Page 33 of Stars May Burn

Her words were cut short by the sound of running feet. I turned to see the general sprinting down the neglected track toward us with wide eyes. His expression made him look younger, almost vulnerable. I stared at him in shock.

Callum ran at his side, and two armed men were close behind. How had Meena alerted them? None of this made any sense. The four ran incredibly fast, their arms pumping hard, and their backs straight; I could barely collect myself before they were upon me. My hands were still shaking.

Kasten stopped a few steps away, his eyes combing me as he caught his breath. I must have looked an unsightly, dirty mess. He cleared his throat before he spoke, but his words were gruff. “Are you hurt, Sophie?” I noticed his hair was still wet and disheveled from being washed, and he was newly shaven. His hair and alarmed expression made him seem more human somehow.

I looked down and shook my head. My heart was still racing. Why wouldn’t it slow? Why was it still hard to breathe? My eyes turned back to the man, who lay unmoving on the ground. One of the guards was tying his hands behind his back. I licked my lips and tried to slow down my breathing. In. Out. In. Out.

“Did he touch you?” My husband’s voice was firmer and more insistent now.

My eyes flickered up to Kasten. I half nodded.

His eyes darkened, and he whirled to Meena. “What happened?”

Her own eyes were on the ground, but I saw her flinch ever so slightly at Kasten’s sudden attention. “He grabbed her and held a knife to her throat, General. I disarmed him as quickly as I could.” She held out two objects: a small knife and the strange pyramidal device he’d had in the castle.

Kasten took them without looking at them, his focus still on my guard. “How did this happen? This shouldn’t have happened! He was using kryalcomy, Meena!” He sounded furious. I stepped back. I always struggled to stay calm when people were angry. Now, my heart rate was only increasing, and dots appeared around the edges of my vision.

I would not faint. I would not. Why did I always feel so weak compared to everyone around me?

Kasten whirled on Callum, his dark eyes burning. “Go and check the wall defenses. Now!”

Callum held up his hands and looked more insulted than intimidated by the general’s temper. “All right, all right, but there’s nothing wrong with them.”

“Then how in the three kingdoms, did that man get in?”

Callum opened his mouth, looked at me and closed it again. He took the pyramidal device from Kasten’s hands. “I will look into it. Maybe you should escort Sophie back to her room and make sure she’s all right?” He raised an eyebrow.

I licked my lips and took a step forward, careful to keep space between me and my husband’s anger. My throat felt hoarse and constricted as I spoke, my words tumbling out quickly. “I’m quite well, thank you. I just need a rest. Meena can take me. Lucy and Beatrice will make sure I have everything I need.” I reached out and rested my hand on Meena’s arm.

Kasten hesitated, pushing his hand back through his hair while clenching his jaw. “I will walk you to your room.” He held out a hand to me.

I flinched from it. I hadn’t intended to. My body just reacted.

Kasten’s hand froze.

My insides went cold.

I looked down and hugged my treacherous body close. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I meant no offense. It’s just…that man…I…”

Kasten stepped back, disgust on his face. My heart sank. My hands trembled.

He turned to Meena. “Take her back and make sure she has everything she needs.”

“Yes, General.” Meena seemed quieter than normal. Less…looming.

I didn’t dare meet my husband’s eyes as I let Meena’s hand gently guide me back to my rooms. My heart rate finally started to slow.

SOPHIE

Iwoke up with a start, my mind still sleep-addled after a long, warm bath and decadent chocolate-filled meal. Lucy had nodded off in a chair next to me; she stirred but didn’t wake. I hadn’t asked her to stay, but I was glad she had anyway. I didn’t feel like being alone right now.

I clenched the soft cotton between my fists and sighed. What had woken me? According to the grandfather clock, it was seven o’clock in the evening. I’d slept for four hours in the middle of the day, just because of a little fright. If the household didn’t find me delicate before, they certainly would now.

And I had flinched when Kasten had merely reached out his hand…

I was doing such a bad job of this.

I collapsed back into looming despair, pulling the covers up to my chin, then froze when I heard hushed voices through the door.

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