Bloodleaf (Bloodleaf 1)

It hit me like a blow. The nauseating hunger. The thirst. The weakness. I sucked in a hard breath and let go of him, breaking the connection.

“There,” I mumbled, doubled over.

He straightened up. “What did you just do?”

“I made it so you . . . can get out of here.” My voice was hoarse.

His eyes widened. “You’re a—?”

“Shut . . . up and get . . . out of here.”

“What about—?”

“I’ll be . . . I’m fine. Do as I’ve . . . told you and go. Now!” I barked.

He bolted away, springing like a rabbit down the curve of the wall that led past the docks and onto King’s Gate. I dragged myself to the battlements to try to watch him, but my vision was too affected; I lost track of him as soon as he passed High Gate. There was nothing more I could do; either he would make it to Renalt or he wouldn’t. Either he would deliver my message or he wouldn’t. There was no point in worrying now. It was done.

21

I didn’t make it home that night; I spent the hours between Thackery’s release and daybreak stumbling, dizzy and drained, from street to street, every step an effort. At least the last time I’d been half-starved it had come upon me bit by bit, instead of hitting me like a sack of bricks, square in the stomach. By midmorning I had gone only as far as the city square.

Thackery’s hunger was fading, but by now my own exhaustion was setting in. I was sagging against a pillar on the stoop of a textile shop to catch my breath when I heard an exclamation from behind me.

“Emilie?” Kate was exiting the shop, a basket full of cloth held in the crook of her elbow.

I turned and forced a smile. “Good morning,” I said as cheerfully as I could muster.

She threaded her arm through mine. “I’m glad I’ve run into you! With the royal wedding so close now, I’ve got a pile of new orders for engagement-ball costumes. One woman is going as an owl, another—?you won’t believe this—?as

a tree. A tree. And not a good one, either, like a spruce or a weeping willow. No, she’s going as a mulberry. Which I guess is pretty enough, with little berries and such, but we had a mulberry on our property when I was growing up, and it did the most unpleasant things to the birds who ate the berries . . .” She stopped. “Emilie, are you all right?”

I nodded weakly. “I’m fine,” I said.

She looked like she didn’t quite believe me, but continued, “Anyway, with the extra money from those commissions, I bought these”—?she motioned to the fabric in her basket, delicate florals made of downy material—?“so I can finally make a few things for the baby. Aren’t they lovely?” She stroked the cloth dreamily. “Can you imagine a little dressing gown out of this? She’ll look so sweet.”

My vision was blurring a little, but I tried to ignore it the best I could. “She?”

“Oh, yes,” Kate said, beaming at her belly. “She’s a girl. I can feel it. Don’t tell Nathaniel yet, but I want to name her Ella, after his mother.”

We were approaching the lane to Kate’s cottage now, and not a moment too soon; my strength was flagging. It was a struggle to comprehend what Kate was saying—?I had to concentrate on each word.

At the end of the cottage walk, though, she came to a sudden halt. There was a man standing on her doorstep, fist raised as if to knock.

“Dedrick?”

The man whirled around, jaw dropping open. “Katherine? Is that really you?” Then he flew down the walk to sweep her into an enthusiastic hug.

“What are you doing here?” she asked with a broad smile. “It’s been so long since our last letters, I can’t believe you knew where to find me!”

“I was here for Petitioner’s Day, but since it is so close to the prince’s wedding date, I decided to extend my stay until after the engagement ball. That’s why I’m here, actually. I’ve been inquiring about where to go for the best costume and came up with this address. I never dreamed you were the seamstress they were talking about.” He took a step back. “Look at you. You’re an absolute vision. How long do you have left?”

“Just a couple of weeks now,” Kate said cheerfully.

“I always knew you’d make a lovely mother.” He chuckled. “I imagined slightly different circumstances, of course.” His eyes flicked to me, noticing me for the first time. I was puffing, my vision slowly darkening.

“Oh!” Kate said. “I forgot to introduce you. Dedrick, this is my friend Emilie. Emilie, this is Lord Dedrick Corvalis. My—?”

“Friend,” Dedrick said, bowing politely. “And former fiancé.” He winked, then straightened up. He said, “Katherine, your friend doesn’t look well. Maybe we should—?”