Page 23 of A Sea So Cruel
Kaid shook his head. Neither were real. None of it was real. It was folklore, wasn’t it? But the courtesan…
Asta shook her head and stepped forward toward Kaid. “I’m sorry. I didn’t—”
Did she know? Was she aware of just how terrified he was of the deep depths beside them? It couldn’t be possible, seeing as his father was the only one he had ever discussed such manners with.
He once again stepped back, lengthening the distance between himself, the water, and her. She reached an arm out toward him. “Kaid, don’t. I’m truly sorry. I didn’t know you were this terrified.”
So shehadknown. Somehow, someone had figured out his greatest fear and reported it to her. That part wasn’t a shock, he supposed. Asta seemed to have everyone in her back pocket.
It was what she had done with the information that bewildered him. She had chosen to taunt him with it. He knew they were playing a game of cat and mouse, but he never would have exploited her most serious terrors. And besides, he thought they were getting closer, moving past the seriousness of the game and more so using it as amusement in a dull moment. Oh, how wrong he had been.
Kaid’s lips formed a flat line and he subtly shook his head. “I thought we were past this, Asta.”
He had been there for her no matter how far she pushed him away. He had comforted her after the courtesan encounter. But right now, he felt stupid for doing so. He had been a fool to think it was not a one-sided friendship.
Her shoulders sagged, but Kaid did not feel guilty. It was her turn to feel such a thing.
He noticed Asta cracking her fingers, then her knuckles. Her breathing quickened and the color drained from her faceuntil she cracked her wrist and the tension uncoiled. It took everything in him to not reach out and comfort her.
Maybe he would never understand her. Maybe they would never be friends. The only thing he knew for certain was that he needed space.
Kaid lifted his hands and knew he didn’t fumble over his words as he signed, “Leave. Me. Alone.”
Chapter 12
Since arriving in Orntali, Kaid had hardly attended any parties and actually found that he didn’t miss them as much as he expected. With the wedding being about a week away, he’d been too distracted with planning, dance lessons, and dates to notice.
Kaid had been successful in skillfully avoiding Asta for almost a week now, aside from being in each other’s presence during meals and the dates that Asta was sent to chaperone. But she had kept her distance as well, not speaking a single word to him since that day on the beach.
Though his anger had simmered a bit now, Kaid found joy in making Asta live in her guilt. She deserved it for a few more days.Then he would cave and speak to her again and they could return to their bickering, sign language lessons, and investigation. He didn’t have much to hold against her since he hadn’t been dragged to the ocean or attacked by seafolk.
However, he did find it easier to concentrate on his dates with Maren since he distanced himself from her sister. He had even managed to coax a laugh out of the copper-haired princess, which was an amazing feat.
Kaid was feeling excited for the party tonight. Though he wasn’t quite sure of the theme or reasoning for having a celebration the second week of autumn, he didn’t object. The monotony of meetings, planning, and dates had started to feel quite boring, but this was his life now. Politics until he died.
Halsten stumbled into Kaid’s suite, smiling and holding up an amber bottle.
“Pre-party drink session?” The dark-haired man jostled the bottle and the liquid inside sloshed.
Kaid laughed and grabbed the bottle from him, taking a long swig.
The pair of men sauntered into the party fairly buzzed and ready to mingle. Halsten approached Svanhild, which seemed like a poor decision, yet Kaid was curious to see how it would play out. The untamed brunette with midnight blue eyes was probably the first woman to ever truly strike fear into Kaid.
The bad choice became evident when Svanhild slapped Halsten across his face. Even over the murmur of the crowd, Kaid could hear the impact. His best friend wandered back over, rubbing at the massive red spot on his cheek.
“Maybe not that one, friend.” Kaid clapped him on the back.
“Yeah, well. It’s not like my Little Flame is interested.” Halsten nodded a chin toward Asta’s fire-haired lady-in-waiting, Linnea.
An upbeat song began playing and Kaid couldn’t resist the dance floor, so he found Maren and tugged her into the crowd. To his surprise, she didn’t object and Svanhild didn’t stop him from leading her away. It seemed like the lady-in-waiting was usually around solely to ruin Maren’s fun, so he was relieved when she didn’t step in. He hoped he was finally gaining both of their trust.
Kaid pulled Maren close—their bodies flush—and her breath whooshed out of her. He searched her light brown eyes for any sign of discomfort, but he couldn’t find a drop of it. So he continued on, spinning and dipping her, taking part in the partner tradeoff but never keeping his eyes off her ginger hair as it bobbed and weaved through the movements.
He had almost been enjoying himself. Almost. But his thoughts were unintentionally caught on a blonde maned, emerald-eyed princess observing from the edge of the dance floor. She was wearing a long, black gown, the bodice tight around her toned torso then loose at her hips as it cascaded toward the floor. The back of the collar was high, but the front cut open into a sweetheart neckline and her hair was swept away from her face, making her eyes glimmer from the intricate jewels embroidered onto her shoulders. Her sleeves were an exaggerated length, nearly touching the floor, but her hands poked out from small slits in them. She was cracking her knuckles.
If she hadn’t been displaying a nervous habit, the young princess would easily be mistaken for a queen. Her appearance was both fierce and inviting, like her personality. She was the princess who visited orphans and death’s angel who would killfor them. The tiara atop her light locks shone against the flames on the chandelier, and she lit up the room.
The partners switched back and Kaid was once again holding Maren. He smiled, taking in the princess in front of him. Gods, the sisters were so different. If he hadn’t known they had the same father, he would say they weren’t related at all.
