Page 21 of A Sea So Cruel
She looked over to him from atop her black mare, her dark hood again pulled up over her head. She was the most beautiful grim reaper, lady of death, collector of souls. A collector of hearts, beating or still.
“I did what needed to be done. I know that. But it’s not her death that bothers me,” Asta admitted.
Kaid cocked a brow, though it wasn’t visible from under his hood. “What is it then, blondie?”
Her grip on the reins tightened. “I would do it again. I would end any life to protect someone I love. To protect my people. I now know what I am capable of, and Ilikeit.” Her legs squeezed her mare and in a black flash, the heart collector was gone.
The sound of bones crunching reverberated in Kaid’s mind, over and over, long after they returned to the castle that night.
Chapter 11
Kaid and Maren walked together down the beach, but he found it hard to concentrate on the princess when he knew they had an audience trailing behind them, even if the company did hang back quite a bit.
Every date had been chaperoned. Kaid knew they would have eyes on them often, but he thought they would occasionally have some alone time to get to know one another. He would never get used to having so many people around.
Kaid looked over his shoulder to the crowd down the beach. It consisted of Halsten, the twins who were part of the royalguard, Svanhild, Linnea, and Asta, who was repeatedly throwing a stick over and over for her massive, galloping dog.
He and Asta had met twice since the courtesan incident to continue their sign language lessons, once in the garden and once in the library. They hadn’t mentioned what had happened in the forest since, but Kaid knew it was something they wouldn’t soon forget.
He had suggested they have their next lesson in the music room, since no one really went in there anyway, but Asta downright refused. He didn’t push it, seeing as the last time they were in there alone, something between them changed. He just wasn’t sure if she had felt it, as well.
Kaid once more turned his attention to his betrothed. Maren really was beautiful. Her copper hair was luminous in the bright afternoon sun and her freckles were the color of the sand surrounding them. He learned that she and Asta used to be much closer growing up, but coming of age had separated them. Kaid wondered if that was the full story, but he didn’t ask. It wasn’t likely that Maren would tell him anyway.
It seemed that the more he tried to get to know Maren, the more he learned about Asta. Or was that subsequently the only information his brain remembered? Their relationship was still nothing more than bickering and poking at each other, which was good. He needed to keep his distance from Asta, even if they did share a monumental secret between them regarding the missing villagers. No matter how intriguing she was, that was not the princess he was to marry.
“May I ask you a personal question?” Kaid kept his gaze forward, the essence of casual.
Maren’s brows furrowed, but she replied, “Yes, Lord Kaidian?”
He flinched at the use of his full name. He still hadn’t told her his preferred nickname, but he wasn’t sure what stopped him from doing so. “Have you ever tried to find your mother?”
Maren paused for a moment, but then continued walking. She let out a long exhale before responding.
“I suppose I could answer yes to that. But I’m not sure if it counts as a true ‘try.’ My father foiled my plans before I even left the castle, warning me that I might not like who I find if I really do seek her out. He explained that she is an influential woman and it could cause complications should she ever lay claim to my birth. So I never tried again.”
Maren picked at her gloved hand, adjusting one of the fingers. Kaid had never seen her fidget before and felt bad for asking such a question. He hadn’t even had a legitimate reason for asking aside from pure curiosity.
So Maren’s mother was a lady of the nobility, perhaps? A royal from a neighboring country? Really anything was possible, seeing as they always had guests coming and going for parties and meetings.
Before Kaid could respond to Maren, or try to apologize, she spoke again. “I’m not feeling well. I’d like Svanhild to escort me back to my rooms.”
Kaid bowed, quickly kissing Maren’s gloved fingers. “Of course. Feel better, and I will see you for dinner.”
Maren smiled sweetly then turned to face the crowd behind them. Svanhild did not need any more than that gesture to know it was time to go. The navy-eyed lady-in-waiting approached the couple and placed a hand on Maren’s back, guiding her back toward the castle.
Over the last few weeks, Kaid had realized Maren fell ill quite often—usually in the middle of the day. He wondered what kind of condition she had, but he couldn’t just ask that. Not when they were still mere acquaintances.
He watched Maren and Svanhild approach the closest terrace and disappear toward the castle, one of the twin guards trailing a few feet behind them.
Kaid’s lips curled into a grin as Asta approached him, Dyri clumsily trotting behind. He observed the princess’s outfit and laughed to himself—one more time—before he had to hide it.
When they had stepped onto the beach this morning, Kaid and Halsten couldn’t hold back their howls as they took in Asta’s outfit. She wore a flowy white blouse, black pants, and brown leather boots.
It wasn’t her choice of clothing that was entertaining—Kaid couldn't care less if women decided to wear pants or dresses. They could wrap themselves in curtains, if they pleased. No, her attire had been hilarious for an entirely different reason—she and Kaid were matching. And gods, did he love the way her face heated immediately. She didn’t speak a word to him.
Until now, apparently.
“You couldn’t have gone and changed? I was out here first! You must have seen me from the terrace.” Asta’s arm gestured back to the castle.
