-Tales From Meridea, Volume I
When Luci was sixteen, she developed a restless mind that worked well into the night. Thoughts of importance were often overshadowed by replaying moments and conversations that were inconsequential. Fears of the future floated on the tideof her mind under the watch of a crescent moon. That was the first time she discovered that late-night trips in solitude to the kitchen with a book would ease some of the tension from her body.
Which is how she found herself sitting in front of a slice of lavender peach pie, which was not her first of the night. The fact that Brielle had casually mentioned it was the furthest thing from happenstance. Brielle Treveon knew exactly what she was doing when she mentioned it. In fact, Luci was willing to bet good money that Brielle had requested it tonight. It was an offering of sorts. At least Brielle knew how insane this entire plan was.
An uneasy sensation ran over her as she read the same sentence twice. Something about cold compresses for swelling, but warm for pain. Maybe it was the opposite. It was just really baffling that Prince Ira was asleep upstairs in Blythe. If anyone had told her this would happen, she would have snort-laughed at them. Instead, she was on her third piece of pie and feeling uncomfortably full despite the fact that she took another bite.
The flavors of sweet peaches wrapped in the comforting scent of lavender soothed the feelings she was currently running from. Something deep in her chest that ached and screamed to be acknowledged.
“Oh, I apologize, I didn’t realize anyone would be down here.”
Nope. Absolutely not. This was under no circumstances happening.
Luci tried with heroic effort to force the too-large bite of pie down her throat, the force of it creating an ache as it passed through. Her breath caught as her throat constricted and her body remembered that breathing was essential to life, causing panic to rise up her body in chilling waves. Oh, pumpkins, she was going to die choking on pie in front of the prince, whom she was lying to. Excellent.
“Are you all right?” His face flickered with candlelight as he angled it to the side.
Why was he even more handsome beneath candlelight? Why was that even a thought when she was obviously dying?
Luci thumped once, twice on her chest. Her chest ached with the need to breathe.
“Here, take this,” he said, pushing her cup of tea towards her.
That was a terrible idea. There was a blockage in her throat. Did he want her to drown or be asphyxiated? Except it was still warm. Desperate, Luci poured down the warm liquid and nearly collapsed in relief as it helped to dissolve enough of the murderous pie to choke in a gasp of air.
Air. Sweet life-sustaining air. Slowly, she regained her breath, coughing and sputtering. As the newly oxygenated blood returned to her brain, she became acutely aware of Prince Ira gently rubbing her back. It sent warmth wherever he touched, but also a sense of calmness that should not have existed, probably due to her near-death experience.
Reason returned with a vengeance as her body regulated itself once more. He was Brielle’s fiancé. With abhorrent grace, Luci removed herself from her chair and put some healthy distance between the two of them. The infuriating prince’s lips quirked up, showcasing dimples.
“I’m relieved you are alright,” he said.
“I’m fine. Thanks.” Luci took a tentative step forward and swiped up her book, clutching it to her rapidly beating chest.
“Please don’t leave on my account,” he said.
“It’s fine, I was done.”
“Your pie is half eaten, and your tea is still warm,” he said, his eyes flicking down to the book she held.
“It’s not my first piece- I mean, I’m good- I mean,” Luci huffed out a frustrated breath, blowing a dark strand of hair from her face. “I’m done with it.”
To her great annoyance, Prince Ira chuckled and gestured to the seat she had been inhabiting.
“Please, I insist,” he said with too much confidence.
Of course, he did. Only an arrogant royal would demand someone sit when they were obviously trying to get away. The truth was, though, that Luci wasn’t ready to go back to the bed she shared with Brielle. If she were being truly honest, she was mad at her friend. Mad at her for putting her in this situation in the first place and mad that she continued to create an impossible mess.
That was probably why she took her seat and opened her book once more, careful to cover her scars with the sleeve of her dress. When he seemed quite certain Luci was not feral, he took the seat next to her, leaning over to inspect the open book.
“Brielle says your proficiency with medicine is unparalleled.”
Everywhere they tread was littered with glass shards ready to puncture the ruse Brielle had concocted. How much did he know about her health? It was clear enough that the court knew enough, but did he listen to rumors? He would have had to be a fool not to, and while there were many names Luci might call him, fool was not one of them.
“She said it is because of you that she manages her spells,” he said, hesitantly.
“Brielle says much,” Luci bit out.
She could feel his eyes on her, watching, seeing, but instead of acknowledging him, she kept her eyes on the written word before her. None of the words made sense, and they all blurred together, which was fine. Everything was fine.