His back is worse. The wounds from earlier haven’t fully healed, and now, he’s got new slashes. They bleed longer this time, soaking through two tunics before I am able to start cleaning them.
“How did you get past the guards at your door?” he asks.
“I’m quick,” I say.
He looks at me like he knows I’m lying. He probably does, but he doesn’t say anything.
“You should have been resting,” I scold.
“I needed fresh air to clear my head.”
“Maybe I needed that, too,” I reply.
“You said you were looking for a missing lady. Which one?”
“Katherine. Nobody’s seen her since before the rebel attack.” I grab the ointment from the drawer and gingerly slather it on his back.
He winces but doesn’t cry out. When I’m finished, I close the jar and return it to its place.
“I’ll ask around. See if anyone knows where she is,” he offers.
“Thank you,” I say.
“If you promise me you won’t do this again, I will keep your secret.”
My brow furrows. “Why would you do that?”
“Maybe I think it’s worth having a favor owed by the future empress of Pendralia.”
“You think I’d ever get to be empress?” I scoff. “The emperor isn’t going to hand over his throne.”
“Maybe,” he says. “But you’ll still be the princess, then. And you’ll have Caiden’s ear. He likes you.”
“What happened between you two?” I ask. “I know you grew up together. That you used to be close.”
“People change,” he says.
“I suppose they do,” I say, thinking of Lee. Of myself.
He stands, then pulls a tunic over his head. It’s the last one in his wardrobe. The rest were used to clean his injuries. “You’ll hide in the stairwell, and I’ll relieve the guards at your door. Then, you can get into your room.”
It seems too nice. “Why are you really doing this?”
“I told you.”
“And I don’t believe you,” I reply.
“And you were only out searching for your lady?” he asks.
I take a deep breath. “Alright. Thank you. I will owe you a favor.”
He nods, then opens the door for us. The walk back to my rooms is quiet. There’s something different between us now, but I don’t know how to explain it.
I wait on the stairs, and the legionnaires at my door leave without question. When I reach my door, I nod to Brevan. “Good night.”
“Good night, Princess.”
“You could have been killed,” Caiden says. “I can’t believe the rebels sent such a large attack while I was away. This is why I have Brevan with you. If it had just been regular legionnaires, you’d be dead. Then, what would we do?”
