The pounding in my head wakes me. Muffled conversation sounds somewhere. I struggle to open my eyes. Everything is white.
I bolt upright. Have I gone blind?
No. I’m in the infirmary, and I was facing a wall. I recognize the room from when I was here before. Why am I here now?
I struggle to remember. Did it have anything to do with my trying to find the answers about the legend? Something about singing flashes in my mind.
The door opens, and Bash enters. “You’re finally awake. You had us worried.” He hurries over and wraps me in his embrace. “How do you feel?”
“Confused. How’d I get here?”
“You don’t remember?”
“If I did, I wouldn’t be confused.”
He gives me a quick kiss. “We ate with the band, then after we left, you started crying out in pain.”
“Where?”
“Your stomach.”
“No.” I shake my head vigorously, making it hurt. “Where were we?”
“Oh. Outside the restaurant.”
“That doesn’t help.” I frown.
“The bar where we did karaoke.”
“We were there last night?” I struggle to remember.
He nods. “We ate that same dish, talked with everyone until they all left, then we left.”
That sounds vaguely familiar. “Was Neva there?”
“Yes! You remember?”
“Kind of. Still can’t recall anything else. We didn’t sing, did we?”
“Not at the bar. You were worried about—” He looks like he’s struggling to find the right wording. “The results.”
“You mean knocking people unconscious.”
“Basically.”
“So, we went outside and my stomach started hurting?” I strain to remember, but it just seems to make my head pound.
“You were kissing me. I was trying to get you back for curfew.”
Something about that sounds familiar.
He threads his fingers through mine. “How’s your stomach feeling now?”
“Better than my head. I could use some food, actually.”
“It’s almost lunchtime. Wanna eat at the dining hall?”
“Does everyone still hate me?”
Bash squeezes my hand. “I don’t think anyone hates you.”
“Do they think I’m a joke because of the Queen Sirena thing?”
He doesn’t respond.
“That’s what I thought.”
“Ignore them. They aren’t worth it.”
“It’s hard to ignore relentless teasing and stares.”
Bash kisses my cheek. “Then pay attention to me. I’ll tell you how wonderful you are.”
I can’t help but smile.
He grins and gives me another kiss. “That’s better. Let me see about getting you released in time for lunch.”
I’m alone again. I struggle to remember what happened the night before. I place my hand on my stomach, trying to recall the pain that brought me here. Was it something I ate? Or something else entirely?
Something to do with my curse related to the ancient legend? I’ve been spending more time with my dad lately, and he’s been talking about her powers and those stupid trials. My stomach knots just thinking about that. Maybe I’d been thinking about that, and that’s what caused the pain.
Might be enough to get my dad to drop the subject.
Speaking of him, I wonder when my parents are going to visit me. They’re probably busy with pressing royal business.
The door opens, and Bash comes in again. “The doctor is glad to hear you’re awake. She’ll be in quickly, and she’ll release you if she’s satisfied.” He plays with the collar of his V-neck.
A flash of memories fills my mind. “Were we kissing? And I was playing with your buttons?”
He gives me that crooked smile and sits next to me. “You remember. Yeah, I couldn’t get you off of me. I’m simply too irresistible.”
“Don’t forget humble.” I give him a little shove.
“That too.” He grins.
The door opens again, and this time in comes a lady with a white coat. She seems familiar. Must’ve met her last time I was here. She gives me a warm smile and shakes my hand. “I’m Dr. Rivers, and it’s good to see you awake.”
“Thanks. It’s good to be awake.”
She flips through some notes. “How is your stomach?”
“Fine.” It rumbles loudly. “Hungry.”
“That’s a good sign. Let me check your vitals. If they’re good, you’re free to go.”
“Thanks.” Relief washes through me. “What made my stomach hurt bad enough to make me faint?”
She frowns as she checks the thermometer. “That isn’t something we’ve been able to figure out. Could’ve been something you ate or perhaps a stomach bug. It’s hard to say, but the good news is you’re doing better now.”
“What if it happens again?”
“I’d speak with the doctor at the castle. He’s the best of the best.”
The castle, of course.
Once she’s satisfied with my vitals, she and Bash leave so I can get dressed. When I’m done, my boyfriend puts his arm around me and we head for the dining hall.
“I have a question.”
“Hit me with it.”
“If I passed out in town, why didn’t you take me to a hospital? Why the infirmary?”
He kisses my cheek. “The academy’s closer.”
“You got me here on your bike?”
“No. One of the other customers drove you in her car while I followed.”
“It’s all so weird. What did I say my stomach felt like?”
“You didn’t. But you clutched it and cried out. Then passed out.”
“I’m not talking with the castle doctor about this. In fact, I want to put it completely behind me. We don’t need to discuss it anymore.”
“Put what behind you?” He winks.
“I love you.” I snuggle closer to him.
“I love you more.” He kisses my cheek.
Before I can object, people crowd around us as we enter the dining hall.
Bash glances down our table. “Are you going to sit with the band or your friends?”
“I like to think of the band as my friends too.”
“They are. You know what I mean.”
I glance back and forth between the two groups. “Why can’t we all just sit together? This whole pecking order thing is stupid.”
He shrugs. “It is what it is.”
“It’s still dumb.”
“Then change it, princess.”
“I’m already unpopular enough as it is.” I shake my head. “Save me a seat. I’m going to say hi to Halen. She has to be worried since I didn’t show up in the room last night.”
“Halen knows. She stayed with you for a few hours, insisting I get some sleep.”
“She did? Well, I definitely have to tell her I’m feeling better. Save me that seat.” I hurry over to my best friend.
She squeals and gives me a hug. “You’re up! How are you feeling?”
“Hungry!”
“I was so worried. Here, sit and tell me everything.”
I glance over at Bash. “I promised him I’d sit over there.”
“Boo. Well, you have to tell me everything afterward. Okay?”
“I swear.”
Our other friends all say how happy they are to see me up and about. I thank them before going back over to the band. Bash holds my chair and scoots it in.
Neva grins at me and throws a teasing glance at him. “Who’d have thought the princess would turn our Bash into a gentleman?”
He chuckles and takes his seat. “Nobody. Least of all me. But I can’t help myself.”
She rests her chin on her hand. “You two are so stinking adorable. I wish I still went here to see you every day.”
“Come back,” Bash says.
“If only. But I like it where we’ve moved. So, there’s that.”
We all dig in, and I stuff my face, not caring what anyone thinks.
“You up for another concert?” Neva asks. “I’d love to sing with you guys tonight, one last time before I have to go back to my new academy.”
I smile. “That’d be fun. Hopefully, I can get through all my studies first.”
“Perfect.” She beams. “I love having another girl to jam with. Too much testosterone, you know what I mean?”
I throw the guys a teasing glance. “Totally. It’s like—” A hot, searing pain radiates in my stomach, shooting around. Can’t breathe.
“Marra?” Bash sounds so far away.
I clutch my stomach. Try to cry out. Can’t find my voice. I still can’t remember the pain from last night, but this has to be round two. The agony intensifies. I fall from my chair. Bash pulls me close. Says something. Everything is a blur. So many faces surround me. They’re all speaking. Some reaching for me.
White shrouds my vision. I struggle to breathe, to stay awake. “Someone call my dad.”