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GWEN
Itook Kaio’s hand, allowing him to lift me from the ground. My legs were tingling, and I fell forward, losing my balance. He caught me, holding me against his hard body for a few heartbeats before letting me find my footing again.
When he released me, I threaded my fingers into his, gripping tightly.
“No matter what, we stay together okay?” I made it an order, even though it was a question. I was telling a king what to do. Ha. What had my life become?
“We stay together,” he agreed, though I could swear there was some hesitation in his tone.
Hand-in-hand, we started walking down the tunnel again. I stopped after a few steps. “Wait! My case!”
I raced back, snagging my bag and rejoining Kaio. “I’m telling you, this is going to save our lives in the end. It has to. Otherwise, dragging it around is going to feel really stupid.”
“I have complete faith that you’ll save the day,” he grinned, holding out his hand and waiting patiently for me to take it once more.
We continued walking, lapsing into silence. I didn’t know what to say; it felt like every footfall took me closer to a funeral. I wondered what Kaio was thinking. He was blocking his thoughts again.
Are you scared?
I reached out tentatively, not expecting an answer. He was probably making sure he was in the right mindset, ready to fight.
Kaio?
I’m not scared for myself, he finally answered.
I wish I could be more help. I’m not a fighter. Not really. When I killed that woman it was horrible—and even then, all I did was stand there with a knife while she ran into it. It doesn’t come naturally to me. I’m afraid I’m going to mess up and ruin your chances.
He squeezed my hand. We are going to survive this, Gwen.
I couldn’t tell if he was only trying to comfort me, or if he really believed his words.
“King Kaio, welcome! We are glad to see you’ve made it to the final fight.” The same creature who’d escorted us from the transport ship waited for us at the tunnel’s termination.
Kaio reached around my back, taking the handle of my case and pulling it away from me. He lifted it behind his back, hiding it.
“Thank you. We are glad to have come this far.” Kaio spoke regally, as if he wore a crown upon his head and he were in a royal throne room, instead of a tunnel underground on a faraway planet, wearing a standard-issue jumpsuit that was, quite frankly, beginning to look a bit worse for wear.
“Commissioner Bloodworm sends his regards and best wishes for victory.” The creature held out a bundle of dark eggplant-and-gold material. “He requests that you wear this when entering the fray.”
“I do not recall my contract including the use of my family’s personal crest.” Kaio frowned, taking the bundle and unfolding it to reveal a fresh cape. At the center of the material were six thin circles of gold. They fell, clinking against the ground.
“I do not know what your contract entails, King Kaio. I am only instructed to provide you with these items and ask that you wear them.”
“Very well,” Kaio gave in, pulling the cape over his shoulders with one arm. I moved to help him secure the clasp, wondering if he’d only accepted the item because it shielded my case from view. If he did, that meant he was willing to bastardize his family’s insignia to shield something important to me.
That sent a thrill through me.
“The bracelets too, if you please.” The creature bent down, picking up the metallic bangles and handing them to me instead of Kaio. I slipped them onto Kaio’s free hand, all six of them instead of splitting them between wrists as I suspected they were intended. But Kaio’s right hand was still hidden behind his back.
“Thank you, King Kaio. I will leave you now.”
“You are a credit to the BandaSnitch race,” Kaio said, giving a small nod of his head in recognition. “You deserve more than these petty games.”
The Banda looked at Kaio with wide, curious eyes. “I hope you survive, King Kaio.”
And then he was gone.
I took a deep breath, and because it felt like Kaio did not want to move forward, I led the way. I knew that in this moment, I gave him strength. The emotions flowing from him told me so.
