Princess of Fire (The Light-Bringer Trilogy, #2)

Seventeen

"Get up," Akaljot barked.

Cal bolted upright. "Is everything alright? What's wrong?"

Akaljot threw open the doors of Lucas's wardrobe. He pulled out a while button-down shirt, a teal vest and blue pants, and put them in his leather satchel. "Your brother was stabbed while out on patrol last night."

Cal jumped out of bed. "Is he alright?"

"The messenger didn't say. Get dressed," he said, closing the door.

Cal went through the clothes she bought and pulled out a white tunic with burgundy cuffs and gold embroidery; a pair of burgundy pants and a matching bodice with gold stitching; a red and gold tailcoat with a hood and leather boots with gold accents.

She put them on and met her father in the foyer. They ran down the stairs and out into the streets. The stars disappeared and the sky lightened as the sun began to rise. The sky was tinged red and orange by the time they were bounding up the hospital steps.

"Scout Lucas Markus Bjorndottir," Akaljot said to the man behind the front desk. "Where is he?"

"He's over here," said Matias.

Cal ran up to him and threw her arms around her beloved. "Thank the gods you're okay," she murmured.

"Can we talk?" he whispered.

She pulled back. "Of course."

Matias led her outside to a snow covered bench under a Speian maple. He brushed the snow off and they sat down side by side.

"I sincerely apologize for what happened last night," he began. "I don't know what happened; I blacked out. But it doesn't excuse what happened. I don't want our relationship to end, but if you want to, I completely understand."

"I appreciate your apology, Matt," she said slowly, "and I don't want to end things. But I need you to be brutally honest with me. When did you start blacking out?"

Matias inhaled deeply. "Last night. First when I forced myself upon you. Then again about an hour into my patrol."

Cal stiffened. "How much time did you lose?"

"I don't know," he answered.

"Matt, we need to tell someone. You losing time-"

"Could be from being poisoned or from falling off of my horse."

"Or it could be from being scratched."

"We don't even know for certain if I was scratched by a demon."

"It's a chance that I don't want to take. We must tell Maria so we can rule out the paranormal before it's too late."

"I don't want to postpone our wedding over this," he said.

"Well we can't push off our investigations into your black outs for the rest of eternity," she retorted.

Matias put his head in his hands. "Fine," he said after a few minutes of silence. "But if we do tell them, I want to tell them tomorrow morning."

Cal pursed her lips. It was better than nothing. "Tomorrow morning. No exceptions." She wrapped her arms around him and he hesitated before returning it. "Everything is going to be alright."

She wished she could believe it.

-

"I'm fine," Matias heard Lucas say as he and Cal entered the hospital. "Really, father. I can go to Calista and Matias's wedding."

"How long has he been doing this?" Cal whispered.

"Since he regained consciousness an hour before you got here," he said.

Cal stood at the foot of Lucas's bed, her arms crossed and green eyes piercing. "I hear my little brother was stabbed while out on patrol last night and that he now wants to attend my wedding."

"It's just a concussion and a few stitches," Lucas exclaimed.

"You were passed out in the street in a pool of your own blood," said Lance by his bedside. He looked as tired as Matias felt with dishevelled hair sticking up every which way and dark half-moons under his eyes. He yawned and scrubbed sleep from his face. "The only clothing that could be salvaged were your cloak, boots, and weapon's belt. They had to burn everything else."

Lucas pouted. "I loved that shirt."

Akaljot held up the satchel. "I brought you new clothes for when the doctor discharges you."

Lucas scowled. "I'm seventeen, not seven. I have been able to make my own medical decisions for three years now. Plus, I feel fine. I just want to go to my sister's wedding."

"What do you remember from last night?" asked Matias.

Lucas furrowed his brows. "Not much, really. The only things I really remember are that our killer has an accomplice and that the accomplice wields shadowfire."

Lance and Akaljot stiffened.

"What is shadowfire?"

"Shadowfire is an extremely rare and corrupted form of magic," the Everlight said slowly. "The children of witches are the only ones who can wield it."

"And it's rare because witches typically end up being killed before they can have children," Matias finished for him.

"Majority of the time," Akaljot corrected. "Over a thousand years ago, before the House of Fire rose to power, the Krigerean city guards would go around Zemlja hunting down witches. They would pay close attention to the children because children can't control their magic as well as an adult can."

"Shadowfire is also extremely destructive," said Lance. "It's as cold as the ninth circle of Helheim but can turn a man into ash in less than a second."

Matias swore.

"Now, can someone get a doctor so I can get my release papers?" Lucas whined.

As if on cue, Daktari approached them. "Scout Bjorndottir," he said as he dragged over a stool. "I'm glad that you're awake. You gave everyone a scare last night. How are you feeling?"

Lucas shrugged. "I just want to be released because those two-" He gestured to Cal and Matias. "-are getting married today."

"Congratulations," Daktari said to them before turning back to Lucas. "A mild concussion and a stab wound to the lower left quadrant of your torso. I would prefer keeping you here for another day at least."

"I'm not even going to do strenuous activities!" Lucas objected.

Daktari shook his head. "I would prefer to play it safe, Scout Bjorndottir."

Lucas leaned back and crossed his arms, scowling. "I'm seventeen years old. I should be able to make my own medical decisions unless proven otherwise."

Daktari inhaled through his nose. "Are you sure that you want me to release you?"

"Yes please."

The medic pursed his lips. "I will go get the papers."