Rise (The Order of the Krigers #1)(55)

“Where am I?” Pain seared my throat.

“You’re safe,” he answered. “You’ve been badly injured. There’s a large gouge on your head that the healer had to stitch together. You also have several broken ribs, and you’re covered in bruises.” His voice broke, and he clutched my hand. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me I’m a Kriger?” I croaked.

“Shh, we can talk about that later. Right now, you need to rest.” He lifted a cup to my lips, and warm liquid dribbled down my throat. The steeped listerblossom soothed me, and I closed my eyes, falling fast asleep.

“Kaia?” Morlet asked, his voice desperate.

“I … can’t … ” I didn’t have the strength to answer—to tell him that I was so injured, I couldn’t even lift my head.

“I’m sorry Skog Heks did that to you.”

“No … you’re … not. You … could have … stopped … her.”

“Open your eyes,” he prodded. “I’m in my bedchamber. Let me help you.”

I didn’t want to accept anything from him. However, if I didn’t let Morlet help me, it could take months for my body to heal, and I needed to flee the capital and reach the safety of the forest as soon as possible.

Opening my eyes, I found myself lying on Morlet’s bed with him sitting at my side.

“There isn’t much time,” he said. Raising his hands above me, he moved them in a circular motion while speaking softly. A blue light shone below his fingertips, and then he pointed at my stomach. The light flashed, shot out of his hands, and plummeted into me. I wanted to scream except my body was paralyzed. The light moved through me, cold liquid slithering to my limbs, healing my injuries. My strength gradually increased. Once the light extended to my head, healing my laceration, it shot out of me and returned to Morlet.

He collapsed on the bed, motionless, exhausted from using so much of his magic to heal me. I easily sat up, rejuvenated. It was time to return to my consciousness so I could escape out of the capital.

Except I couldn’t stop staring at the king.

It seemed as if there were two personalities trapped inside his body—Morlet, the evil man who tortured innocent people, killed children, and had no mercy; and Espen, the man who made a mistake and had been suffering a century for it, the man who healed me, the man who had compassion. However, it didn’t matter that there was good in him because there was also evil, and I had to defeat that evil in order to restore peace to the kingdom of Nelebek. I couldn’t afford to feel anything but disgust and hatred for him.

So why was I still sitting here next to him? I leaned down and kissed his forehead. “Thank you,” I whispered before standing and concentrating on returning to my body in the underground room.

My eyes opened, and several men I didn’t know stood near me.

“You were talking in your sleep,” one of them said.

“What did I say?”

“Don’t know,” another answered. “Couldn’t make out any of the words. Your father told us to keep an eye on you, so that’s what we’ve been doing.”

Blood was crusted all over the pillow near my head. “Where is my father?”

“Out with Anders. They went to make sure the soldats aren’t looking in this area for you.”

Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I stood, and everyone’s eyes widened. “Maybe you should lie down,” a man said.

“I healed myself using my own power.” If I told them the truth, no one would understand.

The door opened and Vidar and Anders walked in. Vidar ran to me, a questioning look on his face.

“Healed myself.” I repeated the lie easily this time.

He whooped and picked me up, swinging me around in his arms. When he set me down, he kissed my cheek. “I’m so happy you’re okay.”

Anders’s eyes narrowed infinitesimally. Either he didn’t believe my lie, or he didn’t think Vidar should be so rough with me only moments after my miraculous recovery. “Thank you, Anders. I would have died if it wasn’t for your daring rescue.”

“Looks like you didn’t need me after all,” he mumbled as he turned and left the room.

Vidar grabbed my face and kissed my forehead. “I was so afraid we’d lost you—not because you’re a Kriger,” he said, sensing I was about to argue with him. “But because I would miss you.”

My father entered the room, and I bolted over to him, throwing my arms around his neck.

“You’re not coughing,” I said, relieved.

“No,” he replied, his voice filled with joy. He held me at arm’s length, observing me. “Anders gave me some more medicine. I’m doing much better. Looks like I’m not the only one, though.” He smiled, his face alight with wonder.

“I healed myself with my own power.”

He kissed my cheek. “Just like your mother.”

“I’ll give you two a moment alone,” Vidar said. He left the room.

My father and I sat on the cot away from everyone else. “There are soldats everywhere,” he said, squeezing my hands. “It’s only a matter of time before they start interrogating citizens. You need to leave, and we must make sure they know you’re gone.”