Kerasea comes out of the baths. She freezes, taking in the scene of me with my sword out and the servant I nearly killed.
I place my weapon back in its scabbard. “You are dismissed.”
“Thank you, sire. Excuse me, sir,” the old woman says, breathing hard.
Kerasea helps her pick up the yarn and then waits until the woman hobbles back into her quarters. With one leg slightly shorter than the other, and being probably seventy, there is no way that woman outran me.
Kerasea shifts closer and leans in.
“Should we search the rooms?” she whispers.
We?Kera stares at me, her eyes earnest, and I’m right back to when I nearly kissed her by the waterfall. I was so drawn to her, but then she seemed uncertain and I stopped myself—just barely. I imagine us sweeping the rooms together, me kicking in the doors and her with her dagger out, but she is not Julian. I would have to protect both her and myself.
No, I need to get her to safety. Someone was bold enough to follow us. I have to protect her first.
“Let me get you back to your room,” I say.
It physically pains me to abandon a hunt, but I have higher priorities. I tell myself that no damage was done even if someone managed to overhear the entire conversation. There is no way to prove that the cook confessed. It would be my word against theirs. And I didn’t actually kiss the High Priestess; I was only tempted.
But who was it?
It had to be someone fast enough that I couldn’t outrun them. That means it wasn’t Suh, Terrance, or Medea. It could’ve been Julian, as he’s beaten me in a footrace before, but he’d have no reason to flee.
I highly doubt Paolo is faster than I am, but it could’ve been Foreau. He left the conclave, and if he’s setting up the Faith and attacking Julian, he would have a motive to follow us. If he is bought by Arthago, he’d have a reason to eliminate us all.
As we take the stairs, I realize that now, more than ever, I have to find a way to access his rooms. I’ll get the opportunity to search his chambers during dinner tonight or the conclave tomorrow.
Kerasea and I reach the third floor, and although I keep a sharp eye, there’s no sign of danger.
“I’ll need to speak to Zel again after dinner,” I say.
I’d like to interview her now, but we don’t have long before we need to appear at supper. And it’s imperative I pretend everything is still fine.
Kera shakes her head. “She couldn’t have outrun you…”
Her eyes move in a way that reveals she doesn’t trust her servant. I tuck away her suspicion in the back of my mind.
“I know, but something was amiss with her last night, and you know it,” I whisper.
She bites her lower lip as she grips the embellished sleeves of her robe. “I know, but don’t…hurt her.”
Sweet divine. That’s what she’s afraid of—me dismantling a teenage girl?
“I’m not the monster you think I am,” I say.
“I don’t think you’re a monster.”
Kerasea speaks plainly, and something about it strikes at my heart. Probably because I am, in fact, a monster. I’d just rather not be.
She stops at her door, and again, we’re far too close. I shouldn’t have reached out and touched her in the baths, but I couldn’t seem to help it. I got so distracted that I didn’t notice the shadow until it was too late, and this is the worst place to be caught unaware.
I need to keep my distance for both of our safety.
She opens her door and walks in. Kera hesitates just for a second and then closes the door behind her.
After waiting a moment, I force myself to go to my room and strip off my armor. I don’t dwell at all on how she waited before shutting the door. As if she was thinking about inviting me in.
No, I need to stop.
