“Don’t die anymore,” he said quietly.
Maybe I could get some of that bitter powder from last night. It seemed to help. “It’s not like I tried to die on purpose.”
“I know. Just don’t.”
He looked away. People in Kaiden’s life died too much.
“Maybe you should ask Everard to train you, so you can save me next time.”
“Maybe you can stay home and not go anywhere, so you don’t get kidnapped and murdered.”
“That won’t work. I’ll die of boredom.”
He rolled his eyes. A little bit of his former smartass swagger came back to his face. That was better.
My stomach felt a bit queasy. I needed food. Food would make everything better.
I stumbled. My right leg folded, and I careened like a ship in a storm. Kaiden grabbed my hand, steadying me. I straightened.
“That was a close one.”
“Like an old lady,” he repeated.
“Let’s not tell Everard about that.”
I looked up and saw Everard standing at the bottom of the stairs. Damn it.
“You were supposed to tell me when she left the room,” he said.
Kaiden raised his chin. “She is hungry.”
“Then it’s good that I have breakfast ready.” Everard walked up the few remaining steps. “I’ll take it from here.”
Kaiden didn’t move.
I held out my left hand. Everard stepped to my side, I rested my hand on his arm, and the three of us descended the steps, Everard on my left and Kaiden on my right.
We reached the bottom of the stairs and strolled into the hallway, filled with the delicious aromas of cooked meat and fresh bread; I tried to keep from drooling. Ahead, voices floated from the kitchen.
“You should go,” I told Kaiden. “I’m slow right now, and I know you’re hungry.”
He glanced at Everard, let me go, and started down the hallway. Halfway to the kitchen he turned, walking backward. “No more dying.”
“I’ll try my best.”
He turned the right way around and jogged off.
Voices floated from the kitchen.
“. . . I fucked up,” Lute said.
“The woman was tortured to death, Lute,” Gort growled. “That’s not a fuckup. Leaving your weapon outside the latrine in the rain is a fuckup. This is the worst thing that could happen. Where were your eyes? How in the void did he get the drop on you? If it wasn’t for my brigandine, he would’ve shredded your kidney. You would’ve bled out right there on the street.”
“Fine,” Lute growled back.
“No, it’s not fucking fine.”
“What do you want, Dad?”
