"You're finally awake."
Those were the first words Asher Nightshade heard when his eyes fluttered open. He turned to the side and saw his father seated beside the bed, a deeply amused expression tugging at his face.
"I was beginning to think you'd sleep for eternity," Henry said. "Would've solved most of my problems considering you've been a real pain in my ass lately. But alas, I still need an heir, and I'm not exactly in the mood to start over with another one who'll just betray me in the end."
Asher didn't respond. He shifted his gaze around the room instead. He was in the hospital again. The steady beep of a heart monitor echoed annoyingly in his ears and his body ached like hell. If this was what living felt like, then maybe being dead wouldn't have been so bad.
No. He couldn't think like that. He'd promised his purple queen a lifetime.
