"What happened that day, when you got stabbed?"
He grinned slightly. "Nothing serious really, we ran into some people that were looking for trouble and got separated. I got stabbed and he carried me back."
So similar to the simple story Roan had told me that night, but it still didn’t add up. Why hadn’t they just gone to the Master Healers? Whatwere they hiding?
"You have another question." He said it more like a statement, but there was a current of amusement running through his tone.
I had a thousand, but I settled for the one I thought he might answer.
"You mentioned that you'd tell me who the end of the prophecy referred to, who it is you're trying to save."
He stopped then, close to the gardens of the Apprentice Pavilion, on the outskirts where no one who ventured through could hear our conversation.
Leaning a shoulder against the trunk of a moon willow, Kairen regarded me. “Do you trust me?"
The question caught me off guard and I shifted, lips pursing as I thought about it. Did I trust him? He had been nothing but kind, however, he was a Solerian Prince. Never could I tell him my secrets, who I truly was.
Hesitantly, I answered, "I don't give my trust easily, Prince."
As if anticipating that response, the knowing smile he gave seemed to relax whatever tension had developed within me from the question, "I don't either, Potion Maker, but I feel like I want to trust you—for whatever reason."
"My winning charm, perhaps?" My teasing tone won a laugh from him. Sighing, he pushed off the tree and nodded once, as if coming to a conclusion.
"After your second trial, before we leave for the quest, I will tell you who it is I'm trying to save.”
Nodding slowly, the knot that had formed in my chest loosened. He was giving this piece of himself, his motivations for this quest, to show that he could be trusted.
Hewantedto earn my trust.
The smile on his face was as stunning as it was mischievous as he gave me a slight incline of his head. "Thank you for accompanying me. I'm sure you must be tired after the morning you had. I won't take anymore of your time."
I watched as he walked a path back towards the palace. Never would I have expected Solerian royalty to be like Prince Kairen. To have kindness and compassion etched so permanently into his soul that it seemed to seep from him.
I might not yet trust the man, but I found I liked being around him more with every conversation we shared. The thought sent a bitter flicker of self-loathing to burn in my gut.
Prince of Sun and Flame.
The shadows hissed, stoking the self hatred that reared its ugly head within me.
Son of a Damned King,
how special you must feel, little shadow,
to bask in his warmth.
The words were venomous. Slithering through my mind and wrapping around my very core.
But be careful
for even the smallest flame can catch alight
and burn entire cities to nothing but ruinous ash.
Chapter Thirteen
The days between my assessment with the Kinslayer and my second trial seemed to pass in a whirlwind as I fell into a steady routine and grew more comfortable with my new normal. In the early mornings I greeted Delmar in the training field to hone my fighting skills—Bran occasionally joining until he had to go to his own training. The afternoons and evenings were filled with studying and the occasional evening out with Rena to eat at the little tavern in the Apprentice Pavilion, or we would simply just lay in our beds gossiping about the days. I grew comfortable with the people that now made daily appearances in my life, and for the first time I felt as if I were making friends. Well, a friend in Rena, at least. I didn't know if I could call Roan Delmar a friend, necessarily. He still annoyed me persistently, that icy wall still firmly encapsulating him, but we had grown to forge a begrudging companionship for the training.
He even occasionally made a joke or attempted to stifle a laugh at one of my own.
