“Yeah, right.” Vetta rolled her eyes. She glared at Danika, feeling satisfaction
when she saw her red handprint on Danika’s face. Her only regret was that she didn’t
strike her harder
. Vetta consoled herself with the fact that she could deal with Danika now that the
king was sick. No one for her to consider. No one to stop her. She was the power and
authority now. Of course, Baski was also in charge, but she wasn’t an obstacle.
Danika walked past them and sat down on the chair beside the king’s bed. Baski
helped her with the bowl of icy water and a wet rag. Danika dipped the rag into the
bowl and placed it on the king’s burning forehead. He stiffened, his jaw clenching.
The same reaction they all got.
“Yeah, right,” Vetta snorted. “We shouldn’t waste our time with her, Baski. I don’t
know what gave you the idea that he would welcome the touch of the daughter of the
man that destroyed him!”
Baski and Chad both stiffened at the reminder. But they said nothing.
Danika withdrew the wet cloth and raised her other empty hand. She placed her
palm on his forehead and rested it there. Gradually, the stiffness left his body, and he
relaxed back into unconsciousness.
Baski and Chad released a breath they didn’t know they’d been holding. “Yes, I
knew you could do it, Danika,” Baski said, her relief apparent.
Vetta was dumbfounded as she watched Danika give the king’s face a cold bath
while resting her hand on him. How was this possible? For the first time in as long as
she could remember, Vetta went numb inside as she wondered how in heaven this was
possible.
“We’re going to leave him in your care now, Danika, and—” Baski began.
“We won’t do anything of the sort!” Vetta stated angrily.
Baski whirled around and faced her. “It has been a long day, and the king is
unwell. We should give him time to recover, Mistress.”
“We should! But we aren’t leaving him in the care of this snake! Never! I refuse
that! What if she poisons him!? Or harms him!?” she snarled, her eyes blazing.
“Danika is not that kind of person, Mistress,” Baski said calmly, surprising Danika.
Vetta’s cheek turned up angrily. “How would you know what kind of person she
is!? Just because Remeta had some misguided notions of her doesn’t make her a saint,
Baski! This woman hates the king as much as the king hates her! Why would we
leave him in her care!? Never!”
Danika turned towards them and looked an uncertain Baski in the eyes. “I would
never do anything that would hurt the king,” she vowed.
“How dare you speak when you aren’t spoken to!?” Vetta took two steps forward,
ready to strike her hard on the face again. But Chad moved in front of Danika,
blocking Vetta’s path.
“Get out of my way, right this minute!” Vetta commanded, her anger boiling.
“I can’t do that, Mistress.”
She stuck Chad hard on the cheek. “I said, get out!”
He didn’t blink an eye. “No. I can’t do that.”
She raised her hand again, but Baski intervened. “The king is sick! The king is
unwell! This shouldn’t be what we’re doing right now!”
Vetta closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She forced herself to put her hand to
her side. That was when she realised she had hit Chad. She’d hit him and she’d been
ready to hit him again.
Chad watched her carefully, and Baski looked at her like she was a stranger. Vetta
raised her chin, refusing to feel shame. He didn’t have to block her path, but he did! It
was his fault.
“The king is unwell,” Baski continued. “We have to give him the time he needs to
recover. He needs peace and quiet. We can settle our differences when he’s better
again. We shouldn’t disrespect him by shouting and fighting in his chambers.” She
stared pointedly at Vetta, who finally ducked her head in shame then.
Baski turned to Danika, whose attention was on the king, and she was still running
the wet cloth down his cheek. Her touch was so gentle it was obvious she was
deliberately doing her best not to hurt him. Baski watched the rise and fall of the
king’s chest. He looked more relaxed than he had been all day.
“Danika,” Baski called.
Danika turned towards her. “Yes, Madam Baski.”
“I’m leaving the king in your care. Take good care of him. I’ll come in to check up
on him as much as possible, but he needs rest now. We will all leave him to you.”
“Alright, Madam Baski. I’ll take care of him,” Danika whispered.
Chad was still watching Vetta when Baski told them it was time for all of them to
leave. “When did you change so much?”he suddenly asked.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.” Vetta whirled around and marched out of
the king’s bedroom, still reeling in anger. Why did it have to be Danika seeing to the
king when she was his mistress!? What kind of insult was this!? As she marched
away, Vetta’s anger was boiling to the point she was shaking with it.
Chad turned to Baski. “Did she change? Or was she always like this?” he asked
calmly, his face so unreadable he reminded Baski of the king.
Baski took a deep breath. “I don’t know, Chad. I don’t know anything anymore.”
Chad said nothing and walked out of the door, too.
Baski watched him. Both men were so similar, and she knew it was because of
how long they’d been together. Chad had been with King Lucien since they both were
twelve. She turned to have one last glance at the king and Danika, who was running
the water down the king’s neck carefully and tenderly.
He’s in safe hands, she thought with conviction. Then she turned and walked out of
the bedroom.