28. CHAPTER 28
Kira
The Capital
Kallum, Ciondo
Before leaving, Zayne warned Kira about his fiancée’s loyalty, and that wasn't something she'd forget. Not even while she reclined next to Mellie on a massage table in a home spa that she'd had set up for the day.
Captivity brought with it surprising luxuries when business took Zayne away to the territories.
A masseuse rubbed warm oil into each of their shoulders that smelled of lilac and berries.
“I needed this,” Mellie said.
“I feel bad you brought all this here.”
“Nonsense. It was my surprise, and this is way better than going out. We can gossip and not worry about who hears. These two exclusively work with high-ranking families.”
Neither of the women massaging them spoke or reacted, like they weren't even there.
As wonderful as it felt, Kira also found it hard to relax. She'd never been to a spa and wasn't used to this.
Mellie started telling her about her favorite shops in town. The world she lived in was too foreign, and so Kira just smiled, not really taking any of it in.
It gave her time to think about her drone and anything she may have overlooked. In three days, Zayne returned, so she should send it to her associates before then.
“Tell me you really don't mind that I style you. It's an obsession of mine.” Mellie looked at Kira expectantly.
“I'm excited for it.”
That sparked a new aspect of the conversation, with names Kira didn't recognize. Designers, makeup, perfume.
Mellie's skin care routine likely costs what Kira made in a year.
She was stunning with or without all the work she put into her image.
Enough that lying beside her in a towel sparked insecurities Kira thought she had conquered years ago.
Growing up, Kira hated the thickness of her thighs and refused to even look at her stomach.
Bad. Best to ignore. But Elijah loved her curves, and that showed her how poorly she'd treated herself.
So, she learned to appreciate her figure.
Today, she felt like too much. Too much body. Too much insecurity. Too much space.
Too much compared to Mellie, who fit so well in her towel with her shape toned and perfected.
She definitely worked out. Probably bonded over that with Zayne because there was no guessing how much of his life he devoted to honing himself for war.
He looked like he'd personally sculpted every inch of himself the way an artist did a statue, with the same cutting discipline and penchant for suffering that drove everything about him.
The two of them saw any extra shred of fat as weakness to be trimmed away. Weakness of the body and soul.
It shouldn't matter what two loyalists thought. Why did it sting?
“You're carrying stress in your shoulders,” the masseuse said. “Try relaxing.”
Just relax and forget about the hundreds of lives at stake if her mom talked. Nothing to worry about. Warm oil and deft fingers continued the fight against the tension in her body.
“Are you very close with your cousins?” Mellie settled her head on her arms to look at Kira.
“Not at all. Adelle is the one I'm here for.” Not much of a lie.
The other woman frowned. “Then you don't have any words of wisdom to help me with Zayne.”
A laugh broke free. “No, not at all. I think he hates me.”
“It's hard when you come from a family of status. I can't talk to anyone about it and risk rumors.” Mellie groaned. “Adelle warned me that when he came from war, he'd be distant, but it's worse than I expected.”
Pity wound its way into Kira's chest. “Was it better before?”
“Yes,” Mellie said. “He's secretly sweet, you know. I'm sure Zayne will truly come home soon.”
Kira thought of the little sprout he placed in her hand, but all his threats and glares crowded that memory out.
“He makes me breakfast when I stay over,” Mellie said.
“There's always fresh orange juice. I like the mornings when it's quiet, and he's cutting oranges, like every day can be that peaceful.” She chewed her lip.
“I'll learn how to take care of him when he's like this.
Nadia was so good at that, but it's not like I can ask her for advice.”
Who was Nadia?
“What really happened?” Kira shouldn't admit she didn't know this person, but she also didn't know what Mellie meant.
The other woman pushed herself up. “Shut up. You don't know?”
“No one tells me anything.”
“Oh, Kira.” Lying back down, she straightened to let the masseuse continue. “You're seriously walking around this house, standing in the same room as those brothers, without knowing what you're in the middle of?”
“You have to tell me now.” Yes, Kira knew Mellie would leak information. Anything about Luke and Zayne may help her survive.
“I don't even know where to start,” Mellie said. “Nadia and Zayne were a few months out from the wedding, and he'd been in the territories on a short tour.”
Another wedding. Not the one Mellie and Zayne were planning together.
Interesting.
Glancing to the door, Mellie looked back at her and whispered harshly. “Nadia was sleeping with Luke the entire time Zayne was away.”
“What?”
“I know. Makes no sense. Nadia and Zayne were so in love. Why she'd throw that away for Luke, I'll never understand. I mean, he's cute, but Zayne is better, and Luke gives me the creeps.”
No one needed to tell Kira that. He terrified her in a much deeper way than Zayne ever had.
“It split Luke's marriage, and Nadia left town for good.”
What a terrible story. “How did Zayne figure it out?”
“He found them. I'm surprised Luke made it out of that alive.”
A sick feeling crawled into her stomach thinking about the way Luke and Zayne looked at one another on that train. “That's horrible.”
“Nadia was done for after that. Betraying the High General's son is not a good idea. She can't set foot in the capital.” Mellie pursed her lips. “They might have looked so in love, but if she did that to him, then she never loved him. Not like I do.”
Jealousy wove into each word, or insecurity.
“Do you have anyone special?” Mellie studied her.
The peace of the massage allowed her mind to drift, and she closed her eyes at the memory of her masked stranger holding her close after she nearly fell from the ledge.
All these years later, Kira still felt the warmth of his breath on her lips.
Maybe she should have thought of Elijah, but that wasn't whose arms she felt around her.
“There was this man once. Unfortunately, I mean literally only once.”
Mellie grinned. “Tell me everything.”
“It was one night, and we only kissed, but I still think about him.”
“I felt that in my soul. Go find him.”
If only. Kira wondered all the time whether he was safe, still longing for the chance to look after him like he did for her.
So many times, she wished she'd opened her eyes to see his face.
But he trusted her not to. She couldn't do that to him when he'd saved her life. But she just wanted one glimpse.
Did he know what happened to her? She hoped he didn't try helping her. It was too dangerous. Impossible.
“He's gone for good,” Kira said.
After the massage, they soaked their hands in hot wax while the workers rubbed cream into their faces. Kira felt ready to drift to sleep by the time they walked into the room Mellie had converted to a closet. Clothes were displayed all over the spare room.
“This one.” Mellie picked up a beautiful emerald dress. “It matches your eyes.”
The material felt so smooth. Kira tried it on, smoothing the fitted skirt down her legs.
Mellie really did have a knack for styling people.
It fit Kira perfectly, hugging her hips and highlighting the shape of her thighs.
Even if Kira could afford this, she wouldn't have picked it out for herself with the neckline plunging low and how snugly it wrapped around her waist. But the dress looked incredible.
Almost too flattering. She felt embarrassed when Mellie cried out from the doorway.
“I knew it was perfect.” Grabbing Kira's arms, Mellie's eyes scoured the outfit. “I would pay money for your hips. A large sum of money.” She twirled her finger. “Spin.”
Without even thinking, Kira did as she asked, caught in Mellie's whirlwind.
“The back is even better. You're gorgeous, and I should be a designer. I searched all week for this. Worth it.”
Soon, Mellie was doing Kira's makeup and curling her hair. By the time she finished, she looked ready for a magazine shoot.
“Stunning.” Mellie picked out a dress for herself. “My turn. This is too fun.”
Helping Mellie with her make-up reminded her of late nights in the children's home. Kira's best friend hated make-up, but always let Kira apply it to her anyway, just happy to see her have fun.
“So, I feel worse about this than ever.” Mellie kept looking at her phone. “I'm not innocent in all of this pampering.”
What did that mean?
“If you had said someone special was waiting, of course I wouldn't have brought this up, but… Brock is a very nice guy. You should think about it.”
Uh-oh. “It's not a good time for me to date.”
Mellie covered her face. “This was a terrible idea. You're going to be so mad at me.”
“I'm not mad. Really.”
“No… I messed up, and I'm sorry. I got carried away.”
Her shoulders dropped. What had Mellie done?
Suddenly, she ran out of the room. “Sorry!”
Kira rounded the corner to see Mellie hurrying down the stairs and followed, making it halfway down when the front door opened to two soldiers' uniforms.
Zayne walked through the front door, three days early. With Brock alongside him.
Oh… Mellie, no.
Embarrassment flushed through her, and she stopped on the steps, eyes meeting Zayne's. Mellie ran into his arms, and he caught her, but he stared right at Kira, looking as shocked as she felt.
For several seconds, he didn't look away, the anger likely building and building, because he didn't want her getting close to his family.
When Mellie jumped back and gave a little twirl, she drew Zayne's eyes. “Surprise. What do you think?”
The tight bodice of her scarlet dress cinched at her waist, her skirt fanning out high up her thighs. She looked great.
Zayne nodded. “Beautiful, Mel.”
Mischievous eyes found Kira when Mellie glanced her way. Now, a pointed look at Brock. “Doesn't Kira look great?”
Brock nodded, eyes shifting from Kira to Zayne while everyone stared at him. “Mhm. Sure does.”
Kira stood at the bottom of the stairs now, indescribably uncomfortable. While Mellie seemed too busy to notice, Zayne did not look happy. Why was he so mad? Couldn't Kira have one nice day before the Phaedra murdered her?
Stupid jerk.
“Where's my mom?” he asked. “What has she been doing while you two got dressed up?”
No, no, no. Zayne was not blaming Adelle for this.
“She's doing charity work,” Mellie said. “She's been busy all day.”
Something flickered in Zayne's expression, perhaps concern.
“There's drinks and food in the kitchen.” Mellie tugged at his jacket. “Eat, babe.”
While Kira tried to avoid joining them, Mellie found her after a few minutes and tugged her along. Adelle joined them then, swooning over both Kira and Mellie, before Zayne led her away. He spoke with his mom too quietly for Kira to hear.
It was easy to imagine what he said though. You left them alone all day to play dress up? His lecture must have gone something like, and then Adelle would say she trusted Kira, because she did. Besides, they spent the day with loyalists who served high-ranking families.
“Don't let Mellie get to you.” Brock leaned against the bar, drink in hand. “She means well. You don't have to worry about me.”
“I'm not.”
“Good. Don't worry about him either. Ignore him when he's like this.”
“He's always like this.” She accepted a drink he offered. “I'm not sure if I said it before, but thanks for helping me at Dr. Cooper's.”
Unlike Zayne, Brock didn't seem to mind showing his feelings. Compassion warmed his tone. “I'm sorry that happened to you.” But then he straightened. “Mellie thinks we're bonding, and now it looks like Zayne does too. Nice knowing you.” With that, he wheeled away to grab a plate of food.
Kira looked at Zayne, and her shoulders clenched. She should have told the masseuse the knots in her muscles were all from him.
“Today was fun, Mellie.” Kira tried to make her smile look genuine. “I'm worn out. I'll head back to my room.”
Mellie hugged Kira tight enough to hurt. “I owe you,” she whispered in her ear. “I feel better talking to you.”
With a nod, she squeezed Mellie's shoulder and said her goodbyes.
Kira felt lost in a daze on the walk to her room, dressed up in clothes she could never afford to own, and walking around like family when she was a prisoner.
The sensation of unrealness held onto her so ferociously that she didn't notice Zayne's presence.
Not until she tried to open her door, and he shoved it closed with his forearm.
She jumped a little, startled.
Arm resting against the door still, he stared at the crack beneath. “You didn't do anything wrong. It's difficult for me to let go of control when there's so much at stake.”
Something inside her melted, despite the fact that she tried to stop it. Zayne still looked mad, but maybe she wasn't the one he was upset with.
“I promise I didn't say anything to Mellie to endanger her,” Kira said.
“She endangered you with her friendship.” His expression looked grim.
If Kira carried her stress in her shoulders, then his entire body carried his. That masseuse would have never been able to get him to unwind.
“Tell me you remembered what I said.” Now he looked at her with all that intensity of his.
He didn't stand particularly close to her, but more near than usual, and she sensed every bit of his imposing form.
Every bit of herself. The dress that clung to her curves felt as exposing as the towel now, and her mind traced the edges of the space between them.
They saw more of each other than they were supposed to, just like at Dr. Cooper's in the kitchenette.
“I did.” Kira struggled to find her voice. “She's loyal.”
“Good. Think critically about what you say in front of her.”
“I will.”
He lowered his arm, allowing her access to the door. “Goodnight, Kira.”
Her heart beat so fast, and she wasn't really sure why. Every conversation with him felt so intense. “Night, Zayne.
The two of them only locked eyes for a second, but her heart burned for minutes after.