Page 119 of Winter Gods & Serpents

“Your head is still on,” Kilian stated, while accompanying me to my bedroom.

“Cannot say the same thing about you for long.”

“You like my head attached to my body. It won’t be going anywhere.”

“I can use you in parts too.”

“But where would the fun be in that,” he said, opening my bedroom door. “You’re unwell, remain put for a while or I will be severely tempted to tell your father about your deeds.”

“No need to retort to useless threats, darling. I am unwell, I can’t die without fulfilling my purpose for living.”

Something tightened his features. “Snowlin—”

“Just Snow, Kilian, you’re not my father. You sound too angry when you say my full name.”

“If you need anything,” he offered, retreating a step back. “I will be just outside…Snow.”

I held my amusement in. I liked the sound of my name in his mouth; cold, skin chilling. “What ever could I need you for, Adriatian?”

“Remembering not to lie.” Had he heard the conversation with father? I lazily rose my middle finger to him. He smiled, like he’d always smiled at me, like I’d not just seen it for the first time today. “Civil as always. Grace truly becomes you, princess.”

Nia came out of my bedroom and pulled me inside before I could jump on the smug prick. “Deal with the defiled fifteen-year-old before defiling the Adriatian,” she said, before shutting me inside.

Pen was waiting inside with another servant, perched on the bed end bench holding one another’s hands.

“I saw your notes, well done, Pen.” She had just become a very important ear in all my work.

She stood and almost pranced to me. “Thank you. Nia said she will head to the library to go through the tax records of Brogmere. I have someone who is willing to speak as well,” she said, beaming in pride at the amount of help she had granted me.

Brogmere. The oar that was most inaccessible to me. I’d been granted patrol everywhere beside the port city. The lord never attended meetings, only communicating through envoys and enclosed meetings. It was not only an odd oar, but one I needed on my side, and one that possibly had answers for me. Answers regarding the Solaryans.

I smiled at the proud red head. “Brilliant, welcome to my squadron, little soldier.”

Chapter 23

Sun and Flame

Kilian

The stables were beaming with squadrons of soldiers ready to be dispatched for patrol amongst the cities and in the midst stood stubborn miss dark head herself deep in conversation with my brother not missing a beat to stay away from danger. She had perked up not two days after our return from Brisk. It was the first time I’d seen her since then, she’d not come out of her room at nights and not till the other two had taken over the guard shift. The first night it seemed normal, but then the second I’d begun to think if it was to avoid me. She always peaked her head out to chat with Nia or play a terrible game of chess with Ken. This time I’d not even heard her hum that song she normally hums before bed.

She noted my approach and threw her head back, groaning loudly. “Leave me alone, good gods.”

My eyes narrowed on her forehead. “How did you get that bruise?” This damned woman, banging her bones just about everywhere. Was she not tired of hurting?

Caiden swished past me. “The floor demanded a sacrifice, for holding that much ego afloat.”

“You fell? How?”

She did not answer, her eyes darting about the stables, a warm flush across her cheeks. It had to be temperature, she never blushed. Had she hit her head that hard?

“The hazards of having feet,” Caiden continued, “Imagine not knowing how to put one after the other, deadly.”

She sneered and threw a vulgar hand gesture at her friend who remained unfazed mounting his horse.

Nia handed her a small clear flask of liquid which she poured over a small cloth. Placing it over her mouth, she breathed through it a couple of times and then tucked it in her pocket.

I turned to Nia. “Why is she using mud foam, isn’t her patrol in Modr?”