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“You can’t deny it’s unusual, my friend,” Cy whispered, his playful tone nothing but sincere now.
“Hey.” I waved my hands. “I’m right here, and I don’t know how many times I need to keep saying it, but I don’t know what all this means, why I’m here, and why you all keep looking at me like I might burst into flames.”
Rough calluses drew me from the moment of frenzy. Kage’s long fingers curled around my wrist, his eyes locked with mine. “We do not have answers to offer you. Not yet. Be calm, Wildling.”
“Another thing,” I whispered, holding his gaze. “Why do you keep calling me that?”
Kage hesitated. “I don’t know.”
There was no time to respond. Somewhere deep in the palace the sound of a horn blared through the corridors. Almost at once, bells pounded into the night, and shouts echoed to the rafters.
“Dammit,” Kage grumbled. “You need to go before?—”
“Kagesh, what is this?” In the doorway, Prince Destin was dressed like he was half-ready for battle in a dark tunic with even darker boots and a sword strapped to his belt. His eyes fluttered to me, and his shoulders slouched. “Thank the goddess, you’re safe. My Lady, you gave us a fright.” Another hesitant look toward his brother, and Destin made a move for me. “But I do wonder what has brought you here at such an hour.”
“I, um . . .” I looked to the thieving prince for guidance. His features were hard, uneasy. He didn’t want Destin to know. I cleared my throat. “I started wandering, thinking I might spark a memory, but got turned around. Prince Kage . . . he was, uh, helping me to find my way back when I accidentally thought his tower was mine.”
Destin tensed for a few breaths, then slowly eased, grinning. “It is a good thing you found Kage in an agreeable temperament—and alone, I might add. He often has company.”
“What more is required of the spare, brother, but to grouse and bed women?” Kage fell back onto his bed, returning to his snide, arrogant self. With the flick of his fingers, he gestured for us to leave. “Now if this is all in order, I would like to get back to sleep, or I shall be rather disappointing should I opt not to sleep alone tomorrow.”
Destin scoffed, but held out an elbow for me to take.
I took hold with a touch of caution. Cy and Asger did not greet the prince, merely kept their gazes pinned to the floor as he led me out of the room.
“Are you well, My Lady?” Destin asked once we’d reached the corridor leading to my room.
“I’m fine. Like I said, just a littleturned around.”
Destin paused at my door, then gently took hold of both my palms in his hands. “Adira, I . . . I love my brother. We are not blood, but we grew together since we were young boys. He is a brother in all that matters, but . . .”
“What?” My pulse would not stop racing.
“Kagesh is a Soturi mage who yearns for power. At times such ambitions feed into the instincts of battle mages, and they become insatiable. He will do all he can to see to it he saves Magiaria from this dreary destiny. He is desperate to find theskallkrönorand has been searching tirelessly for the spells to allow him to do so.”
A scratch built in the back of my throat. Kage had been searching for something in the star tent. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because it is fated that House Ravenwood would return, the sacrifice who truly saved us all. He might . . . well, he might see you as a threat to his ambitions. After all, in his mind, you’ve only just arrived, yet are destined to be honored and revered.”
“You think he’ll harm me out of jealousy?”
“Not the true Kagesh, but the part of his magic that yearns for power, I can’t say. I want your face to be known, not only to celebrate, but to have more supporters on your side. Already, the people yearn to meet you.”
“The people?”
“Folk within the gates of Vondell will gather to witness the Flames of the Blood in the coming days.” Destin offered a reticent grin. “Proof of House Ravenwood’s return will be such a hope to Magiaria. They know your sacrifice ended the war, but now you are the hope of our future.”
“I don’t know how to find the crowns, Prince Destin. I don’t even think I have magic.”
Destin placed a smooth palm against my cheek. “You will. You do. Give it time. I shall teach you and help you restore what was hidden from you. It is my honor to protect you, Adira Ravenwood.”
“Even from your brother?”
Destin’s smile faded. “I do not think he means it, and I do not say such things to cause you to think ill of him. But I felt it my duty as the crown of Magiaria to put you on your guard. That is all.”
Destin muttered more apologies for not orienting me to the palace before he’d left me to my own room, but I could not shake the lingering thoughts of his horrid brother. The way he’d felt pinned against me. The subtle grin he tried to hide. Was it true? Could he only be searching for a way to find glory, and I was a new menace in his path?
I could not explain why such a thought felt a great deal like a betrayal.
