Page 12 of The Scarlet Star

How could he ask this of her?

Moisture layered Kai’s gaze, and he nodded. “I know the risk. I hate this, Ryn. I wish I could take your place. But there’s no seat more powerful in the kingdom than the Queen’s seat. Ryn, if you could take it, you couldsave the Adriel people—”

“Don’t you know the things that go on inside that palace?!” Ryn felt the weight of magic all over again, the same stomach-turning heaviness that had made it difficult to breathe when her carriage first pulled through the gate. “Don’t you know what happened to the last Queen?” It came out high-pitched and raw.

Ryn’s whole life she’d been told to stay inside, to keep quiet, and toavoidthe palace at all costs. She rarely even left the street she lived on with Kai so she wouldn’t be discovered. She always wore popular Weylin clothing if she needed to leave the house, she made sure to use common Weylin phrases in her conversations with merchants, and she took the time to bow to the goddess statue when she passed the Sixteenth Temple of Nyx on the road. Now Kai wanted her to parade herself in front of all of Per-Siana? Within arm’s reach of the very people who’d love to see her dead? She pointed back in the direction of the palace. “There’s something evil in there, Kai! I could feel it, and I escaped it! You can’t ask me to go back there!”

Kai dropped his head and released her shoulders. He nodded, and a second later, he turned to the rest of the Priesthood. “You heard her,” he said quietly. “She said no.”

Theo made a deflated sound at her side. Ryn noted the looks around the room—men biting their tongues, frowning. She studied their reactions with a weak stomach, not noticing when Kai turned his attention to someone behind her.

“What do you want, Heva?” he asked.

…Heva?

Ryn glanced toward the hall and faltered at the sight of her guardswoman standing there in her navy and silver Folke armour. Ryn looked between Kai and her guardswoman when neither of them explained how they knew each other.

“I almost didn’t come here,” Heva admitted to the Priesthood. “I’m not a part of your fight.”

“But you did come,” Kai replied. “So, you must have a reason to be here, like us.”

Heva didn’t answer. Her gaze shot to Ryn instead.

“Did you follow me?” Ryn asked her. She should have been terrified to see another Folke this close to her cousin, but… Kai knew her name.

“I didn’t know you’d be here,” Heva admitted to Ryn. “I came to speak with the priests.” Then to the Priesthood, she said, “I know Geovani and her priestesses haven’t always gotten along with you—” a few grunts and scoffs lifted through the room “—but Geovani wanted to know who Estheryn Electus was. After finding no recorded history of her among the Electus family, she sent me to inquire if this woman’s presence at the palace was one of your schemes?”

“Schemes?” Kai released a sound from the back of his throat. “Just because the Adriel priestesses have become lazy and obsolete doesn’t meanwemust. Yes, we do things.”

Ryn’s lips parted at his harsh tone.

Kai’s shoulders relaxed. “But no, we aren’t behind Ryn going to the palace. I tried to stop the Folke from taking her.”

At that, Heva looked from one priest to the next. And, as if deciding they no longer mattered, she walked straight to Ryn and put out her hand. “Come, Maiden,” she said.

Ryn blinked down at the girl’s open palm. Back at the carriage, Heva had refused to offer Ryn her hand.

“Where?” Ryn asked.

“Back to the palace. You can’t be here.” Heva’s hand didn’t waver. “It’s not safe.”

“And the palace is?” Ryn drifted toward Kai. Ryn was sure this guardswoman would catch her if she tried to run. Even though they were the same height and appeared the same age, they had vastly different builds.

“No, the palace isn’t safe either, but I’ll try to protect you,” Heva stated.

“What do you mean,you’lltry?” Kai demanded and folded his arms.

Heva’s gaze remained on Ryn when she said, “I’m her personal Folke guard.”

Kai closed his mouth, but a few of the priests started to whisper.

Heva spoke only to Ryn again, “I’m not going to lie to you, Maiden—at least seven high political powers want you dead, regardless of whether or not they know who you are. Seven influentialpolitical powers with a lot of money,” she emphasised. “I’m just one person against them. I might be the first Folke guard to die in the trial period trying to keep my maiden alive.”

The Priesthood fell quiet; Kai looked like he might be sick.

Heva lifted her chin a little. “But Geovani wanted me to protect you the moment she saw you. And I might not be the deeply spiritual type, but I believe in that woman. So, I will.”

Still, Heva’s hand didn’t move. Still, her gaze remained solely on Ryn.

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