Page 32 of Ghosts and Ginger Tea

“I promise you, Oliana, I really will protect you. I have your best interests in mind, and I will do all I can to help break the curse. But I must also fulfill my duties as a chief.”

"And do you consider forcing your wife to dance at knifepoint ‘protecting’ me?" I pulled my hands away and folded my arms.

“You are now my queen, and I had hoped to know whether you trust him or not. And, to be honest, I hoped to gain information about Kalani’s plans and troops… all this by letting you dance with him.” Keanu knelt and looked up at me. Nobody had ever done this before.

“Stand up. What are you doing?”

“Asking you to forgive me.” He was serious. He was begging. No jokes. No flirtations. “I am sorry. I admit that I had the intention of using you last night, but I will never do it again.” He bowed his head. “I hope, with time, you can trust me.”

“You throw around the word ‘trust’ like it’s something that happens by chance,” I said.

“Well then how can I gain your trust, Oliana?” he asked. “I want us to be allies, to be on the same side, because, I assure you, I am on your side.”

“Then don’t waste my time–don’t throw me into this world and expect me to understand everything at once!” I fumed. “And don’t force me to do things that only benefit you. Yes, you kept your part of the bargain, but how can you expect me to be your ally when you feed me to the enemy and abandon me?”

Keanu understood, his eyes hurting… for me? “Oliana.” He stood and ran his fingers through his hair. Then he took a breath and said, “I’m so sorry. My intention is not to forsake you or leave you ignorant. I promise.” Why did he sound so sincere?

Keanu walked to his study where he leaned on the desk, wisps of his hair falling over his forehead. “I can’t promise to always be with you physically,” he said. “But I want to spend as much time with you as I can while I’m with you.” At this, he approached me again and offered his arm. “Kalani’s forces have retreated, and with that, I feel I can do leisure things. Well.” The corner of his lip turned up. “Leisure, as in, spending time with you, and figuring out the riddle. I thought today might be a good day to do some research together.”

I kept my walls up. The Keanu I saw now was so different from the cocky one I knew previously. What version could I trust? Or was this how he always was? I knew, from personal experience, that when meeting someone for the first time, it was easy to put up a face, to make oneself seem larger than life. Was that the case with Keanu?

I hesitated, and he noticed. “I’ll spend the day with you, only if you want to,” he said. “If not, I can tell you some places and people I thought we could ask about the riddle.”

Warmth spread within my chest. It was… sincere that he was giving me a choice. Not forcing or pressuring like yesterday or the night we met. But one thoughtful deed didn’t make up for the fact I could’ve died the previous night.

I fidgeted with one sleeve and then flattened out my skirt. “Alright, fine. I think I’d like ‌you to help me today.” I gave him a look. “But don’t expect to gain my trust any time soon. Remember that you knowingly exposed me–with only weeks left to live–to a hostile enemy.” It wasn’t enough to just scold him though. He needed consequences. Real consequences.

“If you ever hope to regain my trust again, you will be honest with me,” I said. “And will not use me–for show, for information, for any other purposes that may put me in harm’s way.”

He took a slow breath. “Understood, milady. I assure you have my word.”

For a moment, we looked at one another, and I knew he felt guilty. Oh so guilty. Then Keanu nodded and held out his arm. “May I escort you to breakfast?”

“Yes.”

Our relationship was more delicate than ever, but I was proud of myself for standing up. Because, much to my surprise, Keanu did start changing… for me.

CHAPTER TEN

As we walked through the palace, I couldn’t help noticing the morning light shining through the windows, casting shadows on the walls and floors. I glanced at mine and Keanu’s shadows, thinking of the riddle’s line.

Could becoming one with the shadow mean joining with the darkness? In other words, being alright with the darkness?

It can’t be that simple though, can it?

At breakfast, we ate in silence for a while. Keanu seemed thoughtful, and kept staring off. But, after a long moment, he looked at me.

“Are you enjoying the palace?” he asked. The question was so similar to Malakai’s I thought I was reliving the previous day.

I swallowed hard and thought about it, not sure that I would ever get used to the way the servants prepared, served, and cleaned all the meals. I wasn't used to clothes showing up magically cleaned or my hair being made every day.

And maybe I hoped to never get used to it. I always thanked the servants and maids profusely, and Keanu seemed thoroughly amused by it.

“It’s very different than where I’m from,” I admitted.

“Did you enjoy the cliffs of Ka‘u? I’ve heard things about it. The southernmost tip of our island chain, the jumping point.”

Truthfully, I loved where I came from. “I miss the waves breaking against the black cliffs,” I said. “And the salty wind.” But I didn’t miss the fishermen. Especially not Pulu.