She looked up at him, eyeing him warily. Her gaze darted to the guards too before she said, “It’s probably best.”
Razik shrugged and, with an exaggerated flourish, motioned for her to lead the way. But once they rounded a corner and entered a stairwell, he said, “We’re away from prying ears now, Lia. Where would you like to go?”
She stilled, one foot on a stair. She wouldn’t even look at him when she said, “I don’t know what you mean.”
“You don’t?” he asked, and his disbelieving tone had her turning to him.
“No,Raz, I don’t. Enlighten me,” she retorted.
“Considering you seemed as though you were actually enjoying yourself on the hunt, I assume that means you don’t enjoy being cooped up in the same rooms day in and day out,” Razik replied. “More than that, Cethin talked you into a union that made you a queen.”
“In title only,” she interrupted.
“Still a queen. Still going to be known throughout the kingdom. You’re going to get bored, and you’re going to get bored quickly. Since you’re not afraid to stab the godsdamn king multiple times when you’renotbored, I can only imagine what will happen when you are,” he said.
She eyed him, lowering her foot back off the step. “You are…”
“Correct,” he deadpanned.
“I was going to say a dick,” she said with an apathetic shrug that rivaled his own.
“Still astounded by your observational talents,” Razik said. “But if there’s nothingyouwant to do today, the least you can do is accompany me on an errand.”
“How is that my job?”
“It’s not. I just don’t want to stand outside your door all day. Again.”
“You can come inside. I’ll deal with Cethin.”
He smirked. “I’m sure you will.”
Her brow furrowed. “I don’t know what that means.”
“Because you avoid people and social interactions,” he said. “Give me your hand.” When she eyed his outstretched hand, he added, “I could help with this, you know.”
Her gaze snapped to his. “Help with what?”
He gave her a knowing look. “All of it. Help you work up to social engagements. Get used to small touches. Learning what you should know to be the queen of this kingdom. I’m a walking, talking resource, Kailia. Use me to your advantage rather than trying to gather all your information by eavesdropping. It makes you a busybody.”
“Why does everyone keep calling me that? I am not a busybody,” she muttered.
“Yes, you are. We all are, but it’s more useful if you can apply the things you see and hear to things you already know.”
She stared back at him for a long moment before she said, “Fine,” and slipped her fingers into his still-waiting palm.
A moment later, they stood on the docks by the Edria Sea. Kailia immediately wrapped her arms around herself as she looked around, and Razik cursed internally. He was so used to having the dragon fire in his veins to keep him warm, he never worried about the weather. It wasn’t overly cold today, but the docks were always cooler due to the sea breeze, and she was ina lightweight dark green dress with short sleeves and a fitted bodice.
Plucking a cloak from a swirl of black flames, he handed it over to her.
“Thank you,” Kailia murmured, quickly draping it over her shoulders and clasping the brass hooks.
“I keep it for Wren,” he replied, because he often forgot the same thing with her, despite trying to be better about it.
She nodded. “Where is she today?”
He shrugged. “Not outdoors,” he answered. After the hunt, she’d likely spend the next week inside.
“You and Wren are very different,” Kailia replied, falling into step beside him as he made his way down the boardwalk.
