her held deep within the bowels of her palace. I’m told none can reach her from outside the palace.”
“Well, we will have to find someone inside to help us.” Faolan’s shoulders stiffened with resolve. “That woman will rue the day she dared lay a hand on my daughter.” Faolan swept out of the room, not bothering to ask the healers how Lochlan was doing.
“I think maybe I’ll sleep now,” Finn murmured. “Water, sleep, then food. I can bathe next week.” He was fading quickly, but Brea knew she needed to get some more water in him first.
“Not so fast, Finny boy. Drink this.” She refilled his cup and helped him sit up to drink it. “You can rest when this is empty.”
“Where’s Finn?” An older soldier barged into the room, his eyes zeroing in on Finn. “Tell me everything,” he demanded.
“Listen, I don’t know who you are, but he needs to rest. You can ask him your questions about the princess once he’s had a chance to sleep. Come back in the morning.” Brea glared at the man.
“I’m his father.” The man moved to sit on the cot beside her. “Eamon Donovan, head of the Queen’s guard.”
“Oh.” Brea focused on helping Finn sip from the cup. “I didn’t realize.”
“Don’t apologize for championing my son, Lady Brea. He’s lucky to have a friend like you. Can you tell me what happened? Where did you find him?”
“In the orchard.” Brea recounted the details for Captain Donovan.
“And Loch?” He cast a worried glance at Lochlan’s still form across the room.
“I don’t know. They are still working on him.”
“I’m glad you were there to help them.” The captain took his son’s hand.
“I’m okay, Father. Go see to the queens. They’ll be worried about Lona.”
“Get some rest. I’ll come back tonight to check on you.” The captain left, asking Brea to send word if anything changed.
Finn was asleep before Brea could set the empty cup on his bedside table.
Not knowing what else to do, Brea sat in a chair beside Finn’s cot while the healers treated Lochlan’s injuries. When they finally finished, Brea approached his bedside. “How is he?”
“The injury was severe, and the infection has spread beyond his wounds. The next few hours will tell us whether he will make it or not.”
“You have magic. Isn’t there anything more you can do?”
“We need to keep his temperature down. And keep him comfortable.”
“Well, don’t you have some kind of magical cooling blanket or something?”
“We do. It’s called ice.” The healer gave her a small smile.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“We have other patients to see to throughout the palace this evening. It will help if you can keep an eye on him. Keep the ice packs cold and change them the instant the ice melts.”
“I can do that.” Brea nodded. Taking the bowl of ice, she sat beside Lochlan’s still form.
“I’m serious. You big fae brute, you better not die.” Brea lifted a fresh cloth filled with ice from the bowl and draped it across his forehead. She didn’t intend to move until he opened those midnight blue eyes and said something mean. Then she’d know he would be okay.
4
Brea
“Dear.” Someone shook Brea’s shoulder.
Her eyes slid open, and for a moment, she didn’t remember where she was.
The healer. Finn. Lochlan. Rubbing her face, she looked to the man laying still on the bed wrapped in bandages and ice.
“Lady Brea,” the voice said again.
She lifted her eyes to find Captain Donovan standing next to her chair. “You should go back to your rooms.”
She shook her head, her eyes finding the empty bed where Finn had been resting. “Where’s Finn?”
“I had a few men help him to his rooms where he’d be more comfortable. My son was unharmed, just exhausted. We do not yet know the extent of their journey, but it took a toll on him.”
She nodded, settling her eyes back on Lochlan. “Will he wake?”
“The healer said his fever broke. We need to remove the ice.”
“I can do it.”
He shook his head. “You need sleep, my lady.”
“No.” She stretched her neck to the side. Sleeping in a tiny wooden chair wasn’t fun. “I can’t leave him alone.” She didn’t know why. Lochlan wasn’t her friend. Most of the time, they couldn’t stand each other. But he did this for Alona, was injured searching for her. Maybe Brea felt some sort of connection to the girl she’d been switched with, or maybe she just wanted to pay Lochlan back for saving her life when she was the one injured. She didn’t like owing him anything. After this, they were even.
“Lady Brea.” Captain Donovan sighed. “Your mothers would be vexed with me if I let you stay here all night.”
She snapped her eyes to his. He knew? This man she’d never met before this day. “How?”
He seemed to understand her question. “I have been in this palace since I was a young man at the queen’s side. There is very little that goes on I am not aware of.”
“Does Finn know?” About her. About Alona.
He shrugged. “I do not know. Lochlan and I have been under strict orders to share our knowledge with no one, but my son is shrewd. Alona is like a daughter to me, my lady. I was with her when she was taken, and I have to live with that. But you I can protect, even if it’s just from yourself. The healer and her assistant will take care of Lochlan. I’m ordering you to go get some sleep.”
She sighed and pushed to her feet. “Yeah, okay.” Unable to take her eyes from Lochlan’s distressed face, she released a breath. “Just…”
“I will have them inform you of any changes.”
“Thanks.” Turning, she made herself walk from the room and into the waking palace. Early morning sunlight streamed through archways, lighting the stone underneath her feet.