Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts

Author:Andrew Shvarts [Shvarts, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Published: 2017-05-30T05:00:00+00:00

“SHE’S HOT,” I SAID, MY hand pressed to Lyriana’s sweat-slick forehead. “She’s burning up.”

“Her body’s fighting off the venom,” Miles muttered. He was sitting on a mossy log, his head resting in his hands. “Or doing the best it can.”

We were in a small, damp grotto a ways off the Markson, hidden behind tall reeds and the canopy of a majestic willow tree. After Lyriana collapsed, our first priority had been to get the hell out of that valley, to find somewhere safe to regroup. Our horses had run off and Muriel had died, poor thing, but the mercenaries’ three horses were still there, so we were able to ride fast. I’d held Lyriana the whole time, pressing her between my body and our horse’s neck. She’d at least been lucid for most of the ride: whispering softly that she was sorry, telling me that she felt cold, smiling weakly at my reassurances that she’d be okay.

That was an hour ago. Now she lay on a bed of mossy grass in front of me, shivering and writhing, unable to even speak. Her eyes were shut tight, her mouth locked in a pained frown. Every now and again, she let out a horrible, weak whimper, and I don’t know if that was better or worse than the silence.

I did know one thing. I would lose my mind if Lyriana died. She deserved so much better than this. I thought of her holding that girl in the cottage, arms slick with blood, trying so hard to keep her alive, working and praying even as life left the girl’s eyes. Lyriana would fight to her last breath to help a person in need.

I couldn’t let her die here. I wouldn’t.

The canopy of the willow tree parted, and Jax came in, carrying a leather flask plucked from one of the mercenaries’ bags. “I’ve got some clean water for her. Like you said.” He knelt down next to me and pressed it to Lyriana’s lips. They parted for just a moment, swallowing a single sip, and then she spat it all back up with a hacking gag. Jax turned away, like he didn’t want me to see the pain on his face. “She’s getting worse, isn’t she?”

“Yes,” Miles said. “Rapidly.”

“Is she going to die?” I’d known Jax my whole life, but I swear I’d never heard him sound so young, so scared.

Miles hesitated, but only for a moment. “I think so.”

“Dammit!” Jax slammed his boot into a nearby stump. I could tell it hurt him, and that he didn’t care. “If I’d just moved a little faster…I could’ve gotten to her in time….”

“It’s not your fault, Jax,” I said softly. I didn’t share his anger or his guilt. Looking at Lyriana, I just felt a horrible, numb ache. It was just so unfair, so wrong. This couldn’t be happening. Not when we’d gone so far. Not after everything we’d been through. Not to her. “How long does she have?”

Miles walked over to us. He crouched by Lyriana’s leg and turned it over very carefully so he could see where she’d been pricked.

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