Page 34 of Stars May Burn

“And she’s still asleep?”

“Yes, General.” Meena’s voice.

“Nobody has seen her apart from Lucy and Beatrice?”

“No, General.”

I sat up to hear the voices better. Lucy jerked awake, blinked in confusion, and then looked between me and the door as if uncertain whether she should do something. I put my finger to my lips. She awkwardly pushed back her headband and smoothed her skirts, hiding any signs that she’d been sleeping.

Kasten’s voice was sharp but low as if trying not to wake me. “What happened, Meena?”

“I…I’m sorry, my lord.”

I frowned. Meena had saved me quickly and skillfully. Why was he berating her?

Though his voice was muffled, Kasten sounded more furious than I’d ever heard before. “How was the Red Man able to reach her? He shouldn’t have ever gotten so close, let alone while using kryalcomy. Was your device switched off?”

I held my breath, eager to hear every sentence. The Red Man. That name sounded familiar. I was sure I had read it on the front cover of one of Frederick’s newspapers. ‘Den of Red Men outed.’ Or something similar. The fact that one of that violent group had been hiding in my carriage would have been exciting had he not threatened me today.

Meena’s voice was uncertain. “I…the noise was so quiet on my device, and I had it turned low. I’m sorry, my lord, it won’t happen again.”

“I’m not certain this is forgivable, Meena. Tara is also keen for this job. Guarding my wife is an honor, and you took it too lightly.”

I gasped. What was he doing? He couldn’t dismiss Meena over this. It wasn’t her fault. I pushed back the covers. Lucy shot up beside me. “My lady, what are you doing?” she whispered. “You should try to go back to sleep.”

Meena’s voice had a hoarse edge to it. “Please, my lord, I need this job. You know what’s going on with my parents. You know how grateful I am for the opportunity. I scored top of my old battalion in every area. I won’t mess up. Not again.”

My throat constricted. I grabbed my silk dressing gown and hurried to the door before my courage ran out.

“This isn’t about you or your parents. This is about Lady Batton’s safety. Safety you severely compromised.”

I pushed open the door. Kasten whirled toward me in surprise. His eyes took in my disheveled hair and dressing gown, and he visibly suppressed his anger, though his hands trembled. He gave me a small bow. I felt the strange tension between us. “Sophie, my apologies for waking you. Please go back to bed. We’ll resume our conversation elsewhere.” He looked smart, his hair now brushed and styled. It made him more intimidating.

I frowned and stepped up to Meena’s side. “You can’t dismiss Meena. Please. She did an admirable job today. I feel safe with her. What happened was my fault. I gave her a job and then wandered the other side of a bush while her back was turned.”

Kasten’s dark eyes found mine in the evening shadows, and I could see the anger boiling just below the surface. He spoke through gritted teeth. “Your safety and the management of the guards is my duty, Sophie. Let me deal with this. Please focus on resting.”

My heart rate picked up as nervousness constricted my chest. What was I doing, arguing with him? I couldn’t afford to anger him again. I’d already made one serious mistake when I flinched from his touch. I was meant to please him, and I so rarely spoke with him. But this was unfair, and Meena was my friend. I clenched my sweaty fists and pretended I wasn’t afraid, raising my head.

“She is my guard, General. And I wish for her to remain so. Or do I get no say at all in the running of this household?” My heart rate picked up. I was shocked at my audacity and started to feel lightheaded. Behind me, I heard a soft gasp from Lucy.

The general ran a hand down his face. His voice was soft and fast. “Sophie, you don’t understand how the guard works. Meena did not follow protocol. There are things going on you are not privy to, and I must keep you safe. Trust me that I know what I’m doing.”

I stepped closer to him, a heady recklessness flowing through me. “If these things are so dangerous, then tell me about them instead of keeping it all secret.”

His eyes burned into mine. “If I told you, your life would be in danger.”

“I trust you and Meena to keep me safe. You will not dismiss her. You are being too harsh—it borders on cruelty.”

His elegant jaw clenched, and I felt the tension rise around us. My heart beat so fast, I thought my chest would burst. What was I doing?

Meena stepped up to me. “Lady Sophie, please understand, the general is correct that I…”

Kasten held up his hand, and she stopped speaking at once. He turned to face her. “Dame Tara will guard her for two hours every morning while you train. You have grown rusty. You will remain her head guard. If you make another mistake, you will be out of the castle. Understood?”

She fell to her knee and bowed her head. “Thank you, General.”

Kasten’s eyes moved to my shoulders, and I steeled myself for the fire I’d see when our gazes met. But he never raised them above my chin. He nodded, turned, and stalked off without a word.

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