CHAPTER 37
Kadin
THOUGH I DESPERATELYWISHEDfor a bed, once Gideon sent the forever wordless prince back to the castle with a snap of his fingers, I knew it was time to pay the price: one ancient lamp.
As my men filed out of the room to find their own beds, I paused at the realization that Arie was sleeping in my room. “I’ll be back shortly,” I told Gideon.
At the opposite end of the hall, I tapped on the door to my room, hissing, “Arie.”
No response.
“Arie, wake up. I need to give Gideon the lamp.”
No answer.
I knocked a bit louder.
“Pipe down!” a male voice called from another room. But as far as I could tell, not a single sound came from the other side of Arie’s door. She was a sound sleeper.
Embarrassed, I returned to Gideon’s room, which he opened before my fist connected with the wood.
“My apologies,” I began, “The lamp is in my room, but I let Arie sleep there... the noise,” my excuses sounded weak. “Anyway, she’s still asleep, but I’m sure she’ll be awake in a few hours and then the lamp is yours, I swear.” I tried my best to expose my thoughts, not sure if it was working. “I’m good for my word, you can read my mind if you need to...”
Gideon’s head tilted to the side. “I suppose it would be good to rest a few hours.” He nodded. “Come back with the lamp at midday.”
A few hours of sleep sounded heavenly. Shuffling downstairs just long enough to ask someone to wake me before noon, I used Arie’s key to slip into what had been her room, noticing she’d brought her belongings with her as I fell into bed. Even with the sunrise peeking into my room, sleep hit me like a boulder.
I felt as if I’d only just closed my eyes when a knock roused me. Was it already noon? I rubbed my face, eyes burning.
Forcing myself out of bed, I dragged my feet to the door. The hall was empty. I trudged to Arie’s room, knocking as I yawned.
No answer.
I knocked louder. If people weren’t awake by now, it was their own fault. But even when I pounded on her door, Arie didn’t stir.
I began to worry.
Jogging down the stairs, I asked for a spare key.
“We don’t just go around giving out keys,” the older woman minding the bar told me. The wrinkles etched in her forehead deepened. “If you lost it, you pay for it, and you don’t get another one.”
“I didn’t lose it,” I tried to reason with her, though I’d already explained once. “I paid for all the rooms, and I gave that key to another member of my group. But now I need to get into the room.”
“Why?” she scowled.
“None of your business,” I snapped. But when she raised her chin at me, I sighed. “I’m worried, alright? I just want to make sure she’s okay.”
“She?” The woman slapped her rag down on the bar. The wrinkles lifted, growing deeper still. “I see how it is. You want to sneak into the poor lady’s room? I’m not going to help you with that, and I’m considering having you thrown out just for asking!”
“No, no,” I backpedaled, frustrated with the direction this conversation was going. “No, listen. It’smyroom. I gave her my key, but I need to get something from my luggage.”
“Mmmhmm,” she said, crossing her arms. “There’s alwayssomethingwith you men, isn’t there? I thought you wanted to make sure she’s okay. Now you need to get something?”
I groaned. “I do, and yes! Why don’t you come with and make sure I behave. How’s that sound?” When she hesitated, I pressed harder, “Please. I’m worried. Just help me check on her—then I promise I’ll go away.”
