Flinging out her arm, she dropped her knife, and dissipated it back to chaos before it could clatter to the floor. Releasing him, she stepped back with an, “Oh!”
He stood and moved toward her in one long step, sweeping her into an embrace. “Mi rasdekina.You’re safe. You’re all right.” Kas breathed against the crown of her head.
She wanted to sink into him but stiffened instead. There was something niggling at her. Like she was leaving on holiday and forgot to pack a necessity.
Kas released her without warning and went to the door. “You should lie back down.”
He left the room, his room. She was inhischambers.Oh.Kas called for a healer as his muffled voice drifted away.
Said healer arrived soon after, along with one of the housemaids, a firebearer, who flung flames out to each of the candles before she slipped away.
The healer, a gruff older man named Letif, ushered Nesrina back to Kas’s bed and checked her over. He told her she was not to get up for at least another day; they’d be bringing a hearty stew soon and she needed to eat it all, every drop.
Nes nodded as she reclined against a stack of pillows, even finer quality than those on her bed upstairs. “How long have I been here?”
“Two days.”
She balked.
The healer packed up his kit as he muttered additional instructions. One of his staff would come in a few hours to change out her bandages. If she needed to use the washroom, the distance between the bed and the bathing chamber was acceptable. Though, she was not to walk there alone and must always ring for assistance.
“I feel fine... ish,” Nes amended. “I’m safe here, I don’t think I require an escort within the duke’s apartment.”
Letif pierced her with his stern gaze. “It’s not a guard, Miss Kiappa. You’ve lost quite a lot of blood. You’ll be faint for a time still and will require physical support.”
Not a guard . . .
A realization slammed into her, stealing her breath away. “I need to speak with the duke.”
“He’s with the prince.” Letif moved toward the door.
“How is Ataht?”
“Recovering well.”
Nes sighed, thanking the gods.
“Remember to stay put, Miss Kiappa. I’ll tell Lord Kahoth you’ve asked for himafterhe’s done spending time withthe prince.”
Letif made it clear whohebelieved took priority. To be fair, Ataht was up there. But she needed to speak with Kas immediately, it involved their safety—all of them.
The moment the door closed, she hopped down from the bed and shuffled into the bathing chamber. She was fine... ish, as long as she kept a hand on the wall for balance. She tugged Kas’s robe off the hook and wrapped it around herself to cover her thin shift. His scent enveloped her, reminding her of that hug, of the night she’d snuck in, of the symposium, of everything. She shivered, popped the panel, and began to climb the stairs very, very gingerly.
forty
Kas deals with things.
Kassaidhisgoodbyesto Ataht and dragged a reluctant Della from her brother’s side.
“Thank you,” Hevva said, standing from her chair to hug her daughter quickly before resuming her watch.
The healer had poked his head in, but waited in the hall for his opportunity to check on the prince. Letif was quite doting, if a little overbearing. That was why Kas kept him on the payroll, for rare occasions such as this. Yawning, Kas rubbed the back of his neck and took Della—who was trying to creep back to the bed—by the hand to escort her away.
On the landing, he passed her off to Fatema, who herded the princess to her room.
“How is she?” Kas asked Letif who stood off to one side, speaking with Thera in low tones.
His housekeeper looked up with a twinkle in her eye as Letif said, “Miss Kiappa is resting. She wishes to speak with you.”
