“Nearly noon.”
“What?” If not for the light streaming across the blankets, I wouldn’t believe him. Ineverslept past dawn, except when I’d been wounded at the Citadel.
“Come on.” He tossed a hunk of bread at me. I caught it in a daze. “Aric’s event begins within half an hour. We can’t be late,” he said urgently.
Right. Harthon and I were to attend a gathering today—one that was a tradition in Sixth.
Scrambling out of the bed, I asked, “Did you get any more information on what to expect?” I glimpsed myself in the mirror and groaned. My hair was a rat’s nest, front strands sticking to the sweat lining my forehead.
“It has to do with his soldiers. That’s all I know.”
There was no time to dwell on what it might entail. Shoving the hunk of bread in my mouth, I set to getting ready as quickly as possible. Felda hadn’t packed many clothing options, so it was easy to select a violet tunic and black leather vest to cinch over it.
Habit had me tying the laces of the vest to the very top. When it was done, I paused. Eyed the expanse of skin beneath my collarbone. Watched the fabric move over my chest on a heavy breath.
I hastily undid the top three eyelets, so that the neckline sat as low as it had at the Conquering Day celebration.
Admiring my work in the mirror, I smiled.
* * *
Anticipation quickened my steps as Stefano, Joris and I followeda quadrant of silent guards through the Citadel’s maze-like hallways, which were oddly empty. By the time we reached the double doors of our destination, the only faces we’d passed were those of the occasional stoic soldier.
Before we were ushered inside, Stefano said, “A moment,magvis?”
Giving him a curious look, I nodded and stepped aside with him.
Leaning in, he murmured, “You know how Harthon told me to keep you away from Aric?”
Skies, I disliked that phrasing.
He nervously licked his lips. “I like you and I respect you. Clearly, there’s something messy going on there, not that it’s any of my business, even though I am stuck here observing it all—”
“Stefano,” I whispered, cutting off his rambling.
“Right. Um.” He cleared his throat, staring at the wall like it’d provide the right thing to say. Shaking his head, he inhaled courage and blurted, “I’m loyal to you, Etarla. But Harthonismy Princeps, and I’ve had my eye on a more senior position, even though I might be too young for it, which means I can’t afford any slip-ups, which means I need to do what he says, which means I would really appreciate your cooperation even though this situation between you two is messier than the stables after our horses came down with sickness two years ago—”
I sent a discreet elbow into his side.
His mouth snapped shut, blue eyes beseeching, and now it was my turn to search the wall for the words I needed. The day we’d met, I’d put him in an impossible position, refusing food and endangering my well-being while he’d been assigned to my security. Harthon had viewed it as a failure on his part and punished him, while I hadn’t even considered the consequences he’d face.
Apparently, I was lost in my own world, because over the last few days, I hadn’t thought once about how my situation with Harthon might affect him. Skies, I’d never even bothered to ask what his aspirations were. Our conversations were always about my duty, my training, my safety, my schedule…
Guilt flooded me.
Placing a hand on his shoulder, I reassured him, “Harthon only expects you to keep me away from Aric outside of our scheduled events. I promise you I will not seek Aric out on my own in any other circumstances.”
His face relaxed. “Thank you.”
“And for the record, whatever position it is you want, I’m certain it’s yours. You’ve more than earned it.”
He nodded halfheartedly. “Harthon has a lot of good men.”
“And you’re one of the best.”
Behind me, the doors cracked open. Joris sent us a waiting look. A chill snaked into the hallway, washing across the exposed skin at my chest.
A shiver ran down my spine that had nothing to do with the temperature. Why would that room be so cold?
