Chapter 31

Clara

Nora was quiet during the royal healer’s examination. She sat on the examination table with her arms tightly curled around her stomach. Despite the warmth of the room, she shivered.

I stood nearby and felt utterly useless. Nora was frightened, and that was strange. She never showed fear.

The healers treated the bruise on Nora’s face with spicy-sweet smelling wound salve. The healer asked if she was hurt anywhere else.

“I’m fine,” Nora said in a hoarse whisper. “It’s just a bruise.”

“You are probably right,” the healer agreed, “but it is best if we check, anyway. Shock can hide wounds, you realize.”

Nora nodded, and loosened the fastenings of her dress. I offered to leave to give her some privacy. Nora caught my hand in an iron grip and shook her head. So I stayed.

With Nora in just her underdress, I could see the pale lines of old scars on her neck and shoulders. I didn’t remember her being injured like that, but I did remember how she switched from the lighter, low cut blouses she once preferred to a higher, more modest neckline. I had assumed that her mate insisted. Now, I wondered if she’d chosen it to hide the marks.

Why did she put up with so much from that horrible man? Did she know he was really a monster, a vampire hiding among us? Why didn’t she ever tell anyone?

Why didn’t she tell me?

I thought back to when I had first seen Kyle. He was a stable hand, I thought. I never saw him go to work. Whenever I saw him, he was lazing about the rooms he shared with Nora. I never saw him outside.

Where had he come from, really? I wracked my mind and I couldn’t recall. One day, Nora had been my friend and we had lived next to each other in the dormitories. Then we were both banished to our solitary quarters near the stables. At some point, Nora had a mate.

I realized, then, that I didn’t even remember her bonding day. Surely I must have been there. Who else would Nora call on to be her witness? We were best friends. She had no parents, no other close kin.

It only made sense that I would have been there, that I would have been Nora’s witness. But I had absolutely no memory of her bonding ceremony. One day she had been alone, like me. Another day she was Kyle’s mate.

Had they had their bonding ceremony in secret? It was the only thing that made any sense. But why would Nora do that?

Why had I never questioned it? Why had I never reported Kyle for hurting Nora? I should have taken the matter to a supervisor.

The maid’s supervisor might not have cared to do anything. I know she never cared to do anything about the bullying we both endured. But the stable master was known to run a tight ship.

The stable master would never have looked the other way if he learned that one of his workers was abusing his mate. I knew that. I had seen him drag one under the lash for exactly that crime. So why had I never said anything?

I remembered Nora saying that I should not get involved. She warned me off time and time again. I never understood why.

Now, I thought I had an idea why she warned me. She was afraid. Who know what he had threatened her with in retaliation for any interference in his actions?

Was it possible Nora didn’t know he was a vampire? I didn’t know how she could have remained ignorant, since he was her mate. But then, why wouldn’t she turn him in? What hold did he have over her? Could he still threaten her, even now?

I needed to ask Nora so many questions. But I didn’t dare say a word in front of the royal healers. They would have to report anything we said to Prince Gideon. And if Nora had known there was a vampire among our people, then she was a traitor. Even if she’d had no choice.

“All right,” the royal healer said, “I don’t see any sign of recent injuries.”

Nora nodded. “I really am fine,” she insisted. “It was just a bruise, that’s all.”

“Hm. Well, that’s quite impressive. Not many people can claim they met with a vampire and came out of it uninjured except for a bruised jaw,” the healer said.

Nora shrugged. “The guards came quickly. They stopped him from hurting me.” She paused, and squeezed my hand. “Clara brought them in time.”

The royal healer patted our joined hands. “It is good that your friend was so quick to get help. I should look you over as well, Clara, just to be sure.”

I drew back, alarmed. “He didn’t touch me,” I signed.

Nora translated.

“Be that as it may, I want to be sure. You were in here recently after a violent altercation with a Rogue werewolf, and now you’ve faced a vampire,” the royal healer said. “The vampires have many tricks, you know. It is possible he attacked you, even injured you gravely, and forced you to forget.”

Vampires could make people forget things? Was that why I didn’t know how long he and Nora had been mates, why I couldn’t remember their bonding? Was that why Nora had stayed with him? How much control did Kyle have over her mind?

I shivered, but nodded when the healer moved towards me. His touch was gentle and professional. He paused several times to check if a certain touch or movement hurt, and waited for me to sign my answer to Nora and for her to translate. My examination took longer than Nora’s because I could not answer directly, but the healer showed no signs of impatience.

“Well,” the royal healer said when he was done, “It seems that the both of you were very, very lucky indeed. I don’t see any signs of significant injury.”

“Yes, we were lucky,” Nora agreed. “May we go rest now? I don’t know about Clara, but I’m absolutely exhausted. I can’t stop,” she took a deep breath. “My hand won’t stop shaking. I’m sorry, it’s embarrassing. I promise I’m all right.”

“That’s shock, dear,” the healer said gently. “And yes, exhaustion. It’s a perfectly normal reaction to sudden violence. I’m going to make up some soothing tea for both of you. I want you both to steep a packet of this for three minutes, let it cool, and drink it all down. It will steady your nerves.”

Nora and I both nodded dutifully as the royal healer moved around, gathering a pinch of one medicinal herb and a spoonful of another. In very little time, he had two small bags of tea. I took one and Nora took the other.

I gave mine a delicate sniff. It smelled like the tea my foster mother used to give me when I had nightmares. That always helped me sleep. Maybe this one would chase away my new fears.

“Now, if you want a glass of wine to settle yourselves, well, that’s perfectly fine too,” the healer added. “This tea won’t cause any adverse effects with wine so go ahead if it helps.”

“Thank you, Healer,” Nora said.

I signed the same, even knowing the healer didn’t understand.

The healer patted us each on the arm and escorted us to the entrance to the Healer’s Wing.

“Can you make it back to your rooms all right?” the healer asked, “Or should I summon someone to escort you?”

Nora shook her head. “No, we’ll be fine.” She paused. “Clara’s going to stay with me tonight. Right, Clara?”

I nodded. I hadn’t even thought about going to my own rooms. How could I sleep with so many questions bouncing around inside my head?