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24
Mina shot upright in the bed, drenched in sweat. Erik sat beside her gasping for air, a hand pressed to the center of his chest, and when she turned her head to the blur of white beside her, Mina jumped, smacking her shoulders into the headboard.
“What the hell are you doing in my room?” she croaked, her voice raw as if she hadn’t spoken in days.
“Mina, it worked!” Erik jumped up and knelt on the side of the bed to draw her up into a bone crushing hug.
Her arms went around him weakly, and she inhaled the scent of leather, woodsmoke, and the faint hint of wildflowers.
“Wha-what happened?” she asked, as he pulled away, holding her face between his hands.
“Rain Dancer was startled, and you were thrown from the saddle. Your head hit a cluster of rocks, and I thought…” he shook his head. “I thought I’d lost you.”
She leaned against his palm, enjoying the feeling of his cool palm against her hot skin. “I remember riding, but that’s it. How long was I out?”
“Nearly a week. Your birthday is tomorrow,” he said, tucking hair behind her ears.
“I’ll leave you two to catch up,” Andrea said, backing away, folding her white dress around her like a cloak.
Mina glared at her retreating form. She wasn’t trustworthy in the least. Mina felt it every time the white witch came near. Andrea’s very presence made Mina sick, and the moment the door closed behind her every inch of her body relaxed against Erik’s chest.
“Lie back down, you should rest,” he said, softly.
“No.” She shook her head. “I’m soaked. I need to bathe at the very least. I’ve been in this bed for too long.”
“That can be arranged.” He chuckled and reached behind her to tug the rope for the servant bell. “I can’t believe you’re awake.”
“Me either, if I’m honest,” she muttered, looking at the door again. “I don’t like that witch.”
Erik frowned, following her gaze. “What’s wrong? Did she say something to you?”
“No.” Mina shook her head. “It’s just a feeling I have. I just don’t like her.”
“Okay.” He nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind. For now. Let’s get you that bath.”
As if the woman had been waiting for him to say the word, a servant appeared in the doorway. She cleared her throat. “Yes, Your Majesty?”
Erik released his hold on Mina’s face to stand back on his own to two feet. He smiled wide. “Princess Mina would like a bath. Have one brought in and warmed for her.”
The servant bowed. “Right away, Your Majesty.”
The door closed, and Mina slid her legs to the side of the bed. Someone had changed her into a thin night dress, but it was stuck to her skin like glue. Her back felt sore, her muscles sluggish.
“I had the strangest dreams,” she said.
“What kind of dreams?”
She shook her head and looked up at him. “It doesn’t matter. I’m just glad I’m awake now.”
“Me too.” He nodded as he sat down in the chair beside the bed. “And allow me to apologize now, because it is going to be some time before I let you ride a horse on your own. I’ve never been so afraid in my entire life.”
“I’m sorry I scared you, are you okay? I remember you were hurt. Something happened right before my mind went fuzzy.”
His face turned pale and grim, and his eyes slid away from her to the floor in the distance. “Someone shot an arrow at me. It was enchanted enough to hurt and break the skin, but not nearly powerful enough or well-placed enough to kill me.”
Mina’s eyes went wide. “So either someone wanted to scare us, or you just survived a poorly planned assassination attempt.”
His eyes found hers and he swallowed. “I’m not sure that I was the true target. From the angle it hit…I think you might’ve been who they wanted to hurt. Not me.”
