Chapter 9 – Kian
Chapter Nine
KIAN
Those damn eyes haunt my every waking thought.
Perhaps I’m the biggest ass for leaving so abruptly yesterday, but standing there, seeing her look at me like I’m a stranger, was too much.
I had to get out of there before I said something I’d regret.
It’s time to focus on what really matters—my quest.
Nothing like a little light reading from the journal I snatched out of Cary’s study to distract me.
Cyrus is back. Gods help me, I’m about to call him out for a duel.
Doesn’t he know Lynette is mine? The moment her jade eyes met mine across the room, I knew who she belonged to.
The papers have been drawn up, and our families agree—she is meant to be bound to me by the end of the year.
Everything was going perfectly until that blond, woman-thieving man showed up at court, but I’m not truly concerned.
Silenius is about to name me as advisor, and then we’ll have everything we could ever need.
I re-read the first passage of Cary Astoria’s journal, dated some thirty years ago.
Cyrus? Who in the realms is Cyrus? I run through all the names of Father’s nobles, and Cyrus does not ring a bell.
Unfortunately for me, Cary is terrible at journaling, and many pages and dates are missing, but I find another entry from the same year:
In the mother of all plot twists, turns out Cyrus is a god—the sun god Kyros, to be exact. Why he decided to come parade himself as a mortal here in Rakveren makes no sense to me. The gods haven’t been seen in centuries. Why now? And why her?
Lynette is completely enamored by him, begging me to let her out of the marriage contract, but why in the hells should I do that?
He’s a god. She’s a fool to think he could ever actually love her.
Doesn’t she know the stories? Kyros and Luna—the sun and the moon—are forever intertwined.
The goddess Luna will never relinquish her hold on Kyros for a mere mortal, and I shudder to think of the wrath she will pour out on Lynette if Kyros doesn’t leave her alone. She is mine, and I must protect her.
Hells. Cary was mixed up with the sun god.
Excitement hums beneath my skin. Perhaps I need to look for more information on Cyrus.
Surely, if he spent time at court, others would have been aware of him.
Should I ask Father? Except Father always shuts me down when I bring up the sun god.
He would rather pretend everything is fine in our realm.
The next few pages are filled with more rants about Cary and Cyrus’ rivalry.
He never lists Lynette’s family name, so I’m not sure which family she came from or what happened to her.
Cary’s late wife had a different name. The last page of the journal has a short entry and a carefully folded piece of paper tucked in next to it.
She’s gone. My beautiful Lynette is gone, and I alone bear the weight of her secrets.
All she left me was a note. I’ll never forgive myself for failing to convince her that I’m what she needed .
. . She has to be wrong. I don’t for one second believe that Kyros has her best interests at heart.
I must find a way to make things right, even if it costs everything.
Unfolding the aged piece of parchment, I read:
Dearest Cary,
I’m so sorry to tell you this way, but I feared you’d stop me if I were to speak with you in person.
While I will always have a fondness for you, Cyrus has my heart.
I know he’s a god, but our love is true.
He’d burn the realms for me if he had to.
I hope you can forgive me for breaking our contract; a priestess will bind Cyrus and me tonight.
While I might care for you, I need someone who will fight for me, choose me.
Can you understand that? I do believe that you think you love me, but I’m certain you love your status and position more.
I deserve to be more than just a trophy.
As unusual as it might be, I truly believe I will find happiness with Cyrus, away from court.
He swears to protect me from Luna—there is nothing between them anymore. Please don’t come looking for me.
Affectionately,
Lynette
Cursing under my breath, I drop the journal onto my desk.
I’m nowhere closer to finding out where the sun god might have run off to.
Cary must have more information, but how do I get it?
After examining the journal more closely, it appears that multiple pages have been ripped out of the back, which makes me wonder what else he’s hiding.
Perhaps I need to pay House Astoria another visit, but he’s away, and the last thing I need is to torture myself with another encounter with Lady Raelyn.
A knock at the door has me slamming the journal shut and stuffing it into my desk.
“Enter!”
Alex pokes his head in, a grin plastered on his face. “Fancy going out tonight?”
“Absolutely,” I reply, waving him in. “What did you have in mind?”
“Really?” Alex closes the door and looks around. “Are you sure there’s no Shadow work to be done?” He plops into the chair across from me. “Because I really want to go out and have some fun.”
“The Shadow’s work is never done,” I joke, “but tonight, he’s free to join you. He could use a break.”
Alex rubs his hands together, a mischievous look in his eyes. “So, you know tonight is the Havordshire ball.”
My lip curls. “And?”
“How about we skip it and go into Elsmont instead?”
“Thank the gods,” I breathe. “If you tried to drag me to that ball, I’d have had to decline.”
Alex laughs. “I was actually hoping your father wasn’t making you go, or if he was, you’d be willing to ditch. I’d much rather do something a little more casual.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Alex and I gallop into Elsmont on horseback. While I’m sure Father expects me to be on the hunt for a wife at the Havordshire party, there is no way in hells I’m ever going back there.
This little excursion is the perfect opportunity for me to check in on my people and see if there are other ways I can help, and it will provide a distraction from dwelling on a certain green-eyed beauty. We left all the finery behind, dressed in simple clothes to blend in.
“Have you been to Lou’s Tavern?” I ask Alex as we secure our horses to the post.
“Maybe once,” he replies. “As long as the ale is cold, I don’t care where we drink.”
“Thank the gods the colder months are upon us then, eh?”
We push through the doors and enter the dimly lit tavern, assaulted with the scent of ale and vibrant sounds of music.
The musician plays a lively tune on a stringed instrument, a crowd of dancers around him kicking up their feet.
My boots stick to the floor as we make our way to the bar.
This place has seen better days, but spirits are high and the wine and ale flow freely.
Alex leans over the counter, catching the bartender’s eye. “Two, please!”
We settle into our seats and clink the foaming glasses together before turning to observe the crowd.
I needed this. A few moments away to distract myself from her. Seeing Lady Raelyn again after so many years was far more painful than I’d expected. Having her not remember me was even more so, but—no, I can’t let my focus drift from my main purpose. I have a god to find and people to help.
“Do you come here often?” Alex asks.
“Not as often as I’d like,” I admit. “It’s been a little while.”
“Tell me, do you know who she is?” Alex nods toward a blonde beauty dancing unreservedly to the music, her hair shining like spun silk as she twirls around, violet eyes sparkling with joy.
I shake my head. “Sorry, friend. I can’t say I do.” A word catches my ear from somewhere behind me, and I motion for Alex to be quiet. He frowns and tilts his head but refrains from speaking.
“Do you know how to get word to the Shadow?” a low, gruff voice speaks.
“I wish,” another replies. “He shows up sporadically.”
“We could really use some help in Marietta,” the first man says. “Sickness has swept through our village and our food supply is low. The king takes everything we bring in.”
I bristle, my muscles tense. Father leaves nothing for them to survive on. Is he trying to set the stage for a rebellion?
“I’ll see if we have anything to spare,” the second man replies. “It’s the least we can do.”
Pride for my people swells in my chest. I need to make a point to deliver supplies to more of the outer villages; they need help just as much as the people of Elsmont. Perhaps I can swing by my healer Margot’s place and ask her to check in on the people of Marietta as well.
“Everything okay?” Alex whispers.
I blow out a breath. “Yeah, just eavesdropping on my people.” I give him a wry grin. “The Shadow has some work to do.”