"I am fine," he said, but she didn't seem to hear him.
Queen Alana stepped closer and took his palm. She opened it and looked at the sprinkle of blood on his palm. She then looked at his face. "How long?" she asked.
"It's nothing to worry about," he said and pulled his hand away from her. He wiped the blood on his pants. "I am fine. It doesn't happen every day."
"But it has happened before. I knew something was wrong." She looked on the verge of tears. "How long?" she asked again.
"Not that long. I just told you it's nothing to worry about."
"How many times?" she insisted, holding his stare.
"This is the third time," Davien lied. His coughs were rarely ever during the day—always at night—but last night had been particularly bad. It was the major reason he hadn't been able to sleep much.
"Three times! And you didn't think that's enough to let us know?" Her voice was higher now.