His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 18: Torn Flesh

Soren carried Theo away while I kept Deyanira entertained. Teatime was always such a pleasure with the Queen Mother. Occasional Monkshood poisoning that weakens my state, more torture sessions for myself or others, and listening to her drivel. Fortunately, I received no more punishments today, though I smelt she sprinkled Monkshood into my tea halfway through.

I did not touch it again.

After enough time passed, making it appear unrushed, I finally announced my departure. Deyanira dismissed me, finding my lack of poisoning far too boring. With composure I did not feel, I managed to leave without the witch calling after me. She’d already stated I was to keep courting Prince Eryx and suggested plans of seduction.

That was torture in itself. I shook off the horror and meandered through the halls. One Were snickered after ’accidentally’ tripping me up but besides that it was a relatively calm trip back to my palace. The entire time my thoughts were filled with Theo’s bloodied back and the life he must have endured until now.

He just needed to hold on a little longer before our escape.

Doubt prickled along my chest. We didn’t even have a plan. What if things get worse for him? Theo was pretty, even through the bruising and swelling, Deyanira commented on it. What if she decides to take him away from me?

I shake away those troubling thoughts. We will escape. Theo can finally find his freedom and so can I.

Once the doors to my palace closed behind me, the calm demeanour I’d feigned crumbled. I kicked off my heels, picked up my skirts and sprinted through the dark, cold hallways. I didn’t know where Theo stayed but as my personal house slave it should be near my bed chamber.

Soren leapt out of a room and relaxed upon seeing me. I slowed my steps and followed him inside the second bedroom closest to mine. Theo is lying on his front, paste and bandages already covering his back. Sweat plasters his brown locks against his forehead and the back of his neck.

He was still entirely naked, the blanket beneath him. I wanted to question Soren about it but then I touched Theo’s forehead and realised he was too hot. The rest of his skin was clammy as well.

To the side there is a bowl full of bloody water. "Can you replace this with fresh water and linens, please?" I whisper to the knight, my gaze not moving from Theo’s resting face. It didn’t look like a peaceful sleep.

Soren quietly left with the bowl, something Margarette should be doing but she was probably napping somewhere or returned home. "I’m sorry," my voice cracked and I winced at the sound of it. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"What..." Theo wheezed. "For?" One of his eyes tried opening but the swelling was too much.

I jolted forward, kneeling by his side. "Don’t," I whisper, tenderly touching the side of his eyebrow where a new cut formed. "Don’t force yourself. This is my fault."

Theo wet his lips and breathed a little heavily before asking. "How?"

Before I can answer, Soren returned. "Rest," I hush and wring the damp linen between my fingers.

"Princess, I can..." Soren trailed off as I look at him. His hand faltered, squeezed into a fist then joined hands behind his back and stepped away, lowering his hand.

"Good work putting the healing balm on," I commented quietly, ignoring the flush of red on the tip of Soren’s ears.

"He has a fever." I begin dabbing his forehead and sliding the cloth along his arms. Theo didn’t try to speak again, which I was thankful for. There was no point in wasting energy. I leaned forward and dropped my voice barely above a whisper so only Theo could hear me. "I will get you out of here."

"I understand," Theo whispered, his eyes still shut. "Always have... Don’t apologise. You’re shackled like me."

I blinked profusely at his words, stunned. He must be hallucinating. How can he not hate me for standing behind his tormentor’s side and do nothing while he was whipped? I’m meant to be protecting him!

Anger simmered in my chest and eyes glistened with unshed tears as I stared at the bloodied bandages on his back before grabbing the spare blanket and tugging it over Theo’s legs and backside. He’d started to shiver.

The plain room was cold with a single window. "Move him to the hearth inside my room." I slowly rose, and put the towel in the bowl. "Put some clothes on him as well."

"Should I put him on the floor?" Soren asked, his expression serious.

Dammit, I forgot my room was almost just as sparse! "Put him in my bed-"

"Absolutely not," Soren interrupted with a grunt. "I can collect one of the sofas in the unused rooms?"

I sighed and nodded. He turned to leave but before he could, I grabbed his arm. Soren’s dark hazel eyes flicked down to where we touched, expression hard, and looked back to my face. "I need you to look after Theo..." I began slowly, watching his eyes narrow slightly after hearing the slight change in my tone. "I need to see Alaric."

Soren didn’t move, his brows tugging into a deep frown. "Please," I whispered, stepping closer. "I don’t want to leave his side and you’re the only person I trust to look after him."

"Your wish is my command." He dropped his head, placed his free fist over his chest.

"Thank you." I placed my hands on his shoulders, held his gaze before rushing out of the room.

I snuck into one of the ’unused rooms’ that remained locked and I’d kept clean, and opened the small wardrobe in the sparse space. After changing into a servant’s outfit, and pinning my hair back into a low, braided bun, I was set.

Instead of seeing Alaric, I was sneaking out of the palace to Ulfstad to start the next steps of mine and Theo’s escape.