Then he caught a glimpse of her bright blue eyes beneath thick black lashes. Slowly, she turned her head to face him.
“Magnus?” she whispered, her voice hoarse.
His breath caught. Surely, he had to be the one who was dreaming now. “Lucia . . . is this true? Are you really awake?”
She squinted at him as if the meager amount of light in this room was too much for her to bear. “How long have I been asleep?”
“Far too long,” he managed to reply.
A frown creased her brow. “What about Hana? Is Hana all right?”
It took him a moment to understand what she meant. Hana was Lucia’s pet rabbit, a gift from Magnus that he’d brought back to her at the Limerian castle after a hunt. “Hana is fine. In fact, Mother brought her along for you when she journeyed here to be with us. She arrived a few days after we took over this palace.”
The worry that had been in her eyes lessened. “Good.”
“This is incredible.” He pushed himself up to his feet, wanting to pinch himself to prove he wasn’t asleep. “I didn’t think you’d ever open your eyes again, but you’re here. You’re back!”
Lucia tried to raise her head off the pillow but failed. Her gaze slid around the room as if she was searching for something. For someone.
“You didn’t answer me before,” she said. “How long was I gone?”
“Forever. Or it seemed like it to me. It’s been almost a month and a half since the siege upon this castle.” The joy this moment should summon was dampened as Magnus remembered the girl who’d just lost her life and how she had dutifully attended Lucia for much of the time she was comatose. Lucia would never meet her, could never thank her.
Lucia’s eyes widened. “That long?”
“Father insists on staying here in Auranos as a physical reminder to everyone of his claim upon this kingdom and throne. All of Mytica is now his after . . . after his alliance with the Paelsian chief fell through.” Actually, the king had murdered Chief Basilius during a celebratory dinner. All part of King Gaius’s master plan.
Magnus sat down on the edge of the bed and gazed into Lucia’s eyes. He wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her tight, but resisted the urge. Given the strain between them from when he’d kissed her before, he knew that wouldn’t be wise.
He didn’t believe his heart would recover from her rejection, but here he was, and his pulse pounded hard and fast now that she had finally returned to him. Another chance to prove himself to her. He would not act so impulsively again.
“You’re awake now and all is well,” he said. “How do you feel?”
“Weak. And . . . horrible.” She drew in a shaky breath. “I killed people with my magic, Magnus.”
More than two hundred had died in or because of the explosion, but he chose not to share such distressing numbers with her. “No one blames you for anything that happened. It had to be done. And had it not, we wouldn’t have won. We would be the ones who died. It’s not your fault.”
“That’s what he told me too—that it wasn’t my fault.”
He looked at her sharply. “Who told you?”
She pressed her lips together and looked away. “No one.”
“Who is Alexius, Lucia?”
Her eyes, now wide, returned to lock with his. “Where did you hear that name?”
“I’m told that you whispered it in your sleep.” Something dark and endlessly unpleasant stirred within him.
“Alexius, he’s . . .” Lucia shook her head. “No one. Just a dream. Nothing more than that.”
Before Magnus could ask another question, the door creaked open and the queen entered, alone.
She greeted Magnus with a smile. “I wanted to check on Lucia, to see if she’s—” She gasped and closed the distance to the bed in only a few steps. “Lucia! My darling! You’ve come back to us. Praise the goddess!”
Lucia’s distressed expression froze away. “My, my. What a greeting. I must truly have been close to death to elicit such devotion from you.”
The queen flinched. “I suppose I deserve that.”
Lucia’s face paled. “Apologies, Mother. I—I didn’t mean such poisonous words. I’m sorry. It’s as though I couldn’t hold them back.”
“Nor should you, my darling. You must always give voice to how you feel. Don’t hold it inside.” The queen quickly composed herself and sat down on the edge of the bed. “Do you remember the last time you rose from your slumber? This has happened before.”
Magnus’s gaze shot to her. “It has?”