POV Derek

A muffled rumble of voices mixed with wailing and sobs invaded my sleep. The creepy, icy laughter and whispers accusing me of usurping the throne, the same invisible tormentor who came to me every night with the same nightmare, grew quieter and quieter, while the wailing and rumbling grew louder and louder, and soon my head was ready to burst from this unbearably loud noise, like the ringing of a huge church bell above my ear.

I realized that I was in my chambers, in my bed, surrounded by my entourage, but I could not open my eyes. My eyelids were so heavy that no matter how hard I tried, I could not get them open, and this suddenly frightened me. I wanted to wake up, I tried to wake up, but I couldn't. "Help me! Wake me up!" – I shouted to myself, but I think I was the only one who heard the shouts.

"Whit! If you can hear me! Hit me in the face! Make me wake up!" – I pleaded, hoping that at least my faithful familiar could hear my mute screams.

"Are you sure? What if I break your neck?" – Vit answered me, and his voice brought me such joy that I'd be ready to kiss his furry face after I woke up.

"Hit me I can't wake up… Something is holding me, something is keeping me from coming back to reality!" – I said insistently, and immediately felt a searing pain on my face. My eyes opened wide and, covered in cold sweat, I threw the blanket away from me and jumped out of bed.

– You're bleeding, Daddy! You've been bitten by a demon! – Alva squealed, hiding behind her grandmother's back.

– Daddy! Don't die! Why are you scaring us like this? – Willa screamed at the same time, jumping on Hedda's neck.

– What the hell-" I involuntarily touched my face, felt something wet under my fingers, and looked at them and was surprised to find blood on them.

"You asked me to hit you. As you can see, I tried, and I didn't even spare my claws," Vit said in an apologetic tone.

– No, it's all right… You helped me wake up," I murmured quietly, and turned to look around and grinned: all the people I cared about were here. Even Bergil had left his post and now stood before me, as pale as a freshly baked Kaldwinian pastry. Andrada, calm, but with a serious, even stern look, looked straight into my eyes, as if knowing that I was the prisoner of a nightmare. – I'm alive, my darlings, you don't have to be afraid for your daddy," I said hastily, approaching my daughters, and they threw themselves around my neck as if they were in agreement.

– Your scratches need cleaning, my lord. Let me apply a healing ointment to them. Come to my laboratory," Andrada said quietly.

– There's no need… It'll heal on its own," I dismissed her, not wanting to be alone with her. Her concern seemed too intrusive and intimate at this moment. – I have received such scratches many times, from the swords of my enemies, but as you can see, there is not a single scar on my skin.

– Those were the weapons of men, my king. A familiar's claws, on the other hand, wound much deeper. – Andrada pressed her lips together.

– What is she talking about? – Bergil looked from Andrada to me.

– Forget it," I said. I needed my faithful friend to turn his back on me when he realized I was somehow connected to magic, perhaps even dark magic. – Who's going to tell me what I'm doing here? The last time I closed my eyes, we were at mass.

– You fainted again, my king… So as not to frighten the people, we carried you out the back doors, put you in a carriage, and sent you to the palace," Hedda explained to me. Her voice trembled slightly, and she was even paler than usual. – We tried to bring you to your senses, but you didn't respond… Even Andrada's herbs didn't help. It was as if you were dead, but at the same time you were still alive. – The princess swallowed. – We thought we had lost you, we didn't know what to do.