Page 46 of Ghosts and Ginger Tea

“Keanu!”

We broke apart, and Keanu cursed under his breath. We both turned to see Malakai standing there, out of breath.

“Did you catch the murderer?” Keanu asked, his eyebrows furrowed in irritation.

“Murderer?” Malakai’s eyes went wide. “Again?”

“Yes.” Keanu stood and helped me up, the moment gone. I couldn’t help but feel the disappointment rise in my chest, as well as a sense of humiliation. Malakai had probably seen us that close. Even his cheeks colored a little, like he was embarrassed to have intruded on us.

“I’m sorry,” he began to say.

“Please tell me you caught him, or there better be a good reason for you interrupting me, cousin,” Keanu said.

Malakai nodded, out of breath. “Forgive me. It’s Kalani.”

Keanu visibly tensed. “What now?”

“His troops have attacked the northeastern borders. They are setting flames to some taro crops as we speak.”

“Curse him,” Keanu said quietly, his hands balling into fists. “Well don’t stand there Malakai.” He motioned with his hand. “Get my horse ready. I’ll be right behind you.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Malakai bowed. Before he hurried away, he gave me a look, one that I couldn’t quite read. It was almost… a glare? Or, perhaps something else?

The only people who know about Keanu’s curse, the riddle, and the bargain are Malakai and Peter… Could Malakai be the traitor, giving all of Keanu’s information to Kalani? And if he was the traitor, could Malakai be the murderer?

But the murderer was just here… How could Malakai have changed that quickly? Was it Peter? Or both of them?

Maybe it was Pua. She had disappeared in haste, wearing all black. She pretended to be a jealous rival, but she actually hated that Keanu let foreigners into the kingdom. So was it her? Or did she hire someone?

“I’m sorry I must go.” Keanu turned to me. “But I won’t leave until I know you’re safe.” He took my hand, and began to walk toward our room. I stopped him.

“You should just go,” I said. “Your troops need you.”

“I don’t trust you walking in the palace alone. I don’t know how the murderer got in here, but he’s somewhere out there. Or here.”

At that moment, some servants appeared with lanterns. They bowed or curtsied to both of us, then lit lanterns under the covered walkways.

“His troops are burning the crops as we speak,” I said. “You must go. Please.” I took his hands. “I’ll be alright.”

He looked torn, like he really wanted to walk me back to the room, but ‌his armies needed him. “But promise me you’ll be safe,” I said, and squeezed his hands. This was the first time I’d done that, and Keanu’s expression softened.

“I promise. We’ll have a cup of ginger tea soon, love?”

Love? My head was spinning.

“Yes. Very soon, I hope.” He was looking at my lips again. I stood on the tips of my toes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Go,” I whispered before I fell into a trance and ended up kissing him on the lips. This was not what I had planned. This was not what I should be doing or feeling. But something inside of me was changing, especially after the day: the way he cared for his people, played with the baby, tended to my wound, the way he looked at me so many times.

Keanu nodded, then hurried off. When he was gone, I picked up the knife from the ground and examined it. Gold formed the hilt, and a leather band provided grip. The blade was quite shiny and sharp–which, it was no wonder it sliced right through my shoulder. But there was one thing that stood out the most to me: the violet gem in the pommel.

This does not belong to someone of the lower class… No. This belonged to someone who was wealthy enough to afford it.

Pua. She was wealthy, a noblewoman, but would she go to this extreme by murdering someone?

Malakai. He was wealthy enough to afford this, right?

Or Peter? My head started spinning. He had been looking at Keanu all day. Was it the look of the guilty?