Chapter 150: Headache
Ava blinked up at him, her eyes unfocused but trying to make sense of him. Her brows furrowed. "What...?" she whispered, shaking her head gently and immediately regretting it. "Ugh... headache."
Good. Headache. Understandable. Normal. She was weak. Vulnerable. Open to gentle influence and manipulation. All part of the plan. He exhaled only to freeze when her next word sliced through the air.
"Lucas?"
Herod’s whole body stiffened. Nope. Nope nope nope. That name was supposed to be gone. Deleted. Scrubbed clean. Alaric had sworn she wouldn’t remember.
"If that sorcerer screwed me again, I swear I’ll have him flogged." Herod muttered under his breath.
Ava squinted up at him, confused and half-dreaming. "What’s going on, Lucas?"
Oh, you sweet, lovely idiot, Herod thought.
"Ava, you should get some more rest," Herod said, forcing a smile that was ninety percent panic and ten percent kingly charm. "I’ll call for some tea. Herbal. Or... calming. Do you like mint?"
He stood up too quickly and nearly tripped on the ornate rug. As he stumbled toward the door, he muttered under his breath, "Grand gestures... grand gestures... What the fuck does that even mean?!"
*****
Across the castle, in Alaric’s work space, Queen Eliza stood before Alaric, regal as ever. Her back straight, her chin lifted, and her patience absolutely evaporated. Her golden gown shimmered.