Page 81 of The Shadows Between Us
Kallias rushes to say, “Also, keeping you in the queen’s suite further helps our ruse. You can also barge in on me, if you like, as I have so rudely done to you several times.” His eyes are still trained on the door leading to his own rooms.
“I don’t know what to say,” I say at last. The large windows set all the finery to near sparkling. The small potted trees in the corners of the room strain toward the light.
I feel like a woodland princess.
No, not a princess, I amend.
A queen.
I am in the queen’s rooms.
“You could say whether or not you like it,” Kallias offers. “If there’s anything displeasing about the accommodations.”
I smile, turning to him. “I don’t find anything displeasing. This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with me.”
“I’m glad,” he says. Then he looks down to my hands.
I realize they’re still shaking.
Kallias gently pushes on my shoulders to get me in a sitting position atop the bed. He grabs a blanket from an ottoman near the foot of the bed and wraps it around my shoulders.
“I’m fine,” I insist.
“You will be, but it’s fine if you’re not.”
“It’s not the first time I’ve seen death, Kallias.” I wish I could call back the words. I don’t need him asking me questions about Hektor.
“Seeing me kill a guard is far different than watching me kill a man intent on killing us. Your life was in danger.”
Oh, right.
“Why areyouso collected?” I ask, glaring up at him. “You’re the one who was shot, for gods’ sake.”
“Because I’ve known for a while that someone is trying to kill me. I’ve come to expect it.”
Kallias doesn’t leave me until a healer arrives. Some old woman who fusses over me, insisting she look at the red welt on my face. Unsurprisingly, she prescribes rest as a treatment.
“Do you have someone who could stay with you tonight?” the old crone asks.
“Why?”
“After such an encounter, some find it difficult to sleep. Another body in the room might help.”
“I’m not a small child. I don’t need someone to check my closets for monsters.”
“Not monsters. Assassins. Men who would use you to get to the king,” she remarks unhelpfully.
“Get out,” I snap.
The healer gathers her things before quitting the room and leaving me in blessed quiet.
CHAPTER
18
I take supper in my new rooms. After the excitement of the day, I have no desire to be around lots of people. Kallias doesn’t join me, and I assume it must be because he’s looking into the man who managed to get into his mother’s gardens undetected.
And likely killing the men who allowed it to happen.
