As if he could hear my thoughts, he swiftly pulled away. I curled further into myself, clutching the blankets and trying to conserve the heat he’d given me. For the first time since I became a draken, I wished for more clothing.

“Here.”

I flinched as he threw his tunic at me, but it was still warm from the heat of his body. I let go of any remaining shame as I wrapped it around myself, unable to hide my tremors as my body shook, trying desperately to warm itself. Fuck, it was getting worse.

“Are you ill?”

Are you stupid? I wanted to rage at him, but my teeth rattled against my brain, and I felt too awful to pay him any mind. My chest hurt from the intense shaking, making it difficult to breathe. My breathing turned shallow and full of pain.

Thad’s face went white. “Shit.”

My chains rattled in the bed as he raced across the room, scattering bowls and utensils in his wake as he fussed around his small table. Then he was back, tipping his goblet towards my lips. I pressed them tightly together, refusing. I’d just throw it back up!

Thad exhaled in frustration and set the goblet down. He stared at me shivering on the bed, his eyes filled with warring emotions. Then in one smooth movement, he removed his boots and slid into the bed next to me. One arm snaked around my waist and pulled me into his chest, and I gasped at the heat radiating from his skin. Thad gathered the blankets on top of me, surrounding me in a cocoon of warmth. His fingers grasped at a few strands of my hair, pushing them out of my face.

I squeezed my eyes shut, miserable and just wanting it all to end. I hadn’t been this sick since I was a child at the breeding manor. Thad was silent alongside me, a living heating pad as we both quietly lay in the bed with our arms around each other. After a while my shivering finally subsided, and I fell asleep. I didn’t notice Thad slip away; his eyes narrowed in determination.

Chapter Eight

Benedict

“Princess Kali.”

Her low-cut gown shimmered in the night light, the torches bouncing off the gemstones embedded in the fabric. Her green-blue eyes were wide with innocence, her thin hands delicately twisting at a curl of hair that had escaped her blonde tresses. Her full lips were separated in a deliberate pout.

“My father sent me. He has an important message for you.”

I looked beyond her, ensuring no one was around to observe us. She stuck her foot into the crack of my door, and I had no choice but to open it further. She slithered inside, and when I turned around, she was nose-to-nose with me.

“What do you want?” I asked levelly.

Her eyes roved over my bare chest, and I gritted my teeth. The dress, the demeanor—I tried to staunch the growl rumbling within my chest. It was extremely clear what she wanted.