Page 65 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

Her eyes lit up. “Yes! Can you go to my chambers and bring me the volume I keep on my workstation? You know the one. My journal should be with it. Can you bring that so I can make some notes? Oh, and do you think you can ask the librarians for anything they have on dragon genealogy. I want to start looking at the kinds of bonds that are typical.”

I let her finish, her joy was not something I was keen to stamp out. But in this case, it was going to have to happen. “No,” I replied simply.

Her face fell. “What?”

“No work,” I said firmly.

“But—”

“No work, Kiera.”

“But you offered me books.” I could swear her bottom lip quivered.

“I meant a novel or two, or maybe a game or some cards, something light to pass the time.”

“My work will pass the time,” she argued.

“No, your work will stop you resting and make you even more determined to get out of here before you’re ready.”

“I need to work, Jaxus!” she all but snapped.

“It’s in hand, Kiera.”

“This is ridiculous. I’ll have Nyx or my father bring them. You can’t stop them,” she said defiantly.

I quirked an eyebrow. “Try me.”

“Ugh!” she fumed, banging her hands on the sheets ineffectually.

TWENTY-EIGHT

KIERA

“You’re looking so much better,” Zaria’s voice broke the monotony of these four walls and my watchdog hovering. She stood in the doorway with Nyx crowding in behind her. His face betrayed his state of high alert. I would be prepared to bet that since I was poisoned right here in the city, he hadn’t let Zaria out of his sight. She was probably as tired of it as I was.

I’d been fully awake now for days, and this was the first I’d seen of anyone except those caring for me. I suspected Jaxus was keeping everyone at bay.

“It’s good to see you,” I said, trying to straighten up while Jaxus took the playing cards and set our game aside.

“How are you feeling?” Zaria asked, leaning over and giving me a hug. Nyx planted a brief kiss on my forehead, and I could have sworn I heard Jaxus growl.

Nyx’s smirk as he sat beside the bed suggested he had, too.

“I’m feeling better,” I told them, ignoring the growling males. The Goddess only knew what that was about. Nyx wasn’t going to hurt me by giving me a chaste kiss.

“I’m so glad to see you awake. Last time I came, you were still sleeping, and someone has been keeping you all to himself since then.” He tipped his head in Jaxus’ direction.

I shot a look at Jaxus and he shrugged, not even looking sorry.

“He won’t leave.” I rolled my eyes. “Surely there’s some important kingdom business you need him doing?” I pleaded to Nyx with my eyes, and he chuckled.

“He’s where he needs to be right now,” Nyx replied diplomatically.

I groaned.

Jaxus smirked, then stood. “Actually, since you’re here, there is something I need to take care of. Will you stay until I get back? I won’t be long,” he asked Nyx as if I wasn’t even here.

“Of course,” Nyx readily agreed. The ease with which they handled this little handover of supervision had me thinking they’d arranged it in advance.

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