A smirk rises on his lips, one that’s tinted with just the slightest hint of bashfulness. ‘Actually, you’ve got about two hours until it starts. I may have insisted, in a not at all diva-ish and entirely princely manner, that no ball would be happening until I was present. And I would not be leaving your side until you were awake. They weren’t up for postponing it indefinitely, but in true Thorn style, it looks like you woke just in time.’
I roll my eyes, but it’s hard to deny the warmth that floods through me as I realise he’s dressed in his formal garments, jacket and all. Definitely ready for a ball.
‘No, it doesn’t sound like you were diva-ish at all,’ I say. ‘Next you’ll tell me you only requested a parade and a small throne.’
‘Only a little one.’ He winks. ‘The Eastern Isles already hate me and my father.’ The remark takes me by surprise – I didn’t realise the dislike of Korvane had spread this far – but before I can comment Kyor continues. ‘And I didn’t think you’d want to miss the ball. Llinos’s family will be in attendance.’
The warmth I felt only a moment ago is replaced by a hard lump in my throat.
‘They will?’
Kyor nods, his smirk gone. ‘Benny has spoken to them,’ he explains. ‘Told them about you and your friendship with Llinos.’
The lump catches in my throat, making it nearly impossible to breathe.
‘Do they know?’ I choke out. ‘Do they know how it happened? Why it happened?’
‘They know she was poisoned and that it wasn’t a Retterheld death, and they know that she received the proper rites on the funeral pyre.’
‘So they know.’ I swallow back the tears that are threatening to spill. ‘Do they blame me?’
His brow creases deeply. ‘Of course they don’t blame you. It wasn’t your fault. It was Holden’s. No one blames you, Rose.’
He leans over and kisses my lips. It’s like the drink I’ve been waiting for. The thirst that only he can quench. Yet all too soon, it ends.
‘I should go and let you get ready. Besides, I probably need to show my face and do a bit of grovelling to bolster relationships after my dramatics.’ He pauses, hesitating. ‘Your remaining buddy from the Isles owes you an explanation as well.’
‘Benny? What did he do?’
‘I’ll let him explain that. Just take it easy, okay? I’ll see you at the ball tonight. There’s a guard stationed at your door. You need anything, you send for me.’
He leans in and kisses me again before breaking away and looking me straight in the eyes. The way his gaze locks on me, I have a sudden jarring recollection of blue eyes in black water.
I sit up abruptly. ‘You! You’re the reason I’m here. Dammit, Kyor, you were supposed to leave if the coast was clear!’
His gaze is licked with fire. ‘Nothing on this earth was tearing me from you. And don’t tell me you wouldn’t have done the same for me.’
His words stop me. Because I would. Of course I would. Silence fills the room as we stare at each other, a wealth of words passing unsaid between us. I know it’s only a question of time before they burst out, no matter how unwise they might be.
‘Thank you for saving me. Again.’
‘You saved us first.’ He brushes a strand of hair away from my face and tucks it tenderly behind my ear. ‘I’ve got to go, but just in case you want a bath, it’s through there.’ He gestures to the other side of the room. ‘And it’s big enough for two. In case you fancy that later?’
‘Later?’ My eyes widen as I sit up, suddenly wide awake. ‘Any reason we need to wait?’
His laugh resonates through me. ‘I’m more than game, but given that the last thing you bathed in was seawater and that was three days ago, I thought maybe you’d want to freshen up first?’
Horror rushes through me. It’s not that Kyor’s never seen me in a sweaty state before given we’ve trained together plenty of times over the last couple of weeks, but this is different. I must reek. As I lift my hand to my hair, the feel of grease slides off my fingertips. Fingertips that are black under the nails. I’m absolutely filthy. And he’s been sitting with me like this for days.
‘You go do your princely things …’ I tell him, pushing his chest and offering only a closed-mouth peck on his lips. I can only imagine how bad my breath is.
‘You still look beautiful,’ he says as he backs away. ‘Truthfully, I don’t think you’ve ever looked more beautiful.’
‘You’re delusional,’ I say with affection. ‘Now go. It’s going to take the full two hours to get myself presentable.’
With a chuckle, he leaves.
With Kyor gone, I sit up and look around me. The Eastern Isles. It’s still a surprise to learn that he and his father have particular issues with this area of the kingdom. Benny and the others never mentioned anything. Sure, they dropped a few anti-Kyor comments in the beginning, but I assumed that was just in solidarity for all I’ve been through.
