Dropping her gaze to her feet, she grumbled. Just the thought alone was making her feel sick. “No, but I mean, years of etiquette classes? Really? How does that have anything to do with leading people? Wouldn’t our citizens appreciate seeing someone more like them?”

“Well, you’re not really like them either though, are you?”

Vera’s vision spotted, and she tucked her shoes under her arm so she could press her palms into her eyes. “I guess not. I think it’s mostly the marriage idea I can’t comprehend.”

Reniya didn’t refute that one. Who could? Her father wanted her to give up a mating bond just to push out, what he believed, would be the perfect heir to continue their precious connection.

“Just give it time, Your Highness. Maybe he’ll change his mind once he gets to know you better.”

More spots entered her vision, and she stumbled, blinking rapidly. “Reniya?”

Her friend continued walking. “If you’re about to ask me to help you play hooky, think again. If you don’t show up tomorrow your father will come for my head, and I am quite attached—”

“Reni.” The name had barely rolled off her tongue before Vera stumbled again, dropping her shoes, and slamming into the wall. Her shoulder screamed as it bounced off the stone, all but throwing her to the floor.

She gulped in air, hearing steps run toward her but unable to see anything. Her head was fucking pounding.

“Your Highness?”

Hands grasped her arms, holding her steady as her upper body swayed. Her chest heaved in and out and her muscles felt seconds from giving out as even the weight of her head felt too heavy.

Inhaling slowly, she tried to calm the swirling in her head, but the second she tried to push up off the floor, a stabbing pain shot through her skull. She cried out, twisting her face away from Reniya in time to vomit all over the floor.

“Oh gods.” She couldn’t think past the pain, and her eyes—gods—her eyes.

“Your Highness? Veralie! Tell me what’s wrong.”

Vera heaved again, feeling tears run down her face as she continued to blink blindly. “I can’t…I can’t see.”

“What is it? Can’t see what?” Reniya asked, alarm creeping into her voice.

“Anything.”

Panic overtook her, threatening her consciousness completely as another ear-splitting pain shot through her skull. “Jaren.” She needed Jaren.

“I can’t leave you.”

Vera fell forward, placing both hands on the floor and focused on the cool chill of the stones to center her. It was fine, it was just a headache.

More tears streamed down her face as she squeezed her eyes shut and tucked her knees up under her, curling in on herself and trying to swallow down another wave of bile.

Mentally talking herself through the pain, she rocked forward only to hiss when a sharp sting sliced into her knees.

Her eyes instinctively shot open to see what had cut her, and her suddenly clear sight had her rearing back and falling onto her ass.