Chapter 130

The room was buzzing with chatter as Galter escorted her in and stayed near the door, the other five guards who’d come along with them standing out in the hallway. Kit gave him a questioning look, but the temporary commander did not falter, so she proceeded as if she weren’t being watched like a hawk.

Cassius noticed her first, which wasn’t surprising. As usual, he was in the middle of a story. He abruptly stopped speaking and bowed his head, causing his audience to turn and do the same.

“Oh, please!” Kit said, waving them off with one hand. “Don’t be so silly! It’s only me—not the queen.”

“Still, we should show you the same respect,” Cassius insisted, leading the way to her side. He took her hand and kissed it. “How do you fare? Did you get enough rest?”

“I’m well, thank you. I’ve been asleep most of the day, apparently,” she joked, which brought polite laughter from everyone nearby. Not all of the men had rushed over to her. Some were still in pockets around the room, which was just as well since she had never cared for the suffocating feeling that so many men on top of her brought.

“You look well rested,” Reeve offered, a smile of support gracing his face.

“And that’s a lovely gown,” Landon chimed in.

Kit knew they were not sure what to say, that all of them wanted to be encouraging but they were all worried about her. “Thank you,” she said to both of them. “Might I have a word with Jate?” she asked, thinking it would be better to speak to them one on one instead of in a larger group so they could express themselves more freely.

The others obliged, and she moved with Jate to a sitting area, intending to speak to as many of the men as she could, though she didn’t plan to stay long. She still needed to visit Tem’s family.

Kit sank down into the plush, velvet green sofa, and Jate took a seat beside her, his knee brushing up against her. “I’m so glad you’re safe,” he said quickly. “We were all so worried. If we had had any idea there was potential for something like this to happen.... Thank goodness Eli got there as quickly as he did. I heard he was in the guards’ barracks last night instead of his Representative room, that one of the guards was sleeping there because that man snores and keeps the others up. At any rate, if it had been left to Pierce to defend you...” his hazel eyes flickered to the blond who was watching them carefully from across the room while trying to look as if he was doing anything but, “I’m not sure what might’ve happened.”

“I’m not certain either,” Kit admitted, not letting Jate know precisely what she meant at the moment, though she had a feeling the time would come when she would divulge what she did know to him. “I was locked safely away in the little room in the wall, so even if Merek had gotten in, I don’t think he would’ve had the opportunity to hurt me, but I appreciate your concern. It was quite terrifying. And I feel so awful for my poor men who lost their lives.”

“Yes, that is certainly the worst part, since you were unharmed.” He shook his head and dropped his eyes to the floor for a moment. “I can only imagine how their families must feel.” Looking back up at her, he said, “It is my understanding that Eli has gone to Eastbury with your new lady, Sephorina, and that he isn’t to be back until tomorrow?”

“Who told you he wouldn’t be back until tomorrow?” Kit asked, glancing around the room wondering who might’ve said such a thing.

“I believe Zane is the one who told me, though I’m certain the rumor did not originate there. He said Lok’s mother lives in Nola, which is too far to travel in only one day and still be back before sunset.”

“Yes, well I suppose he’s never seen how fast Aeros can run,” Kit replied with a snicker. “I am confident Eli will be back this evening.”

Jate nodded. “I hope so. Otherwise, he may be in a compromising position.”

“No doubt there are those who would like that.” She was thinking of the queen, but her eyes automatically traveled to Pierce—who was no longer making a show of looking away from her.

“What of Tem’s family? They live in the village near the castle, don’t they?”

“Yes.” She returned her attention to Jate. “I’m going to pay my respects when I’m done here.” He looked so concerned about the entire situation, Kit couldn’t help but ask, “Would you like to accompany me? I’d feel better if you were with me.”

“Me?” Jate asked, actually pressing his palm to his chest in surprise. “Yes, of course, I’ll follow you anywhere, Princess. But are you sure? There are others who I think would also like to go.”

She was sure he meant her Roomed Representatives, and she couldn’t blame him for thinking they should possibly be asked to escort her instead, but she wanted to get to know Jate a bit better as he was likely the next one she’d ask to stay. What better way to get to know someone than to travel through the mud to the village, and see how they interact with the people?

“I’m certain.” She smiled at him. “They’ll understand.”

“Well, then, yes, of course I’ll go with you.” His smile broadened, and Kit reached out and slipped her hand into his. His fingers were warm and the feel of them on her skin calmed her in a way she hadn’t recognized she needed to be soothed.

It didn’t last long. A moment later, Pierce’s voice cut through the serenity. “Princess Katrinetta, might I have a word with you?” He bowed politely in front of her, but there was a smarminess to his tone that Kit didn’t appreciate. She had a feeling it had more to do with the fact that he was her mother’s favorite than anything else.

“Pierce.” She looked up and manage a smile, though she was certain it looked as fake as it felt. “How are you? Did you manage to get any sleep after our terrible encounter last night?”

“I slept just fine, thank you, Princess.” He wasn’t recognizing her insistence on not parting from Jate’s side. “If I could speak to you for just a moment? Alone?”

Before Kit could verbally decline, Jate politely said, “I’ll just be over there,” and gestured toward Cassius and the others he’d been visiting with before she walked in.

Kit cut her eyes at him for a moment but then nodded, and she was certain it was enough to let him know that she didn’t wish to be alone with Pierce for long. As soon as Jate was up, Pierce took his place, but Kit followed her preferred conversational partner across the room with her eyes.

“I won’t be long, Katrinetta. I know there are many other men who want to speak to you today. They’ve all been worried, though I’ve tried to assure them I wouldn’t have let anything happen to you. I would’ve defended you to the death given the... responsibility.”

She thought at first he might’ve been thinking to say “opportunity.” Since that’s precisely what she thought her mother had been attempting to create, it made perfect sense that he would see it as such. “What is it, Pierce?” she asked, keeping her voice low, trying to reason with herself enough to convince her mouth not to say what she was thinking.

“This evening, I should like the opportunity to pick up where I left off. It’s only fair. You promised me a pleasuring.”

Both of her eyebrows shot up nearly to her hairline. “I promised you a pleasuring? Pierce, the information you brought to me in exchange for a visit to my chambers wasn’t even accurate. I don’t owe you anything.” Kit did her best to keep her tone in check so as not to alarm any of the other men standing nearby, but she could hardly believe what she was hearing.

“Of course it was accurate,” he countered. “What makes you think it was not?”

He had her. She couldn’t tell him that Eli had told her the truth, or else the commander would be in trouble with the queen. What other way could she have possibly known that the house in the forest wasn’t precisely what Pierce said it was?

But then, she couldn’t let him win either. “I have my sources, just as you do.”

“Really?” He leaned toward her. “And who might that be?”

“Not a who, but a what.” She had to throw him off and think quickly while doing so. “It doesn’t matter. We both know the house just happened to burn down the same day you told me about it.”

“And I’m certain that had nothing to do with you riding out there—at the same time as your commander was nowhere to be found for hours.”