Chapter 44: Cold Comfort

Karina’s frustration, which had been simmering at a low boil ever since Drystan dropped from the sky, instantly boiled over. She yanked her arm back.

"Let go of me," she hissed. "I am fine. I am perfectly fine. Now leave me alone. I am tired and not in the mood for your honeyed words."

Cassian didn’t flinch at her anger. He simply let his hand drop, his long fingers curling loosely at his sides. He looked at her flushed face, the angry set of her jaw, and the way her chest heaved with residual adrenaline.

Slowly, the concern in his eyes softened. He took a step back, giving her the space she so clearly craved.

"I understand," Cassian said quietly. "I apologize if I overstepped. I was merely checking on you. The courtyard was.....chaotic, and the Dragon King’s arrival was unexpected. I only wanted to ensure you were unharmed."

Karina crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her glare unwavering. "I am unharmed. Now, if you are quite finished playing the concerned guardian, I have matters to attend to. Good day, Lord Cassian."

Cassian offered a small smile, a stark contrast to his usual smirk. "As you wish, Your Imperial Majesty. I will take my leave."

He gave a bow, turned on his heel, and walked away from her.

Eh?

Karina blinked, staring at the empty doorway. Wait. That’s it?

An unexpected pang of guilt twisted in her chest. He was just worried, she realized, her shoulders slumping. He saw me storming out, looking like I was about to commit murder, and he actually cared enough to check on me. And I treated him like a stray dog.

She rubbed her temples, feeling a massive headache blooming right behind her eyes. "Sigh. Whatever," she muttered to the empty hallway, shaking off the strange feeling. "I don’t have time to feel bad about hurting a pretty boy’s feelings."

Her maternal instincts, which had been on high alert since Drystan’s terrifying arrival, were screaming at her to get to her son. Valen had been unceremoniously escorted to his room by guards after the dragon had insulted him. The poor baby had to be terrified.

Karina spun around and marched out of the study, her heels clicking a rapid staccato against the floor.

As she navigated the corridors of Shadow’s Edge, her mind raced, re-evaluating her entire strategy. She had just told Leonidas, in no uncertain terms, that she would remain in this miserable castle until the rabid plague mystery was solved. She had promised herself she wouldn’t let the sickness harm her son.

But now.....

Upon further thinking...

Drystan was here. Her second husband. A literal, fire-breathing dragon who had bypassed border security, landed in a sacred courtyard, and called her six-year-old son a "filthy little mutt." If Cassian hadn’t punched him out cold, the scaly narcissist might have actually tried to burn them to ash.

Maybe I should just leave, Karina thought, her pace quickening. Maybe I should pack up Valen, and flee back to the imperial capital right this second.

She weighed the options in her head. Staying meant dealing with a groveling, emotionally constipated Panther King, a delusional mistress who was probably plotting something stupid, and now, a violently arrogant Dragon King who wanted to annul her.

Just leave, a treacherous voice in her head whispered. Just get Valen and run.

"Mew he he he! Host! Are you reconsidering your trip here?" Cheshire’s robotic voice suddenly chimed in her head. "Remember, you still need to visit the Cheetah Plains, and the Snake swaps!"

I am not leaving because of a stupid system quest. I am leaving because a literal dragon threatened my child!

But the plague, host! Cheshire argued. If you leave, the plague might spread to the capital! Do you want your favorite honey cakes to be infected with zombie-rabies?

Karina’s steps faltered. She stopped in the middle of the corridor, squeezing her eyes shut.

Damn it.

If the healers had no idea what was causing it, running away wouldn’t solve anything. It would just follow them. She had the resources of the entire empire at her disposal. She had to stay. She had to fix this.

"Fine," she muttered out loud. "I’ll stay. But if one more man yells at me, I will self destruct."

She took a long breath, pushing away her frustration and her exhaustion. She was the Empress. She was a mother. She needed to be strong for Valen.

Karina finally reached the door of Valen’s private quarters. She turned the brass handle and pushed the door open.

"Valen, sweetie, I’m so sorry about—"

The words died in her throat.

The room was slightly dark, the heavy velvet curtains drawn partially against the afternoon sun. The air in the room felt unusually still, and there was a strangely sweet scent lingering in the air, like crushed berries and heavy cream. Karina’s nose twitched, but her attention was entirely consumed by the small figure sitting on the plush bed.

Valen wasn’t playing with his toys. He wasn’t reading his books. He wasn’t even crying.

He was sitting perfectly still on the edge of the mattress, his small hands resting limply in his lap.

But it was his face that made Karina’s heart break in her chest.

Valen’s face looked completely cold.

His purple eyes, usually so expressive and full of cautious hope, were dull and hollow.

The sight of it broke her heart into a million jagged pieces.

"Valen?" Karina whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she took a hesitant step into the room. The sweet, cloying scent in the air seemed to grow stronger, but she ignored it, her entire focus on her son. "Valen, what’s wrong? Why are you sitting in the dark?"

Slowly, Valen turned his head to look at her. His gaze was entirely devoid of the trust she had been working so hard to build.

He looked at her, and opened his mouth.

"Did you put that goblet there for me?" he asked.

Karina froze, her brow furrowing in confusion. She looked past him toward the vanity table in the corner of the room, where a silver goblet sat catching the dim light, but her brain couldn’t process what he was saying.

"What?"