Page 74 of Bearing Secrets
Natalia croaked out a greeting as the Queen pushed her away into the room over the objections of the other guard travelling with her. Then she turned to Natalia and frowned in the dim light.
“I said atease,” she said icily. “That means let her go before you squeeze the life out of her. Do I make myself clear?”
The hand dropped immediately. “Yes ma’am.”
Natalia fell to her knees, gasping for air, noting as she did that while the guard let her go, he did bend over and pick up the knife, giving it a once-over before glaring at her. Feeling a surge of her old self return along with some much-needed oxygen, Natalia winked at him. It served nothing more than to earn her a growl, but it was worth it.
“How is he doing?”
She turned to see the Queen standing at Kirell’s bedside, looking down at him.
“He’s healing. Physically. Nobody knows about his mind.” She almost went into more detail but didn’t.
This was the Queen of High House Ursa. One of her Title Holders had been beaten within an inch of his life. There was no way she didn’t already know everything there was to know about his status and the attack itself. So why was she here, now, and with such secrecy as well?
“Who was it? Who did this to him, and why?” It was the only question worth asking in her mind.
The Queen paused. “There is no evidence to prove who did it. Nothing to convict the person behind it. Whoever it was used the back passages and stayed out of the cameras. We have no evidence, though some are still looking into it.”
Natalia shook her head and walked over to the bedside. “Do not touch me,” she spat at one of the guards as he tried to step between her and the Queen.
“She’s not a threat,” the Queen repeated, gently pushing her guard aside when he refused to yield. “Let her come near. This is Kirell’s mate.”
Shooting a glance at the Queen, Natalia played that statement back in her head several times, wondering if she’d imagined the slight hesitation before the Queen had spoken the wordmateor not. What the hell did she mean by that? Was she having a hard time referring to the two as mated all of a sudden? It wasn’t like she was unaware of the fake arrangement. Just like that though, it didn’t matter. There was only one question that did.
“Who do you think did it?” she asked quietly.
“I’m not in the habit of making guesses,” the woman said primly, a reminder that, as Queen of the House, she had to be above said things.
Natalia started nodding, more to herself than anyone, but then the Queen continued.
“But if I did, I’d bet that bastard Klebra was behind it, and if I find a single shred of evidence that he was, I’ll see him drawn and quartered,” she said with a malevolence that surprised Natalia.
“I’ll help,” she said quietly, standing next to the most powerful woman in the house, the two of them looking down at Kirell.
“If it weren’t for the bandages, the blood, the bruises and the cuts, I’d say he actually looks peaceful.”
Natalia snorted. “If only he always slept this peacefully.”
The Queen looked over at her. “Peacefully?” she questioned in a knowing tone.
“Silently,” Natalia said, amending her previous statement.
“I know your pain. My late love, may he rest in peace, was not a quiet sleeper either.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Natalia told her quietly. “I can’t imagine the pain you must be feeling.”
The Queen looked down at Kirell. “And I hope you never do.” There was a slight quaver in her voice, but she smothered it and continued. “You’re a good person for staying.”
“Uh, yeah.” She felt distinctly uncomfortable at the way the conversation had so suddenly shifted onto her. “He had the keys.”
The Queen snickered. “I can see now why he cares for you.”
“Pardon me?”
“Kirell. I’m starting to see why he has developed feelings for you. You’re loyal, honest, and you have a quick enough wit to give him trouble. All things he needs in his life.”
“I think you’re reading way too much into it, Your Majesty.” The formal title felt odd to say. For the most part, Natalia was trying to just avoid addressing the Queen at all, but it wasn’t always possible.
