Bedridden

I didn't give Mother an answer.

I left without a word, and at long last, I made it back to my wing. I walked a turn in the corridor and found Garrick standing at a door.

"Garrick?"

"My liege..." He greeted me in a shifty tone, and I was quick to discern that something was wrong.

I didn't bother to ask as I pushed the doors open and stormed into the room, my eyes briefly dropping on the handmaid and then on Eloise on the bed.

She was unconscious, face contorted in pain, and beaded with sweat. The sight of her in such distress caused a sinking feeling to settle upon me like a tide.

It took everything in me to channel my focus on Garrick and not release my wrath on a first strike.

Garrick could sense this, and his entire body went stiff, keeping his gaze averted from my eyes, which I could tell had an eerie glow due to the red hues in my line of vision.

"I told you to protect her, and I come back to this?"

"My liege—"