Shaking her head, the woman placed her hands around the dagger that protruded from Kaius’s chest, applying pressure to the wound as I’d learned to do in basic field training.
“I am a healer,” she said, though the statement was laced with self-doubt.
“He is already dead,” I snarled, panic rising.
“No,” she gasped. Tears began to roll down her cheeks from beneath the mask, and I cursed. “No, I can help him.”
I grabbed her by the crook of her arm. The sickening twist of emotions that swirled within me added a sharpness to my actions. I tugged on her, harder than necessary, when she resisted. Blood pooled from the wound in the absence of pressure, and the woman cried out.
Turning her to face me, I held her firmly by her shoulders. “If you are a healer, then you know he is beyond saving.”
Her lips quivered. For a moment, I despised her for making this about her, even if it was not her intention to do so. She did not know Kaius was my father. So few did. My eyes flashed beyond her to where the King lay in complete stillness. Dead. Again, my heart caught.
“Let me go.” The woman writhed.
Hardening my expression, I released her shoulders and, before she had the chance to withdraw, took her by the wrists. She flinched.
“You need to leave,” I told her again, sharper this time, wiping her red-stained hands on my uniform. It only smeared the blood.
Swallowing, I forced emotion down. Amid the death of a King and the loss of a father I never got the chance to truly know, it was the safety of the elusive woman that took the forefront of my attention. The King’s death could not be pinned on her.
Setting her with a firm look, I released my hold on her and bent to retrieve her dagger from where it lay beside Kaius’s body. As I did, the intricate design of the hilt embedded in his chest caught my attention. The sinking in my stomach intensified. It was mine.
“Lift your skirts,” I bit out, turning back to the woman.
“I will not,” she gasped.
The urge to wrap a hand at her neck and command her obedience drew a snarl from my throat, but I restrained myself. “Lift yourfuckingskirts.”
Cowed, the woman finally nodded and worked at the layers of fabric. I knelt before her and trailed my hand up her thigh, finding the scabbard strapped there. The scent of her, of us, took me by surprise, my mind otherwise consumed. Setting my jaw, I sheathed her weapon. “No one must know you’ve been here.”
“What—”
“They will hang you.” I stood and retook her bloodied hands.
Her small figure trembled, the first sign of fright she’d shown.
Releasing a sigh, I went to the desk, my strides long, and retrieved a bottle of liquor. If I were being framed for this, someone would be sent to catch me here, in the act. Heart thundering, my thoughts went to my brother, to Harlan. This was not about me; I could be jailed for the death of someone much less important. This was treason and, very possibly, a play for the crown. But by whom? And if I’d been chosen purposely to take the blame, was someone trying to get me out of the way? Someone who knew who Harlan was to me, who the King was to me?
With the liquor, I wet the corner of a blanket that was hung over a chaise and used it to remove the stain of death from the woman’s hands. At least her skirts were not tainted.
“There is a maze of passageways within the castle,” I said, my words rushing out without thought. “The route we traveled is only one.” The tower from which we entered the passageway, however, would likely be overrun with soldiers at this point. Agitation hardened my jaw, and the monster within me roiled as I fought for control, making it even harder to focus.
“I’m scared.” She sounded so meek.
My calm returned, and I tossed the soiled blanket aside, cupping her face and resting my forehead against hers. For a moment, we drew comfort from each other, two strangers brought together first by desire and then by the hand of disaster.
“Find your courage. It is within you,” I said, my voice soft. “There is a lattice along the castle wall, within reach of the balcony. It will not hold much weight, but it is the only option. Leave the courtyard immediately, before attention is drawn to what has happened here. Walk out casually. Do not show any sign of suspicion.”
Footsteps sounded from the hallway leading to the main door of the study. There was no more time. With trembling hands, I worked the silver ties at the back of the woman’s head. “Nothing to draw attention,” I reiterated, and the mask fell between us to the floor.
Our eyes held, and an aching I’d never felt before consumed me.
“Go,” I said, swallowing the knot in my throat.
The steps stopped outside the door, accompanied by the voice of a boy, one of the messengers: “The cry came from the study.”
The woman’s hands fell from my own, and then her back was to me as she ran to the balcony, holding her skirts up as she fled. When she was hidden from view, my eyes fell to Kaius. A trembling shudder coursed through my body, and I bit back the sting of tears as the door opened.
