53. Princess Esemeray
PRINCESS ESEMERAY
“Are you alright?” Killian asked, brows bunched.
Esemeray rubbed at her arms, eyeing the creme pastries along the table, thinking about eating another to calm her nerves. “I’ve never seen a dead body up close before.” She had witnessed many deaths from the hands of her father, but she had never looked long when heads rolled across the marble.
“Well, now you have.” Killian peered around the hall, as if checking if the coast was clear before he said, “I am sorry we got you involved in our father’s bullshit business deal. This was the last thing I was expecting.”
“It is not your fault, Killian.” She met his eyes, inhaling a breath. “You have nothing to apologize for.”
“Yeah,” he said, voice rough, “I know, but I still feel bad.”
“Don’t.” She smiled sweetly and asked, “So, partner? Who do you think did it?”
“Let’s run through some scenarios.” Killian toyed with his beard. “I kept count of who came and went in the past hour. Other than you and Riggs, Oliver left a few times, and two other guests.”
“Izara stayed?” Saying her name made Esemeray’s stomach recoil. The way she tasted the servant’s blood as if she were simply sampling jams.
As if it were normal.
“She never left.”
Esemeray hummed, reaching for another dust ball, and stuffing her face. “What is this white frost?”
Killian chuckled. “I’m glad that’s the only thing running through your mind. It’s powdered sugar.”
Yes and no. Esemeray couldn’t stop thinking about what Riggs confessed to her. Knowing his true feelings eased her worries, even with Riggs and Izara wandering around the temple, alone.
He loves me. Her body warmed.
“Izara mentioned the woman stole something,” Esemeray said, licking her lips free of powder. “We should find out what the item was and who it belonged to.”
Killian’s mouth curved upward. “I’m impressed.”
“I’ve read a few mystery novels.” Esemeray shrugged. “Kohen seemed to know about the death beforehand, meaning he must have discovered the item.”
“Correct. But we can’t ask Kohen.”
“No, but we can see if there is anything out of place.” Oliver walked by, causing Esemeray to lower her voice. “Let’s return back to the foyer.”
Holding her rising vomit, she scanned the redheaded female and her curled palms, gold glittering within. “There’s something in her hand.” Something she had not noticed prior, as if it was just placed.
Killian crouched, pulling his robe over his mouth. “Hand me that.” He pointed to a tiger-headed staff.
“Here.” Esemeray chewed on her nails, her chest tightening with anticipation.
“Fucks sake,” Killian breathed. “It’s a knife.” He met Esemeray’s gaze and declared, “The woman killed herself. She must have started with her leg, moved to her stomach, and then ended it with a final plunge to the throat.”
Esemeray shook her head. “Or someone placed the knife in her hands when we were not looking.”
“To throw us off…” Killian stood, dusting his hands. “We have thirty minutes until we have to return to the study room. Let’s find Riggs. I don’t trust anyone.”
Worry clawed at her mind as Killian and she walked down the halls, scanning for Riggs, and Izara.
“Did you see where they went?” Killian asked, twisting his cuffs.
“They were conversing with a guard,” Esemeray mentioned. She had watched them before Killian and she returned to the dining hall. “But that was twenty minutes ago.”
“Hmm.”
“You don’t think she would hurt him?”
“I don’t know much about her. Other than that, she had been obsessed with Riggs for years. Gods, she even stole a hair follicle from him the last time we were here during a shipment.”
“She did what?” A vicious shiver shot down Esemeray’s spine.
Killian rubbed his hand down his neck. “It was bizarre. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“How do you know?”
“I watched her pull it from his head and tuck it into her garments.”
Eyes wide, Esemeray swallowed hard, scanning the portraits along the walls to take her mind off Izara.
“You have nothing to worry about. My brother…he cares for you.” Killian turned a corner, pointing toward the end of the hall. “This way.”
Esemeray followed him, keeping close, and tucked his words away.
Steps sounded, and Killian flushed to the wall, pulling her with him, his arm firm around her chest. “Not a word.”
She nodded, staying silent.
A mouse appeared, running down the halls. “Just a mouse,” Esemeray breathed. It skittered, and slipped into a grate. “Where does that grate lead?”
“Down below, I suppose,” Killian said, removing his hold. Continuing walking down, Killian whispered loudly, “Riggs! Where are you?”
Esemeray examined the drawings of golden beetles along the walls, wondering if the temple had secret entries. Her mother apparently had one, and possibly more.
Not noticing anything out of the ordinary, her gaze shifted toward Killian, who was now on his knees, scanning the floor. “Did you drop something?” Esemeray questioned, bunching her brows.
“In theory—” Killian knocked along the stone. “These tiles may move.”
Tilting her head, Esemeray observed the design throughout the ceramic shifting into another pattern. “Why do you think that?”
Killian brushed his hair out of his face. “Let’s just say I’ve spent a lot of time learning how temples are built. Our father made sure we knew the ins and outs of Kohens…just in case.” A half-smile tilted his lips. “My father is paranoid.”
“Paranoid or not, Rhidian is a good dad to you and Riggs.” Esemeray was silent for a moment, her heart sinking.
“I wish I had a relationship like that with my father. I see the way he cares for you both.” Her father had never given her the time of day.
Hardly spoke to her. In a way, the silence was better than her mother’s abuse.
Killian pulled his hair back into a bun. “I suppose he’s the reason we survived in the world for as long as we did. He taught me everything I know.”
Esemeray gaze fell to the floor. She gasped. “Do you see the difference in the sapphire swirls?” She crouched and pointed to the specific area. “It does not match the rest, and it’s slightly lifted.”
Killian rubbed his finger over the stone. An approving grin curved his lips. “I think I’d hire you.”
She tucked her chin to her chest, smiling. “I’m just observant.”
“That’s what I need.” Killian pushed down on the small square, moving his thumb over to another, and pressed down. “Put your finger on the blood-orange oval and push down.”
Esemeray followed his instructions, and within seconds, the tiles clicked in place, moving across the floor, revealing a staircase.
They glanced at each other, arching their brows in unison. Esemeray said, “You first.”
Killian deadpanned. “You’re coming with me.”
Descending down, a cold wisp brushed her spine, her cheeks warming with each step. Her breath hitched. She could feel thrumming beneath her skin and could feel her power awakening.
Do the wards not reach down here?
Esemeray prayed to all five gods the darkness inside of her behaved.