“What’s her problem?” he nodded at Eliza, still sobbing into Isla’s neck.
“She started her cycle,” I blurted.
He frowned in disgust. “Well, make sure she doesn’t get blood on—”
Blood was the trigger word for the absolute disaster that followed.
Eliza screamed and pushed Isla away from her. She launched herself out of her seat and took off, racing between the other tables when suddenly, she climbed on top of one and batted at things that weren’t there.
“GET AWAY FROM ME!” she shrieked, her eyes wild and unseeing reality.
Three more guards appeared in the courtyard and converged on Eliza.
“Just leave her be!” Riv bellowed. “She’s afraid! Let me help her!”
“Stay back, Miss. We’ll handle this,” the original guard ordered.
Hopeless, I stared as they manhandled Eliza. She kicked, scratched, and cursed to no avail.
“Where are you taking her?!” Isla demanded, chasing after them.
“To the healer! She’s clearly unwell!” one of them replied as he wrestled with Eliza’s legs.
“I CAN’T GO BACK! THOSE BEASTS, THE TUNNELS… I WON’T! PLEASE!” she wailed like a banshee, shattering my heart. The sounds of her pain echoed through the castle and reached us long after they disappeared from sight.
Isla sniffled. “Poor Eliza. What do you think they’ll do? Will they help her?”
“She needs rest. A lot of rest,” Riv replied, staring at where they had disappeared. “Exhaustion makes these things worse.”
Would they help her, though? Or would she be considered damaged goods now? A lost cause? I felt sick to my stomach thinking about it.
“Are you three coming?” Becca asked, and we looked up, seeing her face overhead as she leaned over the banister.
“Be right there,” I said, and she nodded, disappearing from sight. “Come on, before we get in trouble.”
Together, we climbed the stairs and spotted Becca waving.
“You were so good with her, Riv,” Isla whispered.
Riv shrugged. “No big deal.”
“How do you know?” I asked. “How do you know she’ll regain control of her mind?”
We reached the room, and Riv reached for the handle, but before she opened it, she looked back at us. “Because I did.”
With that, she pulled it open and walked through, conversation over. Isla and I looked at each other, but there was nothing to say. If Riv wanted to share more with us, she could, and she knew that. My love for her, though, grew to new depths.
Chapter eighteen
Thesoundsofdelightedwomen surrounded me as we entered the room, and I sighed. This was going to be a long, long day.
"By the stars," Isla exclaimed, looking around the large room that seemed to be covered in silk, satin, tulle, and jewels. Colors and patterns of all assortments assaulted my eyes as I scanned the space. Many of the women were already claiming gowns and accessories. It was challenging to keep my thoughts on anything aside from what was happening right around us. It was chaos.
"We have plenty of gowns for everyone!" a voice shouted over the chatter.
"Who is that?" I asked Riv and Isla as I took in the man who'd just entered the center of the room. With a tape measure slung over his shoulder and a pin cushion in his hand, it was clear what his job was, but this was the first time I had seen him. He was quite tall, with freckles and deep red hair that hung in curls to his shoulders, not one piece out of place.
"My name is Finan, for those of you wondering. I am the royal tailor for the Kingdom Volos. I'm also the one who will be making sure each one of you looks your absolute best tonight!"
