Chapter 31
“It’s the best way to kill them.”
I take a few steps back, needing to clear my head. “So, why is Evren on your security team when you don’t trust him?”
He crosses his arms over his chest and leans one shoulder against the wall. “I don’t have any say in the matter.”
I study him. “You’re the king. You don’t get to choose who’s on your team?”
"I chose Taren, Jorren, Reika, and Arielle.” He says her name without any emotion, but I wince at the sound of the fallen warrior. “But my uncle pushed for Evren to be on my team.”
“And he won?”
Kaldar laughs humorlessly. “You will come to see that my uncle usually gets what he wants.”
I take a guess. “Your father’s brother.” His nod confirms it. “What’s the story?” I sit on the bed and watch him.
“He was my father’s older brother.” My brows rise at that.
“Exactly.” I stay quiet. “Normally, the oldest is chosen to be king. But my grandfather chose my father to be his successor.” I didn’t have to guess where this story was leading.
“My uncle has always wanted the throne. When my father died, he made a play for his son to be the king. The council voted against him; which is saying something.”
“Why?” I can’t help but ask.
“My uncle is head of the council.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, he makes it impossible to get the council to pass anything.”
“How did he get that position?”
“My father chose him when he became king. My only guess was that he was trying to appease him somehow.”
“Can you appoint someone new now?”
He shakes his head. “The positions are for life. My father appointed them all. With my uncle at the helm, the council is stuck in the past. They don’t like that we allow our people who fail to produce a spirit animal to come back here after the trials.
They pretty much oppose anything I try to do.
” He blows out a breath. “Sorry. That was a lot.”
“I’ve got a solution to your problems.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“Just send Harper in to one of their meetings. She’ll get them all whipped into shape in just a few minutes.”
He smirks, which is exactly what I was going for. “I bet she would.”
“I’m sorry that you have to deal with all that. Do you trust Evren since he’s on your security team?”
“Not at all. That’s why he’s never on your protection detail.”
I take that in. “Good to know.” Thoughts of the attack today flood my mind. “How often do you deal with guivre attacks?”
His face changes, and I almost regret asking the question. “We used to get attacks maybe once or twice a year, but they’ve been getting much more frequent over the last few years. Now, not a week passes without at least one attack.”
“Really? That’s insane.”
“I don’t know why we face so many more in our kingdom. Rysden and I have talked about it.”
“Is it because it’s warmer?”
“I’ve thought of that, but dragons prefer the cold since they’re so warm-blooded. I can’t imagine that would have changed, but maybe. I don’t really know.”
There’s a knock on the bedroom door. “Rakel is here with clothes for Kinsley.” I recognize Taren’s voice.
Kaldar straightens. “Thank you. We’ll be right out.” He gives me a onceover. “Are you sure you’re not injured from today?”
“Positive.”
“How’s your arm?”
“It’s so much better than it was; I barely notice it.”
“Let's put more of that salve on it.”
I pick up the bottle from the small table next to the bed and hand it to him.
He squeezes a generous amount into his hand before rubbing into my arm.
It doesn’t hurt nearly as bad as it did the last time he did this.
When he finishes, I drop my arm to my side.
“Thank you.” I want to say something else to him, but he seems far away.
After the day we’ve had, I get it. He opens the door, but before he steps out, I put my hand on his arm.
“Thank you for saving me. Well, all of us, really, from that guivre today.”
His eyes meet mine. “You did most of it on your own, but you’re welcome. Thanks for not dying.”
My lips tug up into a smile. “Anytime.” He gives me a small smile and shakes his head as he heads out into the hallway.
We make the short walk to the main room, and I’m surprised to see the room is full.
Rakel stands off to the side, but that’s not what catches and holds my attention.
That honor goes to the four warriors standing obviously waiting for Kaldar.
Even Evren has made an appearance. I study him as he stands next to Taren, Reika, and Jorren.
He looks just as unfriendly as the first time I saw him.
With his dark hair and dark eyes and the black swirls he has all over his skin, he’s incredibly intimidating.
“What?” he practically snarls at me.
I take a step back, right into a hard chest. Kaldar’s large hands drop on both of my shoulders. “What is it?” Kaldar asks, his voice harsher than normal.
“We received from the border that your presence is requested to meet,”
Jorren says with his eyes focused behind me.
“Who’s asking?” Kaldar asks.
“We’re not sure. The guard who brought the news didn’t have that information. We’re assuming it’s the king of the Wolf Kingdom,” Reika informs him.
“But we’re not sure,” Jorren says sternly. “I think It's wise to check it out.”
My heart skips a beat, and I wonder if Rysden and Farrah are coming here and if I’ll get to see Farrah.
My hopes are dashed with Kaldar’s next words.
“Taren, you’ll stay here with Kinsley. Reika.
Evren, and Jorren, you’re with me.” As if he can feel the disappointment his words bring me, Kaldar squeezes my shoulders lightly.
He surprises me by leaning forward. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.
” The words, spoken right next to my ear, send a shiver down my spine.
“Knock, knock. I—Oh, wow. This is quite the gathering.”
I hear Mae’s voice, but I can’t see her over the broad shoulders blocking my view. She ducks into view with a beaming smile. “Cousin, I brought you lunch.”
“I already ate with Kinsley.”
At his words, Mae turns to me. “Way to go, Kinsley. How did you manage that so fast? I’ve been trying for years to get him to eat. Years.”
Kaldar shakes his head. “We’re leaving. Be around if Kinsley needs you.”
Mae looks at the warriors, obviously outfitted for whatever they’re going to face. Even Kaldar has his sword on his back and several more blades on his person than usual. “Where are you going?”
“We got called to the border to check something out.”
Mae turns to Kaldar. “Since you’re still down one of your five, can I go?”
“No,” Kaldar and Taren both say at the same time.
She ignores Taren and turns to Kaldar. “Come on. I’m trained, and I’m as good as any of your warriors.”
Her words surprise me but not nearly as much as Kaldar’s. “I know.”
“Then why can’t I go?” she asks, sounding a little pouty.
“You know why.” Kaldar doesn’t give her any more than that, and she stalks over to the couch and drops down into it.
Kaldar turns to me and grasps my upper arms gently before he leans forward.
His lips find mine a moment later. I stiffen out of surprise, but when his lips move against mine, I’m no longer stiff.
The world around us disappears, and I lean into him and return his kiss.
I make a small sound, and he pulls back, staring down at me with that intensity again.
Somebody clears their throat, and it has the effect of cold water on me.
I jerk back and feel my face heat. He reaches up and runs his thumb over my bottom lip, causing me to shiver.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” When he lifts his head to look at his team, his face is expressionless.
Any softness that he had for me is long gone.
Kaldar, Jorren, Evren, and Reika leave the house; and it’s suddenly very quiet until Mae sighs rather loudly.
“I love that you love my cousin.” I open my mouth to give a rebuttal to that before I remember that it’s exactly what we’re supposed to be portraying.
Honestly, it’s not all that hard, especially on my end.
And really, even if it weren’t real, how’s a girl supposed to respond after being kissed like that?
His kisses always make me lose all sense of reality and everything but him and I in those moments.
I sigh, and Mae’s grin lights up her face.
“Why won’t Kaldar let you go with them?” I ask out of curiosity.
She sighs dramatically. “Both he and Taren say it’s a bad idea because they will have a divided focus.”
“Because they would focus on protecting you instead of dealing with whatever threat they’re facing?” I ask.
“Yeah.” Her response is flat, and I wonder if she even realizes how Taren feels about her. To me it’s obvious, but maybe it’s not to her.
“Kinsley,” a tentative voice says from behind me.
I whirl around. “Rakel, I’m sorry. Thank you for coming.”
She smiles graciously. “I brought the first pieces to your wardrobe.”
“Where’s Liella today?” I can’t help but ask.
Rakel’s smile widens even more. “She’s with her aunt. I’ve been working all morning, and she kept her for me. Now, let’s try on some of these clothes and see what we’re working with.”
I turn to Mae who’s still sitting on the couch. “Still pouting?”
“Yes.”
I laugh. “How long are you going to stay that way?”
She shrugs. “At least a few more minutes.”
“Okay. Well, I guess I’ll see you in a little bit then.”
She drops her head back against the cushions. “I’ll probably still be here.”
Taren, who’s standing near the screen at the front door, shakes his head. “She won’t be; she’ll have moved on to five different things before you come back out.”
Somehow, I’m not surprised. “Okay. Well, I’ll see you later then, Mae.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I meet Taren’s eyes, and he just smirks. “I’ll be right outside if you need me, Kinsley.”
I wave him off. “Oh, I’m fine. You go do whatever you need to do.”
He gives me a small smile. “I’ll be right outside.”
I make my way back to the bedroom where Rakel has several articles of clothing on the bed. “Oh, wow.” I stop in front of the jade-colored items that caught my attention first. “This is...” Words fail me.
“Do you like them?” Rakel asks.
I’m still staring at the gorgeous pieces. “They’re...they look regal enough for a queen to wear.” I finger the soft silk.
“That’s the point,” Rakel says pointedly. I open my mouth and then shut it, not knowing what to say. “Try those pieces on first. I want to see how they fit.”
I pick up both pieces being as careful as I can and carry them into the bathroom.
I put on the gorgeous dress first. When I start to slip it on, I realize with delight that there are pants under the skirt made of the same silk material.
I slip into the pants first and then slip the dress over my head.
The dress has a long slit and a gap in the front that gives me room to move and even fight, if I had to.
The fabric is so smooth and soft and hangs so nicely.
When I look in the mirror, I stare at myself in shock.
The color is stunning as are the threads of gold that are woven into the silk, and it brings out the blue-green color of my eyes.
“Do you need help?” Rakel calls out from the bedroom.
Her words startle me into action. I open the bathroom door and step out. “What do you think?”
Rakel clasps her hands in front of her. “You look every inch the queen that you are.”