Siyala’s mouth opens and closes twice before she pinches her lips together and rolls her shoulders back. The transformation is so fast, it’s almost admirable. “Nothing that bears repeating.” She doesn’t spare us a second glance as she turns to follow Haloa. “I’ll be around if you hear anything.”
Jahlee waits until Siyala is out of earshot before she lets out a heavy sigh. “She’s going to explode if she doesn’t talk to us about what happened.”
“We can’t force these things,” I respond, though I know she’s right. “We have to give her time.”
Jahlee scoffs, fixing her hair into a ponytail high on the top of her head. With her slight curls draping down over her shoulders, she is the spitting image of our mother, and my chest warms and then ices over at their similarities. “And what is that look for?”
“Nothing.” I reach down and grab the sheath for my sword before gesturing for Jahlee to follow. “Come on. We have a meeting to attend, and I want to shower first.”
She rolls her eyes but follows, blowing a stray hair away from her face with a flutter of her lips. “You just want me there to protect you from Noe when she finds out that you’re going to lower some of her budget.”
“Everyone is getting budget cuts until we roll out the new tax,” I counter, walking on the stone pathway and passing the various busts of past shifter kings, including the one of my father. “But, yes, you make an excellent buffer.”
She snorts as we climb the steps into the palace, the bottom level bustling with activity. It has been since I opened the palace up to all visitors, allowing access to anywhere on the first floor.
“Your Majesty!” a soft voice calls from our right, followed by the sound of running steps. I watch as Inessa, Lady Miranda’s daughter and my new assistant, jogs to us. She smiles—one that mirrors her mother’s—as a slight flush pinkens her cheeks. Tucking a strand of dark brown hair behind her ear, she clears her throat and holds up a small collection of papers. “I’m so sorry to bother you, but I have some last-minute proposals that need your signature.”
“No bother at all, Inessa.”
Handing the missives to me, I begin to read through them as she turns to talk with Jahlee.
“How did your training go?”
Jahlee sighs as she waves her hand in my direction. “Your king likes tocheat. Hitting defenseless females and all.”
My hand freezes mid signature as I lift my gaze to her and arch a brow. Inessa stifles a laugh. “I never would have assumed King Kai was anything other than honorable.”
Jahlee cackles at that and launches into a series of stories about me, each more embarrassing than the last. I quickly signthe rest of the papers while merely glancing at them before handing them back and ushering Jahlee forward as Inessa laughs and waves goodbye.
“I like her. Don’t fire her,” she says, poking my arm.
I chuckle as we come to the stairs that lead up to the second floor, a brief memory flashing of Bahira standing in this exact spot. It was the night that Magda’s body was found in the palace, and Bahira had spent hours offering her silent presence while I contemplated if being king was worth it. If it was just better to hand the seat of power to Kane. Or even Tua. Pushing the recollection away, I clear my throat. “As long as she keeps doing her job well, I have no intentions of replacing her.”
“Yeah, but we know how you get. Your particular brand of grumpiness is more of an acquired taste.” I lift the corner of my mouth while we climb the steps. “It’s why it was so shocking that someone as amazing as Bahira fell for you.” My lips flatten as I give Jahlee a warning look. One she immediately ignores. “Then again, she’s nearly as stubborn as you are.”
“Jahlee—”
“You’d think that two grown ass adults would be able to speakopenlyabout how they are feeling—”
“Stop—”
“I just hope my letter knocks some sense into her—”
I halt, a slight buzz sounding in my ears as I turn to look at her. “What letter?”
“Shit.” She continues up the stairs to the landing, her steps quickening as I trail behind her.
“Whatletter?” I repeat, and I know if I were to look in the mirror, my eyes would be glowing.
Turning to walk backwards so she can face me, she holds her hands out in front of her. “I may have possibly—definitely—sent a letter to the Mage Kingdom.”
A growl rumbles from me as Jahlee quickens her pace. “Why would you do that?”
“I wanted her to know that we care about her. That if she’s worried about reaching out through the Mirror, she shouldn’t be.” She swallows, her expression cautious as she finally stops walking. “And I asked her mundane questions.” She shrugs.
“Did you write about the blight? About the rebels or how I’m working to properly claim my throne?”
“I honestly can’t remember.”
