Page 59 of Ghosts and Ginger Tea

“I just saw her on the path and was going to walk her back to the palace,” Malakai said, his voice full of concern. His desperate expression was wiped off his face, replaced with a look that promised he truly was doing his duty and escorting the queen. My distrust of him grew. I was not good at faking my way through things, but it seemed like everyone else could put on a face so easily.

Could I trust Malakai? Or Peter? Or Keanu? Could they all put on a mask? I never felt so lost.

Keanu’s eyebrows furrowed. “Oli, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” I feigned a smile but still couldn’t meet his eyes. “I’m just tired. It’s been a long day and I want to rest.”

“Of course.” He offered his arm, which I took. I hoped he couldn’t feel the way my fingers trembled or hear the way my breaths were short and shallow. Keanu gave Malakai a look before leading me back to the palace.

When we were a distance from his cousin, he asked, once more, “Are you sure you’re alright? You look pale. Did Malakai say or do something to you?”

“My mother was buried today,” I snapped back, my emotions a mess. “I’m just exhausted.”

He let go of my arm to rub my back. “I’m sure you are. I’m sorry, I won’t ask any more questions.” True to his word, he didn’t ask questions.

After I washed and prepared for bed, I got into the sheets without a word. The ginger tea sat on the nightstand, untouched, and when my husband got into bed and took my hand, silent tears streamed down my face. I thought I should let go, but I didn’t.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ONE DAY LEFT

Iawoke to the sound of something being placed on my nightstand.

Flowers. Roses and gardenias. They smelled incredible.

I didn’t immediately get up though, too afraid to face Keanu. What was I to say? What should I do?

I had a restless night, tossing and turning, every part of me terrified of this world… this world that I was so ignorant and so naïve. Did I really believe that Keanu loved me? Malakai’s words made complete sense.

He tells me to trust him, but he doesn’t tell me the truth about everything… And not only that, but this was it. This was the last full day, the 31st of the month. By nightfall, I’d disappear and Keanu would return to his ghost form as a night marcher. Unless he got me to take his place.

“Oli?” Much to my surprise, the chief sat on my bedside and stroked my arm. “You should probably get up. We have much to do today.”

I pretended to sleep, but who knew if he believed me or not? I was a terrible liar.

“I’m tired,” I said, turning so that my back faced him. He rubbed my back, and every time his fingers touched the skin at the back of my neck, I felt my walls crumbling. Crumbling…

No, Oli. Don’t even indulge in any of it.

“We’re hosting a dinner tonight. I host it once a month for the nobility,” he said. “It helps me to keep them in check, so that we may be friends, and if a problem arises in my kingdom, I am on good terms with them and can resolve things quickly.”

The last thing I wanted to do was spend the evening with a bunch of snobby nobles. A pool of dread settled in my stomach. Pua would be there too.

“There will be a dance afterward, too,” Keanu said, brushing some hair from the side of my face. He then rested his hand on my shoulder and leaned over, his nose brushing my neck. “I’d love to dance with you.”

Don’t let it affect you, Oli. Don’t! But it was so romantic…

“I know you’re tired and I’m sure you’re still grieving the loss of your mother.”

I remained quiet.

“But I wanted to talk to you about something…”

My curiosity piqued. He kept his hand on my arm and sounded… nervous? “I wanted to offer you a way out of this bargain.”

I blinked and sat up, rubbing my eyes to make sure I really was awake. This was real.

“A way out? What do you mean? Is there something we missed in the riddle?”