Page 134 of The Shrouded Queen
FIFTY-FOURSAMIRA
What did you do?”
My eyes snapped open.
Keir was crouched over me, holding my neckline away from my chest and exposing my handiwork from last night.
I glanced down and choked back a curse. I’d made a horrible mess of my skin. I hadn’t truly felt it last night, but now the wound burned. It looked nearly as bad as when it had gotten infected all those years ago. TheXwas outlined in an angry red. One sharp move would split the scabs, and it would start bleeding again.
Batting Keir’s hands away, I sat up and pulled my dress back into place. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
“I smelled blood, but I thought it was your blisters.”
“It’s nothing, Keir,” I repeated, standing. “Let’s just go.”
“Let me see it.”
“There’s nothing to see.” I started trudging over the sand again. The sun hadn’t crested the horizon yet. We could manage a mile at least before we had to bear its insufferable heat.
Keir rounded in front of me and grabbed my shoulder. “It could get infected.”
I shrugged out of his grip and kept on. “We’re not wasting water cleaning it.”
He reached for me again. “Majesty, just let me—”
“No!” I shoved him roughly, surprising him enough that he stumbled. I folded my arms protectively over my chest, a useless shield. A small trickle of blood rolled down my breast.
Keir stared at me. “You did that to yourself.”
“We’re wasting time before the sun’s up.”
His eyes scanned my face, studying me with deep intensity. I had that acute sense of probing I often got under Keir’s peculiar gaze, and it left me feeling bare, exposed. I tightened my arms around my chest.
“That’s why you didn’t run,” he said, realization dawning. “That night with the shackles. You weren’t trying to escape. You were doingthis.”
I turned on my heel and started walking, not caring if he followed or not. I was not having this conversation.
“Why?” he called after me.
I kept my eyes trained straight ahead and said nothing, but a second later, he was next to me, keeping pace at my side. “Talk to me, Amunet,” Keir pressed. “You said you got that scar because of disobedience. What did you mean?”
I focused on putting one foot in front of the other.
Keir took one long stride and cut off my path again. I barely avoided ramming into his chest. “Tell me.”
I met his gaze from under my brows. “Not yet.”
Keir observed me a moment longer, the fire not dimming in his eyes. “I gave you my word I wouldn’t leave,” he said, voice low.
“You also gave your word to Rade.”
“And I kept it.”
“By nearly killing me? By marking my cabin without my permission? By avoiding your post for a full week?”
“I’m flattered, Majesty. I had no idea you’d miss me so much.”
“That’s not—”
