Luka hummed his agreement with his beast. He didn’t know Kaliska well. He was usually on duty when she and the delegation were socializing, his focus on keeping everyone safe, not small talk. And when she’d been outside the castle—touring the city, shopping, and walking on the beach—he’d worked with Captain Lydia to provide city guards to protect the Kwanam party while he watched over the castle.
Still, she’d always seemed polite and considerate to him, with a quiet elegance and strength. She’d always been kind to staff and quick with praise for the city soldiers. On top of that, now he knew she was artistic enough to create her own glassworks.
The brigadier general certainly seems to think she’s special.
Declan was definitely protective of her. Luka watched them both, assessing. He didn’t want to ask the next question, but he had to. He’d seen Kaliska sitting beside Shane all evening, and he’d also seen Shane leave with Narya. He cleared his throat. “And did you know that Prince Shanrick was taking Lady Narya to see the fountains in the conservatory?”
Declan dropped his arms from his chest and rested his hand on his sword. Not a threat… exactly. Luka kept his focus on Kaliska and let his beast watch the Kwanam Brigadier General.
“I was there when they planned it,” Kaliska replied softly. “She wanted to go. And the prince and I understand each other. We are also… allies.”
Declan’s hand slid down from the pommel to the grip of his sword, paused, and then slid slowly back to rest lightly on the pommel again, as if he’d forced himself to stand down.
Luka raised his eyebrows. “Brigadier General, do you not see Lady Kaliska and Prince Shanrick as allies?”
Declan’s lip curled. “Your prince is known throughout the barracks for his women. He does not deserve Lady Kaliska as his… ally.”
What could Luka say? That was true. But political marriages were often passionless, and the level of animosity on Declan’s face was?—
He loves Kaliska,Luka’s beast rumbled.That’s why he wanted to know where Narya was. He thought she was fucking Shane.
Luka resisted the urge to rub the back of his neck.Everyonethought Narya and Shane were fucking. “The prince has confirmed that he showed Lady Narya the fountains, and then they went their separate ways,” Luka said. “But—” There was no easy way to say this. “—he also said that Narya kissed him.”
Kaliska blinked. Her expression remained politely neutral, but her fingers tightened on her lap.
“Can you think of why she might have done that?” Luka didn’t add,given that you are as good as betrothed, but the words hovered in the air, nonetheless.
Kaliska stayed silent, watching him with big green eyes.
“I’m trying to solve her murder,” Luka said softly. “If you know anything, it will help.”
Lady Kaliska seemed to weigh her options, considering how much to say. Eventually, she spoke softly. “We looked after each other. Narya wanted to set me free.” Behind her, Declan’sexpression grew even stonier, but Kaliska couldn’t see it as she continued. “She may have thought that was a good way to do so. If the prince was in love with her or wanted her more….” She shrugged. “They liked each other well enough, and Narya could have been happy here in the castle. I’m sure Shane would have given her whatever she wanted and let her live her life as she chose.”
Gods of Chaos. Luka couldn’t even fault the reasoning. Narya wouldn’t have minded settling for a political marriage, but Kaliska wanted something more.
As Shane should.
“Okay. So she kissed him, perhaps to protect you, but they parted anyway. What would she have done next?”
“I would’ve expected her to come back to the party,” Kaliska said, a small line deepening between her brows. “It’s strange that she went back to her room when she could have rejoined everyone.”
Except she didn’t go back to her room… but there was no way he could reveal that. “I have heard,” Luka said instead, “that Narya spent some time with a physik after the tour of the fountains. Do you know anything about that?”
Kaliska shook her head while Declan scowled, but then Kaliska jolted and started to turn toward Declan. It was only for a second before she caught herself and turned back, but it was enough.
“Do you know anything, Lady Kaliska?” Luka prompted as gently as he could. “Was Narya ailing? Would she have looked for help? Or was there some other reason she would have looked for a healer?”
“No.” Kaliska bit her lip. “Nothing like that, but….” She looked away.
Luka waited patiently, letting the silence grow, hoping she would fill it. And, finally, this time, she did.
“A couple of days ago,” she replied slowly, “my cousin mentioned that she’d heard of somewhere she could get some kind of elixir. It promised unrivaled passion… but was not, exactly, legal. I thought it was a joke, but Narya… she might have thought something like that would be interesting to try.”
Luka’s beast reared up in horror, and he fought to keep his expression neutral. “An elixir? For the prince?” Had Narya hoped to drug Shane? To trap him? Or to free Kaliska from any chance of marriage to the prince?
“No! Absolutely not! I mean… not unless he wanted to.” Kaliska leaned forward, her eyes on his.
She sounded utterly sincere, but he couldn’t keep the skepticism from his expression. “How can you be certain?”
