“Kristina, please. Don’t start this again.”
Kazia looked from Jeffery’s scowl to Kristina, who seemed to be tearing up.
“Well, she should know, shouldn’t she?”
“Know what?” Kazia asked, not entirely sure she did actually want to know.
“It was very kind of your father to give us this land, of course,” Kristina said.
Ah. Kazia was sure now that she didn’t want to know.
“But it seems this land is…” Kristina dropped her voice to a whisper that Kazia had to strain to hear down the length of the table. “Haunted.”
Kazia sat back in her chair, trying not to let her jaw drop open in disbelief. Near the door, Benjamin and Luke both choked and sputtered. “Haunted.” Kazia quirked an eyebrow.
“Yes. It seems the ghost is in love with me. It follows me everywhere.”
“It… what?” Kazia felt herself on the verge of choking as well. Whatever Luke and Benjamin had was contagious.
“Kristina, this is ridiculous. There is no ghost.” Jeffery threw up his hands, exasperated. His soup spoon clattered to the table, rolling once and falling to the floor.
“I know you don’t believe me! But there is a ghost and if she’s going to be the queen she can do something about it!” Kristina burst into tears, sobbing so that her shoulders shook. Jeffery sighed and snatched up his fork, digging into his meal like there might be peace found at the bottom of his plate.
Kazia, grateful to be at the other end of the table, could only bite her lip and pray for a quick rest of the meal. Last she knew, queens were not mediums who could send ghosts on their merry way.
She was nearly asleep in her soup when the door to the dining room burst open and a man raced in. Luke immediately drew his sword, stopping the man in his tracks. “Captain, he’s one of mine. Stand down,” Jeffery said, rising to his feet. “What is the meaning of this?”
“M’lord, your troops…” The man trailed off, out of breath and pale.
“Yes, what of them?” Jeffery squinted at him, as if he could peer through the man’s skull and find the answer more quickly himself.
“There was an ambush. They’re all dead, sir.”
Kristina screamed, her goblet crashing to the floor. Wine splashed across the carpet, deep red like fresh blood. Kazia stared at it, remembering another room, and blood, so much blood. “Brodi,” she whispered. The room spun and she fought to hold on to consciousness.
“Princess? Kazia!” She heard Luke calling, as if from a great distance.
The blood seemed to run at her, growing hands, reaching, reaching. She screamed, scrambling out of her chair. She turned to run, blind, seeking Nakomi, but crashed instead into a solid chest and bounced back, nearly falling.
“Kazia!”
Luke. She shook like a rattled tea kettle, trying to draw strength from his hands on her arms. “What did you see?”
“Blood,” she whispered. “So much blood.” She refused to open her eyes. Refused to see the blood. But it was there, in her mind, and she couldn’t escape it.
“Did you see the assassin?” Kristina was there, pulling on her arms.
Someone else yelled, “Bring me the smelling salts!” and Kazia thought it was Benjamin but couldn’t be sure.
She would have to open her eyes if she wanted to see, but they fought her, wanting to stay tightly shut and safe. She pried them open, avoiding even the hint of a glance at the spilled wine on the floor. Wine. It’s just wine. It’s just wine. “No, I didn’t. I didn’t see anything except the — the blood.”
“I think the princess has had enough excitement for one day. I’ll accompany her to her rooms.” Luke took a firm grasp on her upper arm, leading her away.
“But his troops? What happened to his troops?” she asked, fighting the dizziness that was trying so hard to suck her in.
“It isn’t something you need to worry about,” Luke said tightly.
“It is, Captain.” She wrenched her arm from his grasp, teetering dangerously as the room spun. She held her ground by sheer force of will. “They were supposed to be protecting me. Those men died for me!”
Luke cast her a long, sideways glance, but said nothing. They rounded the corner to her chambers, where Heath and another of Luke’s men stood guard. “Has anyone come or gone?”
“No sir. And the wolf has been prowling constantly. Nothing has disturbed her.” The door was open, so the men could see in while watching the hall, and Kazia could see Nakomi in the middle of the room, nose to the air. Luke led her in and sat her in the chair by the fire.
Crystali, appearing out of nowhere, pressed a cup of something warm and chocolatey into her hands while Luke prodded at the fire, coaxing it back to life. “Watch the hallway.” He directed his men while he went throughout the room, making sure, Kazia assumed, that it was still secure. As if anything could have snuck past Nakomi. But she didn’t point it out. She was so tired. She just wanted to sleep.
“Princess, I was wondering, we sent a missive to your fiancé after your — after the attack. Do you think we should send another, informing him of this new development?” Crystali stood just outside Kazia’s field of vision. Nakomi appeared at her side and Kazia stroked the thick fur, letting it calm her, praying that the images would fade. So much blood.
“I don’t see why he would need to know this,” Luke said, his voice muffled as he checked under her bed.
Kazia rolled her head to the side to watch him. “Since it concerns his future wife — and because he is now in the position to become king of my kingdom, I assume keeping him updated would be the intelligent thing to do.”
Kazia just caught sight of Crystali’s smirk as she turned to go. “I’ll see that it is sent right away, your highness.” Nakomi disappeared into the shadows, reappearing several yards away, sniffing the air.
“Thank you.”
“Will you be requiring anything else tonight?” Crystali paused in the doorway, glancing back at her with a concerned frown.
“No, thank you. Just sleep.”
“We’ll be outside the door, should you need us,” Luke said, following Crystali out. He shut the door behind him with a sharp click and Kazia frowned. He confused her. She didn’t like to be confused. And she was too tired anyway. Her bed was so far away, hiding in the long shadows where the light from the fire couldn’t reach. “Nakomi, come.” She patted the side of the chair and her wolf came obediently, settling at her feet. Kazia curled in a ball, and was asleep before the coals even began to glow.
CHAPTER FIVE
SHE WOKE IN THE DARKEST HOUR of the night. Nakomi sat next to the chair, watching like she’d been expecting her master to wake. “One day, I will sleep until dawn,” Kazia informed her, stretching her cramped muscles. Sleeping curled in a chair for several hours straight had not been the most intelligent thing she had ever done. Intelligent. Yes, she used to make the smart choices. She was marrying Randolf — that was a smart thing to do. But ever since the attack, nothing she did or said was smart. “I’m a wreck, Nakomi.” She shuffled across the room, flopping on the bed and staring at the canopy above, but sleep didn’t return. She laid there for several minutes, willing her eyes to close before she gave up, heaving herself to her feet. She patted her side and Nakomi joined her at once.
The door creaked when she opened it, and the two guards — Luke’s men, one she knew and one she didn’t, greeted her. “I need air,” she said.
They exchanged a panicked glance. “Your highness, we aren’t to leave your hallway. We can’t protect your room and you if you aren’t in the same place.”
Kazia nodded. “I understand. Nakomi will accompany me.” She started down the hall and the one she knew — Heath — moved to intercept her, eyes wide. Kazia could see the fear of his future queen battling with the fear of his commanding officer.
“Princess, please, if we let you out the captain will skin us alive, as well he should.”
“No, he should not. I won’t go o
ut. I’ll stay in the manor. I’ll stay in this hallway if it will make you feel better.”
Again, they exchanged a panicked look.
She changed tactics. “Heath, do you remember when we were younger, and you were my sparring partner?” Sparring partner indeed. He had kindly refrained from chopping her to bits while she heaved her sword around and tried not to chop off her own arm.
The barest hint of a smile replaced his panic. “Yes, Princess.”
“Then think of me as your friend. Please. I am not here to get you in trouble. I will stay in your sight at all times. I promise.”
He finally relented, and she spent the night wandering the halls, well within his sight. She admired paintings and tapestries and the ornate marble statues standing at the stairwell landing. When the sun was just above the trees and the new guard came to replace Heath and his partner — who had never offered his name and who hadn’t said a word all night long, she finally started yawning and went back to bed.
The sun was setting when she woke. Nakomi glared as Kazia sat up, annoyed that she hadn’t been outside for over twelve hours. No one besides Kazia dared do it. Leaving the giant wolf in a bedroom to prowl as she pleased was one thing. Taking her out of the room and surviving was another thing entirely.
Kazia changed into something not quite so rumpled and swung open her door. Two new guards were there and she smiled her sweetest smile. “I need to take Nakomi out. Would it be possible to find someone to accompany me?”
“Princess—”
“You can’t leave your post.” She glanced around, unsure what to do in such an annoying situation. “Am I allowed to go find someone to accompany me? The barracks are within view of Lady Kristina’s chambers.”
“The beast will stay with you?” he asked, his gold eyes flickering toward Nakomi and away again.
“Yes.” Another shared glance, and her guards nodded simultaneously. Kazia blew out a relieved breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Thank you. Come, Nakomi.” She turned and practically skipped away, so thrilled to be on her own, even if it was only to find someone else to baby sit her.
The estate had thick, luxurious carpets and expensive rugs. Everything had gold inlay. It was obvious that a lot of money had been spent here, more so than the castle, probably. Kazia admired its beauty, but thought it a waste.
“Lady Kazia. I’m surprised to see you up. Your lady-in-waiting led us to believe you would sleep until tomorrow morning,” Jeffery said, coming out of his study as she passed the second floor.
“One never knows when I will wake. We adjust around my internal clock as well as we can.” She smiled at him, which felt wrong, and hoped it didn’t show in her eyes. She shouldn’t hate them the way she did; they were being so kind to house her under their own roof while her castle, and life, were being rebuilt. But they had never been close and it was awkward and uncomfortable to pretend they had.
“Might I accompany you somewhere?” He looked nervously at Nakomi when he said it, and Kazia imagined he was praying she would say no.
She shook her head. “I’m fine, but thank you, Uncle. I was just on my way to the barracks.”
“Oh. Good, good. Enjoy.” He shuffled back into his study and Kazia escaped down the second set of stairs, her feet making odd pattering sounds against the tile floors.
At the doorway leading outside she found Luke, waiting on the front steps. “What are you doing?” She frowned, slipping through the wide doors and letting them slam shut behind her. They were heavy enough to crush a girl and her giant wolf. Well, maybe not the giant wolf…
He leaned against a pillar, his uniform pulled tight against his chest. Kazia pretended not to notice. “I’m watching. I figured you’d be coming down soon, and try to sneak out alone.”
Kazia huffed. “I’ll have you know I was on my way to the barracks to find someone to walk with me. No sneaking on my part. I’m not stupid, you know.”
“No one would ever accuse you of being stupid, Kazia.” He smiled and offered her his arm. She rolled her eyes but took it, pulling her hood over her head since the sun was still up. Nakomi leaped down the steps and loped toward the lawns and Kazia had a moment of pity for the gardener who would have to clean up after her.
“What happened to Jeffery’s troops?” Kazia asked after they had ambled far enough away from the house that they couldn’t be overheard.
“They were caught in an ambush as they were traveling through Scorcen canyon.” Luke didn’t look at her as he said it, instead squinting out toward the village in the distance.
Kazia swallowed painfully, horrified. “Did anyone survive?”
“A few. Two made it here but didn’t live through the night. Two more were wounded but seem to be recovering, and the man who brought us the news at dinner last night was unharmed.” He stared straight ahead as he spoke, and there was no emotion in his voice, so Kazia had no idea how he might feel. But she knew how she felt, and it made her sick.
“It’s my fault, Luke,” she whispered.
Finally, he looked down at her, raising an eyebrow. “First of all, it isn’t your fault. Second of all, I haven’t heard you call me that for years… except for the night of the attack.”
She smirked. “It’s your name, isn’t it? We’ve been friends too long for it to feel normal to call you captain when we’re alone.” Mentioning the fact that they were alone brought a blush rushing to her cheeks. “I didn’t mean—” She started, stumbling over the words, and he threw back his head and laughed. She pulled her hand from his arm and glared at him as he fought to hide his grin.
“You still blush as easily as you ever have.”
“Yes I do. It’s wonderful,” she muttered. She scanned the lawns, watching Nakomi run. She was big, but she still ran with the grace of a wolf, and anyone watching her could tell she loved the freedom. “She hates being cooped up so much,” Kazia said, trying not very discreetly to change the subject.
“She’s too big to be cooped up so much.” Luke stepped in front of her, leaning down so he could meet her gaze — since he was well over six feet and she was only halfway between five feet and six. “This won’t last forever, Kazia. We will find the assassin and you can go back to your kingdom.”
Kazia nodded. “I know you will, Luke.” And since she was the master of subject-changing, she asked, “How many men died, Luke?”
Luke frowned, shaking his head. “It doesn’t matter, Kazia.”
“It does matter! It matters to their families. It matters to me. I don’t want them to die for me!”
“They weren’t killed because of you. They were killed because of whoever is trying to take your throne.”
She hated it when his logic made more sense than her pain. “Do they think the assassin is behind the attack? Or is it just a coincidence that they were ambushed?” She hated the hope in her voice.
“There’s no way to know until we find the assassin.”
“Do you have any idea who it might be?” Now it was her turn to squint at the village. The answer might lie inside her head but she couldn’t give it to him. She wasn’t any help.
“No. I would assume it is the one who had the most to gain. If Jeffery wasn’t the king’s own brother…” Luke trailed off.
Kazia gaped at him. “Jeffery would never do that. And these troops were his own men. He would be an idiot to kill so many of his own. He needs them to protect these lands.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Kazia shook her head. “I am right. He’s the eldest brother. When he came of age, he turned away from the crown so that he could marry Kristina. I don’t believe he regrets it.”
“You don’t think he regrets being married to her?” Luke sounded bewildered.
Kazia stopped her squinting and peered up at him. “No, of course not. She’s beautiful. You do?”
“She’s also selfish and annoying. Beauty isn’t everything.”
Kazia remembered a time when Luke had told her she was beautiful
. She blushed again and dipped her head, hoping her blond curls and the folds of her cloak would hide her.
He chuckled.
Kazia cleared her throat. “She can’t be like that all the time. I think she was trying to impress you.” Kazia prayed hecouldn’t read her mind, but from the way he was looking at her, she was afraid he could.
“She failed. Miserably,” Luke finally said, rolling his eyes and grimacing like Kazia had suddenly punched him.
She tipped her head, studying him, memorizing him for the times he wouldn’t be there. He smiled under her curious stare. “Your eyes are still as mischievous as ever.”
“I am not mischievous,” she exclaimed.
He frowned, his eyes suddenly sad. “No, you aren’t. Not anymore. You used to be.”
“I was also young.”
“You aren’t that old now, Kazia. Nineteen, correct?”
“Yes. For two more weeks.”
“I can’t believe we haven’t talked for over three years.” He had stopped walking and turned toward her, his head bent so he could see under her hood.
Kazia’s breath caught in her throat, and she nearly strangled herself trying to speak calmly. “We’ve talked, several times. Just… just last month we talked.”
Luke waited until she looked up at him, getting caught in those sea green eyes. “We talked about the regulations for hunting in the king’s forest.”
“That’s… talking,” she said lamely, breaking his gaze and turning toward Nakomi.
“Not what I meant, and you know it.”
She stopped, planting her hands on her hips. “If I remember, it was you who suggested we stop talking.” Somehow, those words hurt him. She could see it in his eyes.
His voice low, he said, “I didn’t think you would agree.”
She sighed, letting her hands drop as she wandered away. She hadn’t wanted to agree. She had wanted to beg him to take it back, beg him to tell her he loved her again. But that hadn’t been an option then, and it wasn’t now. “I believe Nakomi is bored.”
Nakomi loped back toward the estate, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end. Kazia followed her with her eyes, watching as Nakomi streaked toward a carriage pulling forward up the long drive.
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