Page 115 of Blood Curse

“I’m on the ground. My options are limited.”

“Try being quiet.”

“Let’s not ask for miracles,” I said.

Bryony’s fingers tightened around my sleeve. “Carry me somewhere the entire court isn’t watching.”

I lifted her before Elias could object. He didn’t waste time trying. He walked beside us with two fingers against the pulse in her wrist while I crossed the lower court.

Nobody blocked our path. The few vampires still outside moved away from the doors. Concern followed us, but they kept it to themselves.

The Crown had failed to keep them and failed to own those who stayed. It answered by slowing the heart of the woman carrying it.

I wanted to tear the metal from her head.

Wanting had already driven its points deeper once.

I carried Bryony into the King’s rooms and laid her on the bed. Elias pulled a chair close, opened his case and put a stethoscope against her chest.

“Again,” he said.

“You heard it the first time,” Bryony replied.

“I heard something. Breathe.”

She breathed while I stood beside the bed and counted every beat. Six came almost normally. The seventh dragged. The eighth stumbled after it.

Elias moved the tube and listened again.

“Is it the Crown?” I asked.

“Unless Bryony developed a heart condition in the last ten minutes.”

“I didn’t,” she said.

“Then yes. It tightened, her pulse stopped, and it eased when her heart started again.”

Bryony looked at me. “It hated the gate.”

“It hated their choice.”

“Good.”

“Your heart stopped.”

“For two beats.”

“Three.”

Her attempt at a smile didn’t reach her eyes. “You always were competitive.”

I sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand. “This isn’t funny.”

“I know. It can still be less terrifying for half a second.”

I turned her hand and kissed her palm. Her pulse moved under my thumb. Slow, but present.

Elias closed his case without putting it away. “The Crown is using more of her body to maintain itself.”