Page 30 of Veiled Fate
“I’m not sure,” I said, relaying the story about the young man working the bar, trying to flirt with me. “He kept me distracted while the innkeeper summoned the nearest guard detachment, I guess.”
“I don’t like it,” Kiel said. “The fact that he knew you, that the guards were on alert already, doesn’t bode well for us. That damn Nehringi must have made better time circling the lake than we thought if word has already gotten this far north. If only we hadn’t spent so damn long just floating in the boats.”
“Well, we did, and he has. No point in crying over it,” I said. “But now we know that everyone is on the lookout for us, we can avoid them.”
“Not forever,” Kiel said, shaking his head. “The journey is too long. Too many stops. We have to move without attracting attention somehow.”
“How?”
He glanced at me, his eyes landing on my hair. “Change our appearance.”
I clutched at my hair protectively. For as long as I could remember, my silvery-blonde hair had been my trademark, something that set me apart from others, making me unique. Now, it was making me identifiable.
“Okay,” I said softly, knowing it had to be done. I just didn’t like it.
“It’ll grow back,” Kiel said, stepping closer to put an arm around me.
I shrugged it off immediately, not even letting it fully settle. “No.”
He backed off.
“Just because we’re being forced to work together doesn’t mean things are going back to how they were,” I said sharply, driving home my point. “You have continually kept secrets or lied to me, Kiel. That doesn’t just go away. Whateverthiswas, it’s over now. You did that by not telling me you knew my mother this whole time, that she was working for you. Thank you for saving me in the bar. I am grateful, but I do not owe you anything more than that.”
“Of course. My apologies,” he said, stung. “Are you ready to go?”
I nodded. “And Kiel?”
He looked over his shoulder as he started to shift. I locked eyes with him as they went from blue to yellow.
“Before this is over, you’re going to tell me everything.” My eyes narrowed as I spoke. “Including who youreallyare.”
Chapter Fifteen
“Just do it,” I snarled at Kiel. “The longer you hesitate, the worse it’s going to be. Let’s just get it over and done with. It’s like taking off a bandage. Rip it, don’t peel it.”
“Are you sure?”
His voice came from behind me, where he was crouched low, the scissors we’d stolen from a nearby farmhouse gripped in one hand. In the other, he held my braid.
“Yes.” My voice wavered.
Stop it. Just stop it.There was no sense in freaking out about hair. It would grow back, after all, so why could I not stop my hands from shaking as I clenched them at my side? The rock on which I sat next to a softly gurgling stream was wide and flat, and it had seemed like the ideal place for my transformation. But now it threatened to spill me over as it wobbled and shook wildly.
Or perhaps my nerves were just causing me to twitch uncontrollably as Kiel prepared to hack my hair off. Hair I had spent years and years growing.
“It’ll grow back,” Kiel said softly, still not cutting it. “It’ll be fine.”
Damn him and his sensitivity. Why couldn’t he be the harsh, angry, just “do it” person I’d seen him be before? I didn’t want his pity or comfort. I wanted nothing to do with him. Unfortunately, I had no choice. I needed his help. But why did he have to be so tender and caring?
“I know it will,” I said stiffly. “That’s how hair works. It’s just …”
I hadn’t meant to bring it up, but the instant I said it, I knew he wouldn’t let it go.
“But what?” He was so close behind me I could feel his body heat in the cool morning air.
We had run through the night and were now northeast of Lycaon, the metropolis capital of the Canis Empire. Soon, we could cross the river dividing Lycaon territory from Nycitum and proceed into the empire's north. But first, we had to change our looks. Kiel had already shaved his head and face clean.
Now, it was my turn.
