It was summer, but this high above the velvety gardens, a light wind stirred her hair and a tingle of gooseflesh rose up on her bare arms. She blamed it on the change in temperature, not the man leaning against the balcony, though she was certain it could have been either or both. Eli didn’t turn his head as she took slow, careful steps in his direction. Just as she often knew when he was nearby through her sense of smell or some other unknown ability, he knew it was her. They were all alone with only the stars above them and a waning moon to witness their conversation, and Kit was relieved to have a few moments to discuss the unbelievable turn of events that had brought them to this juncture.
She placed one hand on the cast iron railing beside him but didn’t look over. Ever since she’d gone out on her own small balcony with the man Eli had been selected to replace, she’d had an issue with heights. Jecobian had been reckless in more ways
Kit’s head was moving up and down on its own accord before she even realized she was agreeing. “If you’re not afraid of her, then I would like for you to... stay. To participate. And we can see... what it’s like to be a bit more than friends.” Eli’s lips formed a small smile, and she mirrored the gesture before another thought entered her head, morphing her mouth into a tight line before she continued. “But... you should know... the others—I have begun to form relationships with some of them. I wouldn’t want to just walk away from them now.”He was shaking his head before she even finished the statement. “Nor would I expect you to. Kit, this is a long process. I know you have feelings for Cassius and some of the others, and I’m glad for it. I told you this afternoon in the library I thought he was a good man. He is. I don’t want to stand in your way. If there’s someone else who is better suite
The song was just ending as Eli led Kit back inside, and as the new one began, he offered her his hand, placing the other on her narrow waist. He could tell that the anxious feeling he had inside wasn’t his alone but that she was also unsure of what this new development would mean for their friendship. In all the years that they had known each other, both of them had been fairly certain that the current predicament could never be—that even if somehow Eli were to be selected by his province, Rona would make sure that something occurred to prevent him from taking his place among the other Representatives. Now that he was here, it was difficult to digest what this could potentially mean.The scent of honey and lavender filled his lungs as he pulled Kit’s body close and moved her around the dance floor. Her hand was warm, and the light touch of her palm on his shoulder was a comfort. Everything he could’ve possibly spoken to her about his hopes and dreams
Jaterius had been aware of Princess Katrinetta all night, but it wasn’t until he actually heard her speak his name that he turned to acknowledge her for the first time. While he would’ve loved to have had the opportunity to dance with her, it just wasn’t in him to throw his hand in her face every time a dance ended as it seemed so many others were doing. He wished he could be as confident as Cassius, strolling up to her and demanding the others move aside through the power of his presence, but that wasn’t who Jate was either, so when he heard her soft voice calling his name, he was startled to see she was demanding his attention.The men moved aside for her, though some of them seemed reluctant, and she came to stand before him, looking up into his hazel eyes. “Jate, how are you this evening? I haven’t had a chance to speak to you at all.”Jate glanced at Cassius (whom had been in the middle of a story about dodgi
“After the archery contest,” Kit said, leaning in, and Jate reluctantly nodded, “you didn’t seem particularly happy with the prize. Why was that?”He twirled her around again, glad that this portion of the song would allow him the opportunity to think for a moment before answering. Her eyes were penetrating blue orbs when she turned back to face him. “Pardon me for that offense, Your Majesty,” he said with a bow of his head. “I’m afraid I’m not used to getting that sort of attention.”“Is that so?” she asked, tipping her head back in surprise. “Someone as handsome as you, not used to kissing girls?”Jate could feel the heat rising in his face. If only she knew the truth.... But then, he had done his best to hide it thus far and wasn’t about to divulge all of his secrets now. “Well, not in front of a legion of her suitors.”Kit giggled, and he hoped
Kit’s feet were beginning to hurt, despite the comfortable shoes she had on, and she knew she’d consumed a bit too much wine. Though she hadn’t quite danced with every single Representative, she’d at least spoken to all of them, so she decided it was time to call it a very long night.She glanced around the room and saw Jate, still standing near Cassius, where he’d been positioned most of the evening. They were both so handsome, yet so different looking. Cassius’s mop of dark brown, curly hair went in every which direction. His shoulders were so broad, and he had to be at least four inches taller than Jate. The Representative from Rockdale, however, had much lighter hair, though a darker complexion. His perfectly sculpted hair always came up in the front in the same swoosh over his left eye and never seemed to move. He was much more reserved, much softer spoken, than Cassius, but strong and lean. Kit hadn’t stopped to po
Kit and Jate walked down the hallway together in silence, only the sound of her guards’ heavy boots on the marble floor making any noise at all, other than Kit’s heart thumping in her chest. Wrenbrook Castle was an enormous structure, so vast it could take up to a half an hour to walk from one side to the other, depending upon which halls were used, and walking from the ballroom to the hallway where Kit’s chambers were located—both her regular chambers and her room specifically for pleasuring—took a few minutes, even though they were on the same side of the castle. She thought about how exuberant this trip had been when it was Cassius taking her away from the ballroom. This was much different.The door became visible in front of them. They’d already passed her other room, and she’d considered letting him off the hook, sending him on his way, and ducking in there for the night. Clearly, he didn’t seem ready for this. She’d
Taking a step back, Kit realized that her gown had dozens of hooks up the back of it. There was absolutely no way she could’ve gotten out of it herself. They should’ve planned better when they chose her dress, knowing her ladies wouldn’t be with her to remove it. If it had been Cassius before her, the silver gown would’ve been crumpled on the floor moments after they entered the chamber. Something told her it might take Jaterius a wee bit longer.Nevertheless, she had no choice. Spinning around, she asked, “Can you unhook me?”She stood like that for a long moment before glancing back over her shoulder. “Unhook you?” he asked, his hands in the air near the top hook but not actually touching her.“Yes, I know there are a lot of them, but they all unhook the same way.” Her hair was up out of the way, so that shouldn’t be a factor. Neither should her necklace, but she took that off and
This time Jate’s lips found Kit’s, and as his warm mouth began to explore, she spread her legs further apart so that only the thin fabric of their clothing separated them. His tongue probed a bit too roughly, quicker than she would’ve liked, so she did her best to show him how to slow down, and soon their kisses became longer, more passionate, and Kit found herself moaning. Her hands ran down the length of his muscular chest, and she began to rock back and forth against him as his hands kneaded her bottom through her clothing, which she realized was in the way.She pulled away from him, intending to remove her chemise, but his lips found her neck, leaving a trail of pecks and nips up and down, and his teeth tugged at her earlobe, “Oh, Jate, yes,” she said. “That feels so good.”The feel of his smile against her neck let her know he appreciated the accolade. Kit slid off of his lap so that she was standing, and he scooted forwar
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