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Of course, the girl I’d told myself I had to avoid trailed after me. Secretly—selfishly—I was thankful. As much as I’d grown accustomed to being alone, I found the idea ofhercompany pleasing.
Kiara plopped down beside me, even going so far as to copy my pose, bringing one knee to her chest. We both watched over our exhausted companions.
Isiah’s deep voice echoed as he ordered the group to make camp, the recruits scrambling to fulfill the command. He knew what coming back here would mean to me, and I suspected he was doing everything in his power to take away some of the burden. I didn’t want a repeat of last year.
“Are you frightened?” Kiara asked quietly.
I surprised myself by answering, “Yes.”
She didn’t force me to elaborate. I brought my canteen to my lips, many more minutes of nothing passing between us. It was a silence that wasn’t necessarily uncomfortable, either. Another reason I didn’t mind her company.
Isiah had produced a tattered deck of cards from his sack, and he laid out the worn cards before him and Carter, who motioned for the boys to gather around.
Patrick, Nic, Alec, and Jake eagerly joined them, and a game of poker started. I noticed how Carter shot Nic a small wink before handing over a silver flask. The boy took a sip, grimacing when he realized it wasn’t water.
“On a positive note,” Kiara said, “I don’t have to deal with Harlow anymore. I swear that man hates me more than the curse.”
Isiah might have felt the need to read Harlow’s mail from the king, but I still trusted him. My instincts were all I had. Even if they were leading me astray as of late.
With the others busy with the game, no one would notice that I scooted closer, leaning over to whisper into the shell of her ear. “If you think he hates you, then you’re not nearly as intelligent as I pegged you as.”
Kiara shivered—whether from my nearness, or from my words—but she quickly composed herself. “Excuse me. But you’ve seen the way he looks at me. Like he desires nothing more than to drown me in the Lakes of Candor.”
Nowthatwould be an awful death, I mused. The lakes were notorious for their frigid waters and the scaled beasts lurking below the surface.
“You’re an even worse judge of character than I thought.” This time, when I whispered into her ear, my lips brushed against her warm skin. A full-body shudder racked my frame.
Kiara swallowed audibly, composing herself enough to ask, “Is that why I find myself inyourcompany?”
“Perhaps,” I said, smirking. “But if you enjoy my company, then youdefinitelycan’t trust your own mind.”
Her head cocked to the side. “I think it’s the opposite,” she replied cheekily, her voice lilting, turning playful.
“What is?”
“I think it isyouwho enjoysmycompany. And how could anyone blame you?” She sighed dramatically, flinging her loose braid over her shoulder. “It’s my charming personality that lures them all in. I simply cannot help it.”
A deep chuckle rose from my throat. “Ah yes, that’s it. Although, ‘charming’ might not be the word I would use.”
“Prick.” She shoved her shoulder into my side, provoking a groan from me.
If only she knew the half of it. I doubt she’d settle on just “prick” alone. “Murderer”, “puppet”, “bastard”—all applied.
We couldn’t be any more different.
Kiara might act as if nothing fazed her, that she felt nothing, but I’d known people who truly were empty inside, and she wasn’t one of them. You could tell by the light in her eyes, how they burned like fire, highlighting the gold flecks in her irises.
Maybe that was why I was helpless but to seek her—just as flames greedily sought to set fire to the night.
“How old are you?” she asked, the question catching me off guard.
“Nineteen.”
She thrust her shoulder into me again, stunned by my response. “Seriously?! You’re only a year older than me! How on earth did you become a commander?”
Lifeless eyes.
Warm blood trickling down my throat.
