Page 39 of A Kingdom's Heart
“About that,” I said, hesitating.
Her brow lifted. “About that?”
I took a slow breath. “I was wondering if you could cover for me today.”
Raven set down a jar and turned fully toward me. “Cover for you? Why?”
“Going somewhere?” she crossed her arms.
“Yes,” I answered quickly. My cheeks warmed before I could
stop it.
Raven’s lips curved, amusement flickering in her eyes. “Where
exactly?”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to. The way her smile widened told me she’d already guessed.
“Oh,” she said, dragging the word out. “I see. You’re skipping duty to meet the same knight, aren’t you?”
Heat crept up my neck. “It’s not like that. I just—he lent me something, and I want to return it. That’s all.”
Raven raised a brow. “Right. And you just happened to put on that same pretty dress for returning a book?”
I sighed. “Raven.”
Her teasing expression softened, replaced by something more
serious. “No, Iris. I can’t cover up for you again.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Yesterday, your father kept drilling me about where you were. I told him you slipped in the mud and needed to bathe before coming back.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “He barely
believed that. If I lie again, he’ll know something’s off.”
My stomach twisted at the thought of my father’s anger, but I kept pushing. “Please,” I said quietly. “Just one last time. He won’t notice I’m gone.”
She gave me a long look, the kind she used when she was torn between reason and loyalty. “You’re really going to get us both killed one day.”
“Then at least we’ll die trying,” I said with a weak smile.
Raven groaned, though there was the faintest laugh behind it.
“Fine. But if the king asks, you’re helping the midwives. Don’t make me regret this.”
“I won’t,” I promised.
She pointed a finger at me. “And you owe me. A week’s worth of chores.”
“Deal.”
Raven shook her head as I turned toward the door. “I hope he’s worth all this trouble.”
I didn’t answer. Maybe because I didn’t know yet. I only knew that as I stepped out of the healer’s wing, my heart was already
racing at the thought of seeing him again.
