Page 45 of Ghosts and Ginger Tea

Peter caught up to us and listened, his hands still behind his back. My suspicions grew. Was he hiding something?

“Your majesty, I think the visits today went really well.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Our kingdom is very fortunate to have you.” They spoke for a while about the people, then Peter excused himself, saying, “I have some business to tend to.”

The moon began to shine silvery light all around us, and with the entourage gone, it was just me, Keanu, and our guards trailing behind us.

Keanu motioned to them and they stayed put.

Now it was truly just us. Alone in the palace hallways.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Keanu took my hand, then looked at me. “Are you cold?”

“Oh, no.” Truth was, I could not get the picture of him and the baby out of my mind. Nor could I get rid of the gnawing feeling that something was wrong. I should’ve been thinking about the riddle, but an uneasiness settled in my stomach.

We walked outside under the covered pathways. Malu landed nearby and hooted. Keanu paused to stroke the owl, then we continued.

“You are quickly becoming the people’s queen,” said Keanu.

“Well you already have their hearts. They see me as a stranger, a fisherman’s daughter.”

“They see much more than that, as do I.”

He stopped. Right there, in the middle of the covered walkway, surrounded by ferns and foliage. Purple orchids gleamed in the moonlight, and the air smelled like a soft fragrance.

“I wish you could see yourself the way I see you,” he said. There was no lightness in his voice. Not even a hint of sarcasm or flirtation. I couldn’t get myself to look at him, too embarrassed by his confession.

How did he see me?

Before I could change the topic, something caught my eye. A slight movement in the ferns behind Keanu.

There was something… no. Someone moving in the shadows.

I gasped.

The murderer. And that was when I moved.

“Keanu!” I shoved him, using my body as a shield, sending us both tumbling to the ground. Something went flying into the air and a stinging sensation shot through my shoulder.

But I hardly noticed it because I fell on top of Keanu.

He caught himself, landing on his elbows, but I fell on his chest, my face inches from his. This close, his smell was intoxicating, and if I looked into those golden eyes any longer, I was sure I’d drown in them.

“Oliana!” he exclaimed, taking my arms and looking towards the direction of the hallway. The figure was hard to make out, but they ran back into the shadows of the ferns and bushes. The only evidence that they’d been there was a knife sitting on the ground close to us. I thought Keanu was going to run after the almost-murderer, but he sat up and stroked my cheek. “Are you alright?” he asked, examining me.

“I’m alright.” I sat in his lap, and when I tried to stand, he stopped me.

“You’ve been injured!” For the briefest moment, his eyes flashed with pure hatred, and he looked in the direction of the murderer. But then he returned his attention to me and immediately took off his jacket, ripped a part of his sleeve, and tended to the wound. When I looked, I was surprised to see that the knife had hit my shoulder, causing a laceration that looked worse than it actually felt. “Are you sure you’re alright?” he asked, applying pressure on the wound to staunch the bleeding, before he gently wrapped it.

“I’m sure. Are you alright?”

He blinked. “You saved my life, Oliana. That knife would’ve…” He paused, not finishing his sentence. It would’ve gone straight into his back, ending his life. Again. “Thank you.”

Keanu’s face was close–oh so close–to mine. My heart began pattering again as he finished tying the wound, whispering that he’d have the doctor check on it later. But I didn’t hear him because I was staring at his handsome face. He looked up, probably also realizing how close we were, and then his eyes dove to my lips.

“I owe you again, Oliana.” There was an undertone to his voice, as if he was challenging me, perhaps even daring me to kiss him. I couldn’t help but look at his lips. What would it feel like to kiss him? I mean, we kissed before, but what would a real kiss feel like, where we were both active participants, not just him?

I began to lean in, giving into whatever spell had overcome me. And just as our lips were about to touch…