Chapter 6
Six
As the carriage rattled back to the castle, Iskra twiddled her fingers.
Her fingernails were painted crimson, her hands adorned with gold jewelry.
It was how Lady Esi dressed every day. It was still foreign to Iskra to see such finery on herself, but she liked how it made her feel—like she was more than just a body built for slaughter.
The sun began to dip beneath the horizon, and if she didn’t get out soon, everyone would be in for a surprise.
Bron noticed her nerves, because he asked, “Can we make this move faster?”
Mych gave him a curious glare. “Are you so bothered by our company?”
Bron opened his mouth, likely to make some inappropriate retort.
“I get nauseous easily,” Iskra jumped in before the two guards began to brawl.
“Next time, we’ll make sure to bring some mint leaves for you to chew on. I have a whole garden dedicated to herbs.”
Iskra smiled at Jasyn. He sat across from her, and she was careful not to tap her knees against his, but with the roughness of the road, it was a tricky feat.
He smiled back at her, and his skin practically glowed. She didn't know if it was his power or just the sun seeping through the window. Whichever it was, it didn’t make it easier for her to ignore his allure.
“We’re almost there,” Jasyn assured her, and she could practically cry at his kindness in the few days she had known him. Even if he didn’t have the qualities one would expect for a ruler, she had no doubts the people would love him. They just needed a chance to get to know him for him.
Jasyn was right; the rest of the journey was quick. He helped her out of the carriage, and when their hands connected, she had to hide the sharp inhale of breath.
“I’ll bring you some flowers and water for the vase tonight,” Jasyn said nervously.
Iskra blinked but then remembered what she held. “Tonight?”
He nodded, biting his bottom lip. He was unsure, and she wasn’t making it easier on him.
Iskra watched as the sun sank, close to leaving for the night. Her heart raced. She needed to leave soon.
“Prince Jasyn, I had the most wonderful day, and it has left me tired. I feel like I need to rest. Does tomorrow work?”
He hesitated, as if hurt by the way she pushed back. Guilt clawed at her, but she had no choice. It was a reminder that no matter how much she pretended she was free, Kryth still had power over her.
“Of course, Lady Esi. You deserve to rest.”
She hated that name coming from his lips. She wanted it to be hers, and she didn’t care if those thoughts were selfish, even if it was the most dangerous thing of all.
“Until then.” She curtsied, though the movement was awkward. She really needed to practice.
Bron practically yanked her away. Once there was enough distance between them and the prince and his guard, under his breath, Bron scolded her. “You’re playing with fire.”
Iskra could have bent back her head and laughed at the irony. He had no idea how well aware Iskra was of the situation.
Iskra shoved away a branch, and as she passed it, it swung back, right into Bron’s face. He grabbed her arm and forced her to face him. His dark eyes looked ready to pop out of his sockets.
“This game was started by the person you’re meant to protect,” she seethed as she poked his chest hard. She was doing Esi a favor. Whether Bron liked it was not Iskra’s problem. He could puff his chest out and actually talk with Esi if he was that concerned.
As if the words had beckoned her, the real Esi stumbled from the bushes.
“Oh, you’re here,” Esi said, her voice light and content. Iskra and Bron backed away from each other. “Is something wrong?”
“Nothing,” Iskra said.
“She’s falling for him,” Bron announced.
Iskra opened her mouth and shut it, her teeth clanging. She huffed in frustration.
“Here.” Iskra gave Esi the vase. “We made it this afternoon at a shop together. He was overwhelmed by crowds, so we rushed away. Also, his power—” Iskra stopped herself.
For some reason, she didn’t want to reveal it to either of them, especially Bron.
It felt like betraying Jasyn. But Esi should know…
“What about it?” Esi pushed as she turned the vase in her hands, investigating the colors and shape.
“He’s powerful,” Iskra managed to say. “I must go.”
Before she could reconsider, she left the two of them.
Jasyn watched Esi and her guard disappear into the trees, and he was left standing there. Alone.
“You did good today,” Mych said.
“Don’t mock me,” the words came out sharp, and he sighed at himself. “Apologies. That was uncalled for.”
Mych chuckled. “I’m serious. The way she was looking at you tells me she’s smitten.”
“I panicked in front of the people, my people. I doubt she is looking fondly at me. She’s likely laughing at me now, wondering how I’m meant to be king.”
“Stop pitying yourself,” his guard said. “You were not trained for this role like Jaymes and Dahlia. You’re learning.”
Jasyn should have been learning long ago with his siblings.
No one had expected him to need to, though, and it left him in a vulnerable position.
He wasn’t guaranteed the throne, but he wanted it.
He wanted to win the Undertaking, to have his father give him the crown.
But what if the people didn’t want him? What if Esi didn’t want to marry him?
He was beginning to feel something towards the lady.
She was different. They had only known each other a few days, but she seemed to understand him in a way no one else did.
“I see your mind spinning. Perhaps, like Lady Esi, it’s time for bed,” Mych reasoned.
“I’m going to visit her,” Jasyn said.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He didn’t listen to his friend. He went to the garden to pluck an arrangement of flowers and headed to her room. He knocked twice and waited. In those few seconds, doubt creeped in, but he didn’t want to lose his momentum.
The door opened, and there she was. She was in a different dress from earlier, and he eyed it with narrow eyes.
“Good evening, my prince.” She curtsied, the movement fluid and easy. Had she been practicing since they parted?
“Good evening. I know you mentioned you were headed to bed, but I wanted to give you these.”
He passed over the flowers. She didn’t seem excited about them. Then, he realized there were a few in the bouquet that hadn’t bloomed.
“I wanted to give you them tonight because those,” he pointed to the bulbs, “will sprout in the morning. They’ll close again at night when the sun is gone.”
Esi blinked, like her mind was elsewhere, barely taking in his words, but she quickly adjusted herself back to the present. “They’re lovely. I’ll make sure to put them in the vase.”
They stood quietly, both staring at each other, and Jasyn’s stomach dropped. There was something off. He didn’t feel the tug like he usually did around Esi. He rubbed at his chest, as if that would fix it.
“I also wanted to say I appreciate that you have kept what you have learned about my power private.”
Esi’s mouth opened and shut, and he could read the confusion. Esi had rambled about his powers when she witnessed them in the garden that one morning, so he was concerned by her lack of memory of the encounter.
“This.” He opened his palm, and a faint light glowed from it.
Her eyes widened, like she was seeing it for the first time. He closed his palm again. Instead of the usual delightful pull, there was an eerie nagging starting to form. Something was wrong.
“I’ll let you rest now, Lady Esi. Apologies for the interruption.”
She smiled, and it wasn’t the same. The pattern of her freckles seemed to have shifted. What was wrong? “No apologies required. Good night, Prince Jasyn.”
He turned to go, but right as he did, he heard the click of Bron’s door. Had he been listening? Maybe he was just overprotective. Jasyn shook it off. It was likely just the exhaustion finally catching up to him. He needed sleep.