Kindred Souls Complete Series: Books 1-4

Chapter Thirteen

Sky’s words bangedaround in my head as Aster escorted me through the palace. Even with Aster accompanying me, guards followed, waiting for me to attack or make a break for it.

Stares and whispers stalked our steps, but we both ignored them. Any conversation we had would be overheard, so Aster kept the conversation light, pointing things out around the palace halls and giving me pointers on finding my way around.

“I suggest you stay close to either me or one of your assassins for now though. It’ll be easier and safer.” He eyed the guards.

Did he think the king would still try to have me killed? I narrowed my eyes at Aster in question and he nodded. Wonderful.

Aster paused at a set of double doors. “Here we are. I am truly sorry about these classes. I will be here when they are over to escort you back to Whist and the others.”

“Okay, what exactly am I in for in there?” I asked.

He grimaced. “History of the royals, information on the laws, how to act as a new royal and what your role will be. There aren’t any new royal kindreds, so you’ll be the only student. How long it takes depends on you.”

“Sounds fascinating.” My tone was dry.

“I grew up taking the same classes. It is certainly not very enjoyable, but it isn’t difficult.”

“Good to know. See you later.”

“Wait.” He stopped me with a hand on my arm. “Don’t leave with anyone other than me, one of your other kindreds, or my sister.”

His touch made me shiver. “I won’t.”

“Have fun.”

I snorted and slid through the doors. A middle-aged woman waited for me in the middle of a room that was part classroom, part library.

“You are Rhapsody?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I am Jeine and will be helping you make the transition from commoner to royal. For some, it’s a relatively simple one, for others, it’s more difficult. Before we get started, why don’t we have some tea and you can tell me about your life. It will give me an idea of where to begin.”

No, thank you. “Very well.” I sat at the table she gestured to and placed my hands in my lap.

She nodded in approval. “Serve the tea, please. I’d like to see how you do.”

I bit back a sigh and did as she asked. Commoners drank tea, it wasn’t only for nobility.

Jeine beamed. “Excellent. You’re already better than a lot of the people that come through my classes.”

“Thank you.”

She didn’t seem to notice my acerbic tone. “Now, tell me about your life.”

I didn’t want to tell her. She had no right to know and I had no desire to live through it with a stranger who would carry my words to the rest of the palace. So, I gave her the bare minimum. I didn’t tell her my parents weren’t kindreds. I didn’t tell her they died from starvation. I told her my father was a musician and my mother was a seamstress. All truth, but not the full story.

“You moved around a lot?” Jeine asked.

“I did.” My fingers tangled together in my lap, my tea untouched on the table.

She took a delicate sip from her cup. “Were your parents well-off?”

I ground my teeth together. “They weren’t royals, but their families were pretty well-off. They owned businesses.”

“Excellent. Must be where you got your manners.”

“Plenty of commoners have delightful manners. We don’t all eat with our fingers and fart at the table.” I was not the slightest bit amused at her ostentatious attitude and I had little interest in being praised for not acting like an animal.

She sniffed. “No offense meant, my dear, but the prince himself did just that.”

“That is not something I needed to know, and he wasn’t a commoner.”

“The little monster might as well have been.”

She was really starting to piss me off. I bit my tongue so hard I worried it would start bleeding.

“Anyway. Your manners seem fine enough for now. Your clothes are fine. Let me give you a lesson on what to expect when you join the royal family and what your responsibilities will be. Since the prince won’t be king, it isn’t as much for you as his kindred. But there are still enough you need to be able to handle. Can you dance?”

“Yes.” I wasn’t certain about fancy ball dances, but I wasn’t adding it to the list of things she wanted me to learn.

I zoned out as she droned on and on for the next few hours, only paying attention enough to answer the few questions she asked and to have at least an idea of what I was in for.

She had just finished piling a stack of books for me to take with me and study once we were finished when the princess stalked inside, her female kindred at her side.

The princess smirked. “We came to rescue my brother’s kindred from your evil clutches.”

Jeine stood and bowed. “Your highness, you know how necessary this is. Your kindreds had to go through the same thing.”

Princess Indigo glared at the woman. “Yes. And you attempted to ruin them and crush their spirits and I rescued them from you as well.”

Jeine protested and stuttered. “But your highness, the king—”

The princess sliced her hand through the air. “The king will hear nothing of this. I will take over Rhapsody’s lessons. If she makes any errors that upsets my father, I will take the blame.”

“Very well, your highness.”

Princess Indigo grinned at me. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here.”