As he pressed his hand to his ribs, Kalie bit her lip. He’d bandaged the burn on her side, but they hadn’t talked about that moment, and she wondered if he’d felt it too—the way the air had become charged between them, the rise in temperature, the rush of her pulse.
But they had more important things to worry about.
She shuffled into the frigid cockpit and dropped into the co-pilot’s seat, burying her hands in the sleeves of her borrowed sweatshirt. The scent of it calmed her. It smelled like ocean spray, like Dali. Like him. Arrogant and irritating as Zane was, he’d come back for her. Unlike Mylis, who’d seemed so gentle and understanding—only to prove his kindness was an act.
Traitor.
Zane cracked an eye open, grunted, and stiffly eased himself up. She could feel the ache in his bones; it was the same ache pulsing through her wounds.
“What’re you doing up?” he mumbled.
“I couldn’t sleep. Go ahead, I’ll take over.”
He rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hand. “You know, I’ve been thinking about this. Your guards. It’s so obvious, I can’t believe I didn’t see it.”
“See what?”
“Captain Vale,” Zane spat, wringing his hands. “He’s served your aunt since the war. None of you had any reason to be suspicious of him, but he’s held a grudge against your father?—”
“Since he killed Vale’s wife and daughter.”
“Exactly. And he picked guards who held grudges. Like Wright, for instance. Your father’s men tortured his dad. And…” Zane’s eyes shifted to her, and he cleared his throat. “And Mylis. Your uncle might’ve recommended him, but Vale had to confirm his appointment. Vale’s been planning this from the start.”
“With Carik’s help.”
His brows knitted together.
“This was his work. I know it.” Kalie dug her nails into her palms. “He didn’t come to that meeting to discuss my terms, he came there to assess my court. It’s easy to read people, he probably took one look and knew which ones he could turn.”
Zane stifled a yawn. “To turn your whole guard… This has been planned for weeks. I’m sure of it. Are you sure the mastermind isn’t one of your nobles?”
“Perhaps.” Judging by Hewlett’s smile, he’d been involved, and his lousy family too. “But none of them have the resources to break into Titan. This has to be Carik’s work.”
“Did Lexington say anything about him?”
“No, but… she said I lost a part of me. Something she could return.”
“She’s a raving lunatic. Don’t believe a word she says.”
“Raving, maybe. Lunatic, no.” Kalie ran a hand over her face, shivering at the icy touch. “I thought she meant freedom from the court, but she said something about a name…”
Zane yawned loudly, and the light from the dashboard caught the dark circles ringing his eyes. She tossed her head towards the cargo bay.
“We can talk about it later. You should get some sleep.”
“Yeah. Guess I should.” Stifling another yawn, Zane pushed himself to his feet. “Wake me when you want to switch.”
“Sweet dreams.”
Kalie slumped against the backrest. Pain lanced through her ribs, spiraling down to the aching burn on her side. Damn Iliana. Damn Carik.
She wanted to kill him. Slowly. Painfully. She wanted him to watch as everything he’d built crumbled before him.
But what Zane had said earlier was right.
She’d demanded support and berated her nobles. Despite their protests, she’d forced them into a corner. Her desperation to avenge her own family had made her forget they had families to protect, too. She’d ignored their wishes, the wounds festering from the last war, and their fears that their surviving loved ones would be slaughtered.
Her own willful ignorance had cost her the throne.
