15

I feel a strange emptiness inside me, and my voice becomes quiet. “I don’t know what I like. Nobody’s ever asked me before.”

Harriet sighs, putting her hands on my shoulders. “Then maybe you should try to figure that out.”

When I turn around to go show Melody the dress, I see Cedric leaning against the doorframe. Startled, I immediately step backward, right into my maid. “When did you come in?”

He doesn’t answer my question. “Let’s go,” he say shortly.

I look at Harriet, who doesn’t meet my gaze. Did she know that he had entered the room? Why not warn me so I wouldn’t go running my mouth?

The designer fusses over me, and Cedric is the one to choose the color schemes of the dresses I like. Before he decides, though, he makes me try on each and every dress. My feet are beginning to hurt, and I’m tired from changing dresses every twenty minutes. Aside from the ones I already chose, he has Melody bring out more dresses, and I have to try them on as well.

It’s strange to see him so focused on me. He studies me with a critical eye, and when my stomach begins to rumble, he finally says, “That’s enough. Harriet, set out lunch for us. You have the selections, Melody. My mate wants her dresses by this weekend.”

I do?

Melody nods, and the maids gather the dresses.

“Don’t you need my measurements?” I ask hesitantly.

She gives me a sharp smile, tapping the side of her head. “I don’t use measuring tapes, ma’am. My eyes do the work. I’ll try to get your dresses to you before the end of the week.”

Once she’s gone, I try to return to my bedchamber, but Cedric stops me once again. “Where are you going?”

“To my room,” I snap before I can stop myself. He raises a brow at my tone, and I instantly regret it, but the damage has already been done. Trying to keep my voice lower and calmer, I add, “I’m tired. I would like to rest.”

“You can rest after lunch,” he says in that domineering tone of his that I’m beginning to hate.

This has to be some new method of his to torture me. Can’t he see that I don’t want to spend time with him and his lover? Speaking of whom, Bella looks like she’s about to burst from being ignored.

“I always have lunch in my room.” I make a second attempt to escape, but he wraps his hand around my wrist and begins leading me out of the sitting room.

Bewildered, I looked toward Bella, who avoids my gaze. Am I missing something here? Why is he acting this way? What is he trying to do? Is he trying to use me to make her jealous? I can’t make any sense of this man’s actions. Till yesterday, he didn’t care whether I lived or died in a corner of this castle, and now all of a sudden he’s interfering in my affairs. I can’t believe that the man who brought me here and treated me so callously could possibly care if I’m being mistreated by his people, by his lover, or even if I’m starving to death.

I’ve never once set foot in the dining room since my arrival here two weeks ago. Like every other room in this castle, it is extremely dreary. Platters of food are being set out as we arrive, and Cedric forces me into a chair. “Sit.”

On the table, I see a roasted leg of lamb, braised duck, a variety of potatoes, and several other dishes that I’m sure I can’t eat. Meals in the Northern Kingdom are heavier than what I was accustomed to in the East. Although I only ever got to have the leftovers, if anything at all, I know the food was incredibly light compared to what the Northern wolves eat. They like to fill up on fats and proteins, most likely to combat the cold. But my stomach doesn’t respond well to such heavy foods. The healer has put me on a specific diet to try to reverse the damage on my insides. It’s a futile effort, in my opinion, but he’s determined to see it through.

Cedric fills his plate, and when he sees that I’m not touching anything, he looks displeased. “What? You don’t like the food here?”

Harriet chooses to show up with another tray for me at that moment. “The queen cannot eat our heavy fare yet, Your Majesty. Healer Pat has put her on a special diet. She is supposed to have broth and lighter meals.”

Cedric glances at the bowl she puts in front of me, and he scowls. “Are you trying to starve her?”

Harriet bristles. “You can ask the healer. I’m just following his orders.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You just need to eat something. You’ll be fine.”

My maid opens her mouth to argue, but I shake my head at her. I don’t want her to get in trouble because of me.

I reach out and take a piece of the roasted lamb. Not yet satisfied, he watches me as I slowly start to consume the meat. After a few bites, I feel a wave of nausea. However, he’s watching me too closely; I have to keep eating. Harriet looks tense, and I see her try to intervene again.

But it’s too late. My stomach begins to burn, and I wrap my arms around it. Harriet moves forward, her eyes widening as she recognizes the symptoms.

Cedric frowns. “What’s she—”

I don’t get to hear how his question ends because Harriet shoves an empty bowl in front of me just as I begin throwing up blood. I clutch at her, the agony eating me alive.

Alarmed, Cedric jumps to my side, rubbing my back. “What’s wrong with her?!”

“I told you, she can’t eat! Not yet. She needs time! Call Healer Pat!” Harriet shouts as I hold on to her for dear life.

It feels like someone is sharpening their knife on my insides. There was a time when I would vomit like this after being forced to eat by Vivian, and she would just watch me and laugh. Vivian knew how painful it was for me to throw up the blood and food. It amused her, and when she was tired of it, she would make me clean it up.

Did Cedric do this to me on purpose? Is my mate enjoying this?

I choke out a strangled sob as I throw up blood once again. “H–Harrie—” I gasp, tears streaming down my face. My fingers are gripping her dress. “Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me alone with him. Make it stop! Please, make it stop!”

Her lips press together, her eyes flashing with a harsh emotion. Her voice is gentle though. “I’ve got you, Miss Leanna. I’m right here. I’ve got you. You’ll be fine.”

My vision is growing dim.

She tips a glass of water to my mouth. “Drink. It will help.”

I slump against something. From the rumbling vibration, I realize it’s Cedric’s chest. I smell like vomit and blood. He’s going to push me away in an instant, I’m sure. However, he scoops me into his arms and barks, “Tell the healer to come to my room. I’m taking her there.”

I feel myself fade in and out of consciousness. As he carries me away, I wonder, what’s happening now? Why is he treating me this way? What is he planning this time?

My vision is blurry as I stare at his face. Why is his expression so fierce? Why does he look so angry? Why is he so upset?

Darkness finally wraps me in her cold embrace, and I sink into it willingly.

Anything to get away from this pain.