Aiden
The reliefI felt at seeing Kiera alive and well died a quick death.
The panic on her face punched me in the gut. Her eyes dropped from my face to the dagger I held casually in my hand.
I had expectedsomeoneto come crawling out of their hiding place. But not her.
For the past few hours, I’d done nothing but relive our kiss. I’d paced the dusty warehouse, unable to sleep, waiting for the moment I could pull her back into my arms. For however long I could have her.
It was foolish to hope.
“You have mere moments to explain yourself,” I said softly.
She slowly rose to her feet, never looking away from my blade. Then she began easing her way toward the door.
“Kiera, don’t?—”
She bolted for the door, but I leapt forward and slammed her against it before she could reach the handle.
Melaena gasped behind me, but I ignored her.
Kiera flailed beneath me, probably reaching for her knives. I wrapped my arm around her, pinning her arms to her sides. I slid my knife under her chin and lifted it.
“Why were you eavesdropping? What did you hear?” I snarled.
Her eyes were wild with fear, her skin bloodless. “Please,” she whispered. “Please, Aiden.”
It felt like she’d taken my knife and stabbed me in the heart. I stumbled backward. The knife clattered to the floor. My vision blackened at the edges like burning parchment. I blinked to clear it.
Please, Aiden.
I am not a monster. I amnota monster.
But you’ve done monstrous things . . .
Melaena hurried over to Kiera and guided her to a chair, then sat next to her. “Let’s just sit and talk for a moment.Calmly,” she added firmly, with a glare in my direction.
I picked up my knife and shoved it in my belt. But I didn’t sit down.
“Now, Kiera, why were you hiding?” Melaena asked.
Kiera shook her head vehemently. “I wasn’t hiding! I—I came back and took a bath, but I was so tired and didn’t want to wake you, so I curled up in a corner back there to sleep for a bit.” Her eyes pleaded with me. “Go check if you don’t believe me.”
Grateful to look anywhere but at her, I peered inside the tub to find a few gold paint streaks. Kiera’s discarded jewelry and costume were also nearby. Then I tunneled through the clothes where she’d appeared and found a mashed pile of dresses in the corner.
I reemerged and gave her a short nod. “Fine, but you still haven’t answered my other question. How much did you hear?”
“Nearly everything,” she whispered. “I was going to come out and reveal myself, I swear. But then... then I was scared to.”
Gods damn it, I should’ve been more careful. Only a handful of people knew my true identity—Maz and Melaena amongthem. That knowledge in the wrong hands could get me killed—or worse, ruin my plans.
As for the other tidbit . . .
Not many people knew what Weylin had done the night he became king. Some might have guessed, but kept their mouths shut. But I heard the real story from one of the few living witnesses.
More peopleshouldknow what kind of murderous traitor sat on the Rellmiran throne. But a propaganda campaign would be messy and chaotic.
My way was easier. Simpler.
