“Kit?”
The sound of Jate’s voice threw her off. She never would’ve expected him to let himself into her chambers, but when she turned around, he was standing in the doorway. “Jaterius? What are you doing here?”
He bowed his head. “I apologize, my Princess. Avinia let me in, but I didn’t think you heard me calling your name from the antechamber. I’ll go if you’d like.”
“No, no, of course not,” she stuttered, setting her glass down on the windowsill and motioning for him to come over. He looked handsome as ever in a gold and lilac outfit, the trim on his jerkin and trousers ruffled in the same color as Kit’s tiara. “How are you?”
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. The scent of his spicy cologne was almost enough to make her forget her troubles—almost. “I’m well, thank you. I just came to check on you. I heard you were summoned
The play was a lark, much more humorous than anything Kit had ever watched before, and she was glad the dress she’d worn was loose at the waist or else she might’ve ripped the fabric with all of the laughter peeling out of her throughout the production. Even her mother chuckled a time or two, a rarity. By the time the show was over, Kit had to hurry to the loo, she’d laughed so hard.Luckily, she made it to the dining hall just in time to be announced and walk in with her mother. “Where were you?” Rona asked, looking down her nose at her daughter.“Answering the call of nature.” Rona’s nostrils flared in disgust, and Kit shrugged. She was honest to a fault. The two walked in and took their seats at the head table. The dining hall near the royal theater didn’t have a dais, like the one they usually entertained the Representatives in, so she was on even par with her guests, which she appreciated. After the council and
The rest of dinner passed by quickly, and before she knew what was happening, her mother had stood to make an announcement. While most people would’ve gently hit a knife against a crystal goblet to get the room’s attention, Queen Rona wasn’t most people. She had the trumpeters blast them all awake with the same five notes they would’ve played if they were outside and wanted everyone’s attention.“Ladies and men,” Rona began, and Kit tried not to pucker her face up at the exclusion of the term “gentle” her mother refused to say, “I want to thank you all for joining us this evening for some wonderful entertainment, and a fine meal.” She paused, and there was polite applause, as if she’d had something to do with either of those things, which she had not. “Now, my daughter, the lovely Princess Katrinetta, has an announcement to make. Unfortunately, unlike last night’s announcement, this one is not
Once inside Kit’s room, Avinia began to unhook her gown while Seph pulled pins from her hair and Isla scurried down the hall to make sure the other room was ready. She returned and started helping with the pins while Kit slipped a nightgown on from the bottom up and then instructed Avinia to help her get out of her knickers as well. The less clothing she had on, the less complicated it would be for Pierce.It took longer to get the pins out of her hair than anything else, and by the time they were all out and her hair was combed, she’d made good on that half hour, and then some. She slipped into a thick red robe and slippers and took one last look around her room. She would’ve rather stayed there that night, in her bed, alone, but she’d made a promise to Pierce. Besides, part of the Choosing was giving as many men as possible the opportunity to prove themselves. Even if she wasn’t feeling as much chemistry with Pierce as she had been with some of
Grabbing ahold of Pierce’s forearm, Kit shouted, “In here!” and pulled him over to the wall.“In where? Isn’t there a sword? Why is he using an ax?” Pierce seemed completely confused, like he couldn’t believe this was real.Kit had practiced opening the secret door into the safe room dozens of times but never with her hands shaking. Behind her, Merek continued to attack the door. There were shouts in the hallway, and she was certain she heard Eli giving commands. Just about the time she heard more boots in the antechamber, she managed to get the door open. Pulling Pierce inside, she slammed it shut, triggering the locking mechanism only she knew how to release, just as the ax made its way through the door. Peering through a small slit in the safe room door, Kit could see the aftermath. Splinters and shards of wood went flying into the bedroom, and Kit covered her mouth to stifle a scream. If he managed to get in, she’d ha
All three of Kit’s ladies were waiting in her room, impatiently pacing and wringing their hands. “Katrinetta!” Avinia exclaimed, embracing her the moment she stepped through the door. “How are you?”“I’m fine—just fine,” Kit assured them. “But be careful. I believe there’s blood on my robe.”“What in the world...?” Seph asked, not quite finishing the inquiry.“I have a suspicion my mother will send for me soon, so perhaps I should get dressed.” Kit headed for the adjoining room, her ladies exchanging glances and following along. “Something relatively comfortable, please.”Avinia stepped to the closet as Kit took the robe off, trying not to look at the bloodied hem. Her slippers were also saturated with red, as was the bottom of her nightgown. “How is this one?” Avinia held up a light pink, simple gown which Kit could wear over a chemise
Queen Rona said nothing, only turned away, her face even more pale than normal as she dropped her eyes to the floor. Kit got the distinct feeling there was something more her mother wasn’t telling her, but it would be futile to probe deeper into the situation now, especially from this angle. “Two of my guards lost their lives, Mother. I’d like to do something for their families. Tem has two children, and Lok was very close to his mother.”“A pity,” Rona said, though her voice didn’t echo her sentiments. “These men swear their allegiance, promise to give their lives to protect us if necessary, Katrinetta. Think of how many members of the army have perished defending our realm.”“Yes, Mother, that’s all very true. It’s just... I knew these men. They were good people. Might I call on Tem’s family tomorrow, give them my personal condolences? Lok’s mother lives in Eastbury, in the village of
It seemed as if her eyes had only been closed for a few moments when the sound of voices from the antechamber had her blinking in that direction. She noticed Avinia was gone even without rolling over as the warmth from that side of the bed had dissipated. Deciding it was too much trouble to actually sit up or look, Kit kept her eyes closed and tried to determine what she was hearing.“How is your arm?” Avinia asked in a quiet whisper. “Did Armant stitch it up?”“It’s fine. Yes, he did and wrapped it with a poultice.” Even though he was whispering, Kit would’ve known Eli’s voice anywhere. “How is she doing?”“Not well. She pretends to be stronger than she is, which I think is helpful, but I keep waiting for that hard exterior to crack and the little girl we both know so well to reappear.”“I don’t think you give her enough credit, Vinny. She’s grown up a lot the
When Kit opened her eyes again, the sun was high in the sky, and her head felt as if it had caught the blunt end of Merek’s ax. She squinted at the open window and rolled over in her bed, trying to remember what it was she was hoping not to forget.The night before came back to her in tiny moments at first. She remembered the play, the dinner, meeting Pierce in her room. Once she’d gotten that far, the rest flooded in in a rush. An image of a bloodstained floor was followed closely by the realization that two of her favorite guards were dead. Eli had slain Merek; her mother had thought it was Pierce. There had been a sword in the room for some reason. Sometimes Eli called Avinia Vinny. Her mother was sending him away with a woman he’d previously pleasured.Kit’s hand immediately went to her forehead as the weight of it all pressed its way through a mind not yet ready to receive it.“Are you awake then?” Isla aske
Eventually, Kit stepped back, signaling she was done, and her party faded into the hallway. Eli was right, there was much to be done, and Kit wasn’t even sure where to begin with the task of restoring the realm to its former glory. But there was no doubt her first appointment with the council would be to approve the new law that would allow her to rule before the end of her Choosing, one that would allow her to keep all seven of the men who stood around her now.As if reading her mind, Zora, her great-aunt and a distinguished member of the council stepped forward. “Queen Katrinetta, I would like to present to you a new law, passed by the council earlier this day. All it needs is your signature.”Confused, Kit took the sheet of parchment and began to read. When her eyes reached the bottom of the paper, she looked up. “How did you know...?”“Junno explained everything to us,” Nil said, stepping forward. “And we agree
“We love you, Kit. We’ll always be here for you,” Jate said to her right.“Even when we’re broken,” Danyen added, getting a giggle out of her and the others.“It’s our privilege to be with you,” Drake said in his deep, steady voice.Reeve took her hand. “Your belief in us has shaped us into who we are.”“And given us the confidence to stand with you as you become queen,” Landon said in her ear.“It’s all been well-worth it, Kit, to see you take the throne.” Cassius was still battered, but he looked much better now, with a smile on his face, than he had since Kit had found him in the dungeon.Kit shifted her eyes to Eli, assuming he would also say something. His eyes darted around several times, and she could tell he was attempting to come up with something no one else had said, but they’d all expressed themselves so well, it was a difficult
No longer frightened of the woman who used to terrorize her, Kit raised her arms between her mother’s bringing them down to the sides quickly so as to prevent her mother from ever making contact with her neck. Rona’s arms snapped down and she winced in pain. Her eyes bulged in surprise at her daughter’s strength. Kit took advantage of her mother’s stunned expression long enough to plant her fist in Rona’s right eye. Her mother rocked backward, grabbing at her face as Kit felt Eli’s familiar hand on her shoulder, seeking to calm her. Clearly, the older woman was no physical threat to Kit or anyone else.The bejeweled, golden crown atop Rona’s head wobbled as the queen staggered from the blow. It slid free, tumbling toward the floor. Kit reached out a hand and plucked it from the air. “The goddess have spoken!” she declared, ignoring the fact that it was the force of her own strike that had dislodged the crown. Nearly everyo
Watching the battle take place from the hallway had been unsettling for Kit, especially when she saw Eli faltering. For a moment, it had looked as if Vin might be victorious. Her attention had been pulled away when she learned Danyen was injured. Despite Galter’s best efforts to stop her, the princess insisted on going in and tending to him, and she had been there, placing pressure on the wound when Armant arrived. Danyen apologized for not being as handy with a sword as he was a quill, but Kit had only kissed him and assured him he was perfect in her sight.And then she’d seen hesitancy in Cassius and Eli as they considered mercy for Vin, the monster who had hurt and tortured so many. Ending him seemed like the right thing to do for all of the people of Yewforia, though she could never fault her men for weighing the costs of taking a life, even when that life was as worthless as scar face’s.She’d been stunned to see Jecob standing on the dais,
Across the room, Eli heard a shout and a roar of laughter. He could hardly let the situation distract him, but his head flickered in that direction for a moment, and he saw Danyen on the ground, grasping his middle. Drake was there and ended the laughing soldier who’d stabbed Danyen, but the Representative looked seriously wounded. Looking around the room, as he saw Vin trying to take advantage of his distraction, out of the corner of his eye, Eli spotted a member of his own guard who had just finished a man off. “Nen! Go to the infirmary and fetch Armant, as quickly as you can!”Eli hardly had time to see the guardsman nod in understanding before Vin’s persistence paid off, and his sword caught Eli in the left shoulder. It was a glancing blow as Eli dodged to his right, but this wound was deeper than the last and hurt more. It was not enough to slow him, though. Eli came flying back at Vin with a vengeance, thinking of his comments about Kit, how he h
The scene in the throne room was chaotic at best. Looking around, Eli quickly ascertained the situation. While the revolutionaries and several members of the Princess’s Guard had the upper hand, there were still twenty or thirty members of the Queen’s Guard and military doing their best to defend the door to the queen’s chambers.Across the room, Eli caught sight of a familiar set of dark eyes grimacing in his direction, and the Commander narrowed his focus as he stared him down. Scar face didn’t take his eyes off of Eli as he began to work his way through assailants, cutting them down easily as he moved toward his target. As he advanced, the aura of pure evil shifted the room such that darkness seemed to blot out everything around them until only Eli and the man who’d tried to end him remained. One of them would not walk out of this room.His concentration was broken when he heard another recognizable voice shout, “Goedwig! You&rsqu
The door to the castle was nearly nonexistent. Shards of wood hung from the upper posts, a few clung to the doorjambs, but for the most part, what had been an elegant entryway was now reduced to nothing but splinters and flecks of gold paint, thanks to the battering ram Eli had mentioned earlier.Realizing the only weapon she had was the small dagger, Kit scoured the ground for a sword. She saw one lying on the floor just inside of the castle entrance and picked it up, certain the poor fellow reposing nearby would no longer need it. She turned to tell her ladies they should do the same but noted they were already armed. Seph and Isla both had swords, though not as large and cumbersome as the one Kit had just procured, and Avinia had a bow she must’ve been carrying on her saddle, a quiver strung to her back.Armant and the other men who had come along with him stepped forward. “This is where we must leave you. We’ll head to the infirmary and check on t
“Are the two of you at peace now?” Kit asked Eli and Cassius.“I suppose so,” Eli began. “If he wants to go off and get himself killed, there will be one less person to share you with.” He smiled at Cassius, a mischievous twinkle in his eye, and the larger man reached around Kit and popped him in the arm.“You’d better not get yourself killed. Any of you.” Kit looked around and saw all seven of the men she’d chosen nearby, five of them already saddled and ready to go, the other two done arguing. While she hadn’t made Drake’s appointment official, she would, as soon as she knew the outcome of the battle at hand.Kit’s hip was still aching from where she cut it on the door earlier. Normally, she’d be able to mount Belle by herself, but with her leg torn up, she decided it would be easier to ask for help. Turning to Eli, she asked, “Will you give me a boost?”&ldq
Avinia had quite an entourage with her, including several wagons’ worth of food and water, clean clothes, a few weapons, and Armant with medical supplies. She’d enlisted some castle servants to drive the wagons, and as soon as they reached the remaining prisoners, they also helped the physician as he began to assess wounds and care for the sick and injured. Bea, his nurse who was also a faithful member of the revolt, was there to help as well.Kit wasn’t sure who to go to first. Both of her cousins, along with their husbands, dropped down from their horses, and Kit could see Avinia’s eyes searching for her through the crowd. But she also wanted to run to Drake and Danyen, who were bringing up the end of the line, along with Gavin, Asher, and a few of the other remaining Representatives.The men would have to wait. Avinia rushed over, embracing Kit quickly before she backed up. “You smell terrible.”“Thank you. I just sli