Agnesa is asking the impossible. I cannot just request a silver healer to come here and tend to my wife.
Agnesa bows and leaves the room.
It takes every inch of discipline in me to not run after her and drag her back and demand she save Annora.
Frustration surges within me as I turn back to face the bed. Annora lies so still, so pale, her chest barely rising with each shallow breath.
I wouldn’t need a silver healer if the gods had given us flames that can mend.
Fuck!
My mother could have saved her, but she is dead. For a moment, I allow that thought, then I shove it to the back of my mind.
Who else could I bring here without having to kidnap them and force them to come to Sharhavva?
My mind does a quick backtrack of the day I overheard Annora talking to her mother in the garden outside of the Bakva fortress. Annora said Emerin is a healer.
The mattress dips as I sit on the edge of the bed and bring my knuckles to Annora’s cool cheek.
Would Annora’s sister come here and save her life? Probably, but only if I managed to fetch Emerin without Asha knowing.
So be it.
I know what must be done.
ChapterForty-Four
JASCE
My heart slamsagainst my chest as I hurry down the corridor toward Reeve’s bedchamber. I would ask Jude to go, but Reeve has stronger magic.
I reach Reeve’s door and rap my knuckles against the solid wood. A moment later, Reeve swings the door open, his gray eyes meeting mine with that unnerving calm he always seems to possess.
“I need you.” I clench my jaw and continue. “Annora has been poisoned.”
His stoic facade falters for a fraction of a second before he regains control, masking any shock with practiced indifference. But I still saw it—the brief tightening of his jaw, the slight narrowing of his eyes. He may be reserved, but he’s not heartless.
“What do you need?” he asks.
“You must go to Bakva with Arian and fetch Emerin, Annora’s younger sister.” My words come out in a rush as I add, “She’s a gifted silver healer.”
Reeve lifts his brow. “You want me to go to Bakva and fetch Emerin, Asha’s sister?”
My heart pounds as precious moments slip away. “Yes, precisely, and you need to hurry.”
“Jasce.” Reeve leans against the doorframe and folds his arms. “You already took one of Asha’s sisters. What do you think she’s going to do when you take another one?”
Asha is the least of my concerns right now.
“I don’t give a fuck what Asha is going to do. I want you to go and get Emerin, so she can save my wife.”
“Should I kidnap her?” Reeve asks, his tone calm, unaffected, as if he just asked me if I wanted a goblet of wine.
“Try asking first.”
“All right.” Reeve straightens from his perch against the doorframe. “But I’m not in the habit of asking more than once.”
“I’m aware.”
