“I can’t believe you’ve been doing this on your own.”
I groan as I peel my bloodied leathers off my body. As much as I hate to admit it, we work well together. I hate the extra danger he’s putting himself in though.
“Hells, your shoulder is a mess.” Alex grimaces at the sight.
“It’ll heal.” Burly Man, my current nemesis, nearly got the better of me again.
“Going to see Margot?”
“I don’t have a choice. A court healer is way too risky. Besides, she’s my favorite.”
He sighs. “I can’t believe you stepped in front of that arrow for me.”
I shake my head. “It wasn’t even a choice. It was my fault you almost got caught out there with me. The last thing I’d allow is for you to take an arrow meant for me.”
Alex pats my opposite shoulder, but I can’t hold back the wince as it reverberates through me.
“Oh shit. Sorry, Ki.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I’m just glad you actually asked me to come. If you’d been out there on your own . . . there’s no telling what would have happened. The guards seemed keen on killing first and asking questions later.”
“You’re not wrong.”
Father’s tactics for catching the vigilante are escalating. It’s clear he wants him taken out of the picture completely.
Alex follows me into my closet, and I open the secret compartment filled with medical supplies. I toss him a roll of bandages and grab the bottle of antiseptic. After pulling the cork out with my teeth, I spit it out and use my good arm to splash it onto my shoulder, hissing at the sting.
“Have you decided how you’re going to handle courting two women?” Alex asks, changing the subject.
As much as I appreciate the distraction, I don’t have the answer to that question just yet.
“I’m not sure how I ended up here. I didn’t want to marry anyone at the beginning of the season, and now Father and Colin are shoving Princess Helene at me the second I make an agreement with the Astoria girl.”
“That’s some terrible luck, that’s for sure,” he agrees as he wraps my shoulder with the bandage.
I groan, partially from the pain, partially from the aggravation of my situation. “What do you think I should do?” I ask.
“Well, the biggest concern is keeping your secret, right?”
“That’s definitely up there,” I say. “But to be honest, I’m torn. Raelyn might have the access I need to her father’s information on the lost god, but on the other hand, a betrothal to Helene would mean I’d have more time to go out and search for him. I’m not sure that would be the case were I bound to Raelyn.”
“That does seem like a problem,” Alex replies but then waggles his eyebrows. “Who do you think is more attractive?”
I shake my head. “Helene is still practically a child. I don’t even want to think about her like that.”
“As much as I hate the practice, we both know that betrothals are arranged between royals all the time, regardless of age,” Alex says matter-of-factly. “Wasn’t your brother betrothed when he was still a child?”
“Yeah . . . but still.” I shudder. “No thanks.” My mind flashes back to Raelyn, and I groan again as my attraction for her makes itself known in my already tight pants. “Raelyn and I agreed to a marriage on paper only.”
Alex’s eyes widen. “Why in the hells would you do that, you fool?”
“It’s complicated but all the better for me to sneak around and do what I need to do. Acting on feelings would be the worst possible idea.”
“What is it with you two?” Alex asks. “You’re clearly omitting something. Besides, I saw the way she melted in your arms at the ball last month. You could have her out of her clothes in no time if you desired it.”
“You better shut the hells up,” I say, but there’s no bite in my tone. “It’s better this way. I can have my freedom and she can have hers. I still can’t believe her stepmother is treating her like a servant.” I bristle at the thought and walk back into the sitting room, collapsing into my favorite chair.
