her chin rising. In defiance of my opinion, it would seem. “I think it’s a very good idea. And one we must consider. Vojvoda Andrei and his son are invited to the ball next month, are they not?”
“Yes,” Ava replied, relief sparking in her eyes. “They are, Princezna. They’re staying at the palace with the rest of the Rada and their families. It will be a wonderful opportunity for you both to get to know one another.”
“Splendid.” Jarvis clapped his hands and Haydyn smiled, glad to have pleased them.
The walk back to her suite had been ice cold as Matai refused to look at either of us. He opened the door to her suite and shut it softly in our wake. Not one word had passed between the lovers.
“I just can’t believe you’re even considering marrying some stranger.”
Haydyn’s cheeks colored with a deep blush, and I knew she was growing impatient with me. “It may be what’s best for Phaedra. I’m finally doing something worthy of a leader and you’re angry at me?”
“You’re not doing something worthy of a leader. You’re doing what someone else wants you to do. As always!”
She flinched, hurt stark in her eyes.
I instantly felt awful but words of apology stuck in my throat.
“There was never a future for me and Matai,” she whispered sorrowfully, pleading with me to understand. “He’s not of a high enough rank.”
“You can have any future you want, Haydyn.” I gestured out the window. “You can do what you like, love who you love, be who you want to be. And there is nothing they can do about it because they need you.”
Haydyn trembled, clasping onto a bed post. “No.” She shook her head, growing wanner by the second. “Something’s wrong with Phaedra and I have to fix it. Jarvis knows how. The betrothal is a good idea,” she gasped, seeming out of breath.
I was too angry to pay attention. How dare she play the sacrificial lamb when we owed her everything. We couldn’t just take and take from her, ensuring our safety and happiness at the expense of her own. “Haydyn, it’s a good idea. But not the best idea. Not the only idea. Surely, we can come up with something else. You don’t—”
“Rogan …”
“—know if Andrei of Alvernia is a despicable lout like the rest of the mountain people are supposed to—”
“Rogan …”
“—be. He could—”
“Rogan!” Haydyn gasped and fell toward me. My heart flared in panic as I rushed to catch her. Thankfully I caught her before she hit the ground, but her eyes rolled back in her head and she grew limp and lifeless in my arms.
“Haydyn.” I shook her. “Haydyn.” I shook her harder but her eyes wouldn’t open. She was so pale. So deathly pale. I choked on a sob. “Haydyn! Wake up!” A sob broke out from the pit of my stomach. “MATAI!” I screamed. “MATAI!”
Chapter 5
The room was silent. Like death had crept into the palace and snuffed out all the candles, all the cheer, all the life. I looked around at my companions and swallowed past the constriction in my throat.
“I’ve called you all here for a reason.” I forced out the words.
After Haydyn had collapsed in my arms, Matai burst into the room and he wasn’t alone. For some reason, Wolfe was with him.
Unable to rouse Haydyn, I silently walked through the palace, terrified of spreading panic. I quietly ushered Valena and Raj to the suite. When Raj gravely informed us that he and Valena needed more time to discover Haydyn’s illness, deep suspicion and fear coalesced inside me. I sent a messenger out for Vojvoda Jarvis and Grofka Ava and met them in the grand entranceway before I brought them to my suite where Wolfe and Matai waited.
They paled at the news of Haydyn’s collapse and were outraged to learn it wasn’t the first time. I bore the brunt of their anger.
Finally, Valena called us into Haydyn’s suite. A passing maid’s eyes widened at the sight of our illustrious group, and I shooed her away with a warning that she was not to speak of this to anyone. She nodded before hurrying away.
Inside we were greeted by a very grave Raj. And then he confirmed our worst fears. Haydyn had fallen ill to the Somna. The rarest of illnesses in Phaedra, the Somna, more colloquially known as the sleeping disease, was a mystery to us. No one knew where, why, or what caused it. There had been fewer and fewer records