to anymore. Look,” Emanuel said and they all looked at the fading of the black and purple. When the color moved away from his cheeks a pink, healthy rose color emerged and moved down his neck. King Helmut tore off the guard’s shirt.
We all watched how all the veins inside his body ran down his body back to his leg. I remembered what Sammy had told me that day, only a very old Swallow Annex could heal a Hippogriff’s sting.
“It’s a miracle,” one of the men with tears in his eyes said.
“No, it’s not.” King Helmut put his hands on the guy’s shoulder. “It was Elena.”
HE GUARD BEGAN to cough and King Helmut gave him some space to breath.
“Thank you.” The guard closest to me grabbed me and pulled me into his huge gorilla arms. “You saved my little brother.”
I hugged him back. “You’re welcome.”
The staff all cheered and to be honest, I didn’t know what I felt inside of me. I knew I’d heard his voice again. It was Paul’s voice, but it’d spoken for the first time in the language I knew. It didn’t make any sense as Paul wouldn’t have saved this man’s life. He would have let him rot and die.
Unless, what if this man….?
I shook my head. No, it can’t be. King Helmut trusted all his men. There is no way this guy was a traitor, working with Paul trying to get close to King Helmut. I could see it in his eyes, he wasn’t a dark person. He had gentle eyes that begged me to save him. Queen Margerite’s voice entered my thoughts. Our minds play tricks on us in times of desperation.
“Elena, are you okay?” Emanuel asked me.
I nodded. “I’m just tired.”
He smiled. “Do you know what you did tonight? You saved a man from a horrible death.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I know.”
He wrapped his big ogre arms around me. Why hadn’t I had this ability a couple of months ago? I could’ve saved him.
My entire body felt drained but I still managed to sob silently. Brigitte’s voice was right next to me in a flash.
“I’ll take her to her room,” she said.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll take her,” Emanuel said and lifted me up like a small child, carrying me to Lucian’s room.
He didn’t speak one word and tucked me in Lucian’s bed like a father would his daughter. “Sleep tight,” he whispered and left.
The next day I found the entire lobby set out for a feast. The entire palace, including the staff and guards, all sat in normal clothes around a long oblong table.
Queen Margerite was finally awake and was sitting next to King Helmut. She saw me standing on the stairs and she got up.
Her arms were reaching out to me as she came near. “Our little miracle worker finally woke up.”
I smiled and gave her a hug.
When the hug broke one of the guards stood right next to the queen. He gave me a warm smile.
“Thank you for saving my life last night.”
I frowned. “That was you?”
He chuckled and bowed his head in shame.
“You’re welcome,” I said but couldn’t help but frown. His hair was blond and I knew I’d saved a man with dark hair. Nothing made any sense.
I sat on the chair closest to Queen Margerite and enjoyed the feast with all the staff. It was a beautiful gesture that they celebrated Christmas with all of them together.
Isabel was right, King Helmut was one hell of a ruler. He didn’t deserve to lose both his children.
I even helped with the dishes and around five I went back to Lucian’s room. I fell onto his bed and wished with all my heart that he was here, right now, with me.
My mind didn’t want to play that trick.
A soft knock came on the door.
“Enter,” I said and the queen’s head popped around the door. She gave me a smile and entered.
She had something wrapped up in her hands and I grunted softly which made her laugh.
She came to sit on the bed. “It’s just something small, it didn’t even cost a thing, but I’m sure he would want you to have this.”
My heart stopped for a couple of seconds as she said that last part, and I knew it was something that used to belong to Lucian. She handed me the gift and I tore the paper. I found a leather journal and I had no words when I saw the letters L.M. engraved on the front.
“Are you sure about this?”