26. Aiden

Chapter 26

Aiden

The relief I felt at seeing Kiera alive and well died a quick death.

The panic on her face punched me in the gut. Her eyes dropped from my face to the dagger I held casually in my hand.

I had expected someone to come crawling out of their hiding place. But not her.

For the past few hours, I’d done nothing but relive our kiss. I’d paced the dusty warehouse, unable to sleep, waiting for the moment I could pull her back into my arms. For however long I could have her.

It was foolish to hope.

“You have mere moments to explain yourself,” I said softly.

She slowly rose to her feet, never looking away from my blade. Then she began easing her way toward the door.

“Kiera, don’t?—”

She bolted for the door, but I leapt forward and slammed her against it before she could reach the handle.

Melaena gasped behind me, but I ignored her.

Kiera flailed beneath me, probably reaching for her knives. I wrapped my arm around her, pinning her arms to her sides. I slid my knife under her chin and lifted it.

“Why were you eavesdropping? What did you hear?” I snarled.

Her eyes were wild with fear, her skin bloodless. “Please,” she whispered. “Please, Aiden.”

It felt like she’d taken my knife and stabbed me in the heart. I stumbled backward. The knife clattered to the floor. My vision blackened at the edges like burning parchment. I blinked to clear it.

Please, Aiden.

I am not a monster. I am not a monster.

But you’ve done monstrous things . . .

Melaena hurried over to Kiera and guided her to a chair, then sat next to her. “Let’s just sit and talk for a moment. Calmly ,” she added firmly, with a glare in my direction.

I picked up my knife and shoved it in my belt. But I didn’t sit down.

“Now, Kiera, why were you hiding?” Melaena asked.

Kiera shook her head vehemently. “I wasn’t hiding! I—I came back and took a bath, but I was so tired and didn’t want to wake you, so I curled up in a corner back there to sleep for a bit.” Her eyes pleaded with me. “Go check if you don’t believe me.”

Grateful to look anywhere but at her, I peered inside the tub to find a few gold paint streaks. Kiera’s discarded jewelry and costume were also nearby. Then I tunneled through the clothes where she’d appeared and found a mashed pile of dresses in the corner.

I reemerged and gave her a short nod. “Fine, but you still haven’t answered my other question. How much did you hear?”

“Nearly everything,” she whispered. “I was going to come out and reveal myself, I swear. But then... then I was scared to.”

Gods damn it, I should’ve been more careful. Only a handful of people knew my true identity—Maz and Melaena among them. That knowledge in the wrong hands could get me killed—or worse, ruin my plans.

As for the other tidbit . . .

Not many people knew what Weylin had done the night he became king. Some might have guessed, but kept their mouths shut. But I heard the real story from one of the few living witnesses.

More people should know what kind of murderous traitor sat on the Rellmiran throne. But a propaganda campaign would be messy and chaotic.

My way was easier. Simpler.

“Why would my identity and the true history of our kingdom frighten you?” I asked.

“Because that’s the kind of information someone would kill to keep secret,” she said, staring at me as if that were my plan.

The truth tumbled from my lips. “I could never kill you.”

She searched my eyes in that way of hers. “Maybe not. But you would put me on a ship bound for a deserted island, right?”

I rubbed my jaw. I didn’t know what to do with her. She was never supposed to have this information. I never wanted her to get this involved. I couldn’t let her leave now. But I also couldn’t risk my plan in her hands.

I didn’t trust anyone’s but mine.

“How about she stays with me?” Melaena offered tentatively. “She can live here and dance until... until...” She blanched, glancing between me and Kiera.

“Until Aiden kills the king,” Kiera finished for her in a flat voice. She fixed me with a hard stare. “That’s the plan, isn’t it? That’s the only thing that makes sense.” She shook her head and continued, almost to herself, “You hate Weylin. He murdered your father and stole your throne. He obliterated the People’s Council and put you in prison. The smuggling, the heist—it was all just a means to an end. Assassination.”

Melaena’s eyes widened, clearly shocked at how much Kiera knew.

But I was... relieved. Almost. That she understood why. But she didn’t have all the pieces.

“You’ll die,” she whispered. “They’ll kill you before you ever breach the palace.”

“Does the thought of my death sadden you?”

She hesitated, looking down at her fingers twisting in her lap. Then so quietly I wasn’t sure I heard her, “Yes.” Her head jerked up. “What of the royal family? My—my charges, the prince and princesses? Are you going to kill them as well?”

“You truly do care for them, don’t you?”

“Yes. They shouldn’t be executed for their father’s crimes.”

“I remember you said as much. That night at the tavern, playing Death and Four.”

She straightened in her chair, her gaze fierce. “I stand by it. They are good, kind people.”

“It’s strange to see such loyalty for people who didn’t try to save you from your cell.”

“Nothing can stop Weylin when he’s made up his mind,” she said harshly. “Surely you know that.” She rose and stalked toward me. “If your plans include the slaughter of innocents, then you’d better kill me now, because I will do everything to stop you.”

I inhaled her scent, honey and lilies, as I basked in the heat of her rage.

Gods, I wanted to yank her into my arms and crush my mouth to hers, taste all that sweet fury.

I leaned closer until we were nose to nose. “That is exactly what I wanted to hear,” I breathed.

Confusion rippled over her features.

“I have no plans to murder the royal children,” I said. “But the crown prince, Everett, does have a part to play.”

I watched a few more pieces thread together behind her eyes.

“You said you don’t want to be king. You’re going to put Everett on the throne.” The realization knocked her back a step.

“I’ve heard many counts of his good nature, yours included.”

“And mine,” Melaena added. “From what little I recall of him.”

Kiera paced the room, her brow furrowed.

I waited, my arms folded over my chest. So far, she’d proven herself true. An ally. But whatever she said next could seal her fate.

Finally, she stopped. “I want to help you.”

My eyes narrowed. “You want to help me kill Weylin?”

She swallowed hard, drawing my attention to a few dark smudges on her throat. Leftover makeup, perhaps. “To help you put Everett on the throne.”

I mulled it over in my mind. I’d never considered that she might want to help me since I couldn’t stand the idea of letting her.

Melaena caught my eye, giving me a subtle nod. Of course, she wanted to keep Kiera. She seemed oddly protective of her. But then again, Melaena collected women like Kiera, giving them a home and a purpose, a new joy in life.

But Kiera wasn’t fleeing an abusive home or a life of poverty. She had escaped Renwell’s prison, stolen Asher’s gold, and was now offering to help me stage a royal coup.

She could die for this. An excruciating traitor’s death.

If she was telling the truth. If I trusted her not to betray us.

“I’ll think about it,” I said.

She nodded. “Where’s my cut of the gold?”

Gods, the heist seemed like it’d happened days ago instead of hours. “Safe. Did you return the key to Asher?”

Her cheeks turned a light pink. “Yes.”

I scowled. “He didn’t suspect you at all?”

“No. We parted ways on friendly terms.”

Friendly . Jealousy slithered through my stomach.

“You’re having your dancer party tonight, yes?” I asked Melaena. She nodded. “Good. Kiera, you will remain here for that while I sort out a few things. I’ll return for you in the morning with your money and my decision.”

Kiera’s mouth dropped open. “You’re leaving me here? And holding my gold hostage?”

“Are you going to run?”

She scowled at me. “No. Where would I go?”

“Nowhere I wouldn’t find you,” I murmured. “All the same, I want to ensure you’re still here when I get back.”

Something flickered in her eyes. For a moment, we were back in that hallway, wrapped around each other, desperately wanting to get closer. Maz had teased me about the paint streaks on my face and hands, but I’d only wanted more. More of her. More of this feeling.

Kiera looked away from me, breaking the moment.

My chest tightened. “Melaena, would you unlock the sitting room for me?”

She nodded and led me out of the room. I didn’t look back.