Broken by C.K. Bryant Read Free Book Online

reached for the door handle, then stopped when it pushed open from the other side.
    “Excuse me, Your Excellency,” Ussay said as she poked her head through the small opening.
    “You dare interrupt our conversation?” the king roared.
    “Father, our conversation is over. ” Octavion turned to Ussay. “What is it?”
    She smiled. “I believe she is waking.”
    He looked over her shoulder to see Kira lying on the bed, not moving. “Are you certain?” He swung the door open and brushed past her. “Why is she on her back? I gave you instructions to keep her on her side.” He sat on the bed.
    “She did that on her own. I went to move her and she said ‘no’. So I asked her if she wanted to stay on her back and she nodded. She has never responded to my questions before.”
    He lifted her hand and squeezed it tight. “Kira.” But she gave no response. “Kira. Can you hear me?”
    She moaned and her fingers twitched in his hand.
    “Kira. You need to wake up.”
    She moaned again and mumbled, “Octavion?” She swallowed, her dry throat making a clicking sound.
    “I am right here. Can you open your eyes? I need to see your eyes, Kira.” His racing heart leapt into his throat. Please wake up, please.
    Slowly her eyelids lifted, but then she clamped them shut and shook her head. “They hurt . . . I can’t.” She swallowed again. “I’m thirsty.”
    “Ussay, get her some water—hurry.”
    Ussay stepped to the bedside table and poured from a pitcher into a small cup. She handed it to him with shaky hands. A tear streamed down her face.
    Octavion smiled up at her. “She is awake.” Fragile hope and joy roared through him. He gently lifted Kira’s head and supported it while she took a swallow of the water.
    “Good girl. Take a little more,” he coaxed.
    She gulped another mouthful before her body relaxed against the covers.
    “Do not go back to sleep.” He handed the cup to Ussay, then leaned in and whispered in Kira’s ear. “Kira, my love . . . if you open your eyes, I will let you cuddle.” He straightened enough to see her face.
    She smiled.
    “Promise?” She gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
    “I promise.”
    She took in a staggered breath. Her eyelids slowly tested the light, squinting and blinking. “Why is it so . . . dark?”
    It was late evening but there was still plenty of light in the room and the drapes were wide open. When she finally opened her eyes wide enough so Octavion could see them, his heart sank. Her beautiful green eyes—the same ones that sparkled like cut emeralds—were dark and lifeless.
    “What can you see?” he asked, not wanting to know the answer. How much permanent damage had the poison and Darkord blood caused? He’d never heard of either causing blindness or even impaired vision.
    She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Just . . . dark shadows.” Her body relaxed as she drifted back to sleep.
    “Kira,” he said a little louder.
    She jerked awake. “Don’t . . . I want to sleep,” she begged. “Please . . . let me . . . sleep.”
    “Shh . . . be still, my love. Sleep. I will be here when you wake.” He could see now that there was no way he’d be able to keep her awake. He could only hope she would become more and more alert in the hours to come.
    She lay there a few more minutes in silence. When he lowered her hand to her side, she moaned. “Octavion?”
    “I am here,” he said.
    “You said . . . cuddle.” The words were barely a whisper, but his heart leapt knowing she was alert enough to know what she wanted.
    He went to the other side of the bed and slid under the covers, then pulled her near. She responded by snuggling closer.
    “I . . . missed you,” she mumbled.
    A lump threatened to choke back his words. “I missed you too.”
    Ussay wiped the tears from her face, walked to the drapes and pulled them partially closed, leaving a small stream of light splashing across the floor. “I will be in your dressing chambers if you need