Hated by her lineage, Iliya Dalaminai dwells in self isolation, awaiting the day her cousin marries so she might escape the Throne.
Feared by the Gods, Sorein Chakrine's crown is mainly a relic put on display at royal ceremonies to ward off evil.
Wh...
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A slow, rhythmic beep broke through the darkness of her mind, greeting her with silence. Memories flooded through her mind as she realized a mechanism to her left would be pulsing with soft violet light.
The Infirmary.
She was in the Infirmary.
Iliya's body ached as if she'd been drowned in tar and left to suffocate. She wondered if this sensation even came close, considering her lungs were burning as she took a few deep, rasping breaths.
Her abdomen burned as though she'd been stabbed with a weapon fresh from the forge.
Cracking one eye open, Iliya peeked around the room and found it empty. She blinked, vision honing on a figure sulking in the corner. The blond hair gave away enough, despite how puzzled she was that he was the only one.
"You're brooding," she rasped, her voice breaking against the gravel of exhaustion.
Noah's eyes widened as she spoke, his head snapping to her bed. He uncoiled from the chair quickly and lifted himself, brown eyes sullen and dark.
Iliya couldn't place the heartbroken look in his eyes.
"You're awake..." he whispered.
Bandages strained as she lifted her arm, the movement cut short.
Peering down, she noticed the mummified state of her body and stiffened. "Wha-what happened to me?"
"You've been unconscious for nearly a week."
He frowned, his gaze raking over her frame, searching for a place to begin. Noah's attention seemed distant. He forgot her question entirely and continued staring down at the bandages covering her whole abdomen.
"Noah," she croaked again. "What happened?"
Shaking his head, he snapped out of it. "No one is certain how, but— the Temple collapsed... You and Sorein were the only ones left inside and, well... The barriers protecting the City of the Lost from our plane were destroyed. You were both attacked..."
Noah began coaching himself as they shared another silence. Even as her vision blurred in and out of focus, she could see him mouthing things under his breath.
"Sorein–" she said, the taste his name a reminder. "Is he okay?"
He nodded, staring out the glass window into the entry room. Most of the Guards were at home with their families recovering or healthy enough to assist Destry now. Iliya had the entire room to herself, which was why she found it odd no one greeted her.
"Did he– I mean, was he the reason–?" Noah asked, barely audible. "They're not letting him in..."
Shock rippled through her body. "The reason for what?"
"Destry wants to speak with you before they allow him to see you."
"I don't understand."
"Your organs... Halavesta told us the internal bleeding was so severe you might not've made it a moment longer..."
