Page 114 of Wings of Ash & Flame
“The soulwarden told me I was lucky.” Tears spilled down Kaia’s cheeks. “That if I hadn’t gotten help when I did, the blade’s poison would’ve killed me. You got me here in the nick of time. They didn’t save me.Youdid.”
Alaire shook her head, breath catching. “I wish I could’ve done more.”
“Thank you for stopping. You rescued me when it cost you the win.” Kaia held out a trembling hand, squeezing hers weakly.
“Win-schmin.” Alaire laughed to cover the crack in her voice. “You’re more important than any first place. There’s no need to thank me. I couldn’t endure this place without you. Your friendship”—she wiped a tear caught in her lashes, leaving astreak of dirt—“is a gift I hold in the highest regard. It means everything to me.”
Kaia smiled through her tears.
“You saved me,” Alaire confessed. “Though I refuse to go to any more parties. I’d much rather have a girls’ night in.”
Kaia settled back against her pillow, exhaustion etched across her face. She released a snort. “Deal.”
“I’m going to let you get some rest.”
“Thanks for coming by. And, you know, everything else.” She tried for a wink, but it looked more like a wince.
“Get some rest.” Alaire turned her head to smother her laughter.
Her spine went rigid as she spotted tan fingers curling around the entrance to Kaia’s room. A familiar swath of white hair appeared, grey eyes fixed solely on Kaia.
He nearly walked right into Alaire, but she shoved him back into the hallway.
“What do you think you’re doing here?” she hissed.
Caius towered over her, the scar at the base of his throat paler against all the white.
“Checking on Kaia,” he said matter-of-factly, as though that weren’t strange.
“Why?”
“Because she’s my partner. What are you, her guard?”
“As a matter of fact, I am.”
He scoffed. “As if you could keep me away.”
“Caius, is that you?” Kaia’s drained voice cut through the tension.
“Yeah, it’s me.” Caius pulled open the curtain. Kaia’s whole body relaxed at the sight of him. His eyes hardened at her fragile state. “I’ll be just a sec.”
“Okay.” She spread her arms across the blanket. “Guys, be nice to each other.”
Caius let the curtain fall. “See? She wants to see me,” he retorted smugly.
“I have no idea why,” Alaire shot back. “The only reason I’m letting you through is because she knows you’re here.”
“You can’tletme do anything. Lest I remind you, halfling, you lack the authority and ability to stand up to me. So back off.”
“If you so much as hurt a hair on her head, castrating you will only be the beginning of my payback.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
“Thought I already proved on the mat that I’m capable.”
His hands gripped the curtain. He gave her one last withering look. “Everywhere you go, destruction and death follow. Maybe you should reconsider your threats and examine how beneficial your presence is to your so-called friend right now.”
The words hit like a punch to the gut. Her insecurities rose with his taunts. He wasn’t wrong. First Blake, then Eloise, now Kaia. Her parents. Her kingdom. Guilt, sharp and unyielding, pierced her soul.
