Page 85 of The King's Weapon

He nodded, apparently already knowing what she would say. And that brought a little relief to her chest.

"I tried to warn you that the first time can be jarring." He said, standing. "Did she say anything to you?"

His words allowed her to breathe normally. It wasn't just her imagination. Kallie recited the goddess’s words, "If the truth within is not found, then one may not find what one seeks. Find it. Destroy it."

Graeson was silent as he took in Sabina's ominous words.

"Do you know what it could mean?" Kallie asked.

He shook his head. "I'm not sure." But when he looked at her, his gaze pierced her soul as if he too could read minds like Fynn. She forced her body to remain still. She knew it was silly. Graeson did not share Fynn's gift. Still, all her vulnerabilities and secrets were at the forefront of her mind. And she felt herself forming those walls around her thoughts as she had learned to do. Just in case.

* * *

They satbeside the springs while eating the sandwiches Graeson had bought at the bakery earlier that morning. Whatever had happened to her in the caves had caused her hunger to surface by the time Graeson had helped her back to their makeshift camp.

Before sitting down Kallie had thrown on her blouse but allowed her legs and feet to remain in the sun.

They hadn't talked since the cave, which seemed to be the pattern for them. But every so often, Graeson would cast a cursory glance her way. After the hundredth time, Kallie had enough. She bit off a chunk of her sandwich and raised a brow. "What?"

"Are we ever going to talk about it?" Graeson asked.

Her eyes flicked to the waterfall across from them.

He plopped the last bite in his mouth. "No, not that."

The bread became tougher in her mouth, and she struggled to swallow it. She narrowed her eyes. "Then what do we possibly have to talk about?"

He tilted his head and leaned back on his hands, his sandwich already gone."Don't play me for a fool. I know you've been avoiding me."

Her cheeks began to heat and she instantly became uncomfortable under his gaze. She forced a yawn and turned away, pretending as if something in the water caught her eye. "I don't know what you're talking about."

While it might have been true that she had been avoiding him since breakfast two days ago, Kallie didn't know why he felt the need to bring it up. Especially now. That kiss was a moment of weakness, a moment that should never have happened. Graeson bringing it up was just another tactic of his to throw her off. But she didn't understand what his end goal was, which irked her even more.

"Graeson," she looked back at him, face emotionless and tone neutral. "I was drunk. I was emotional and overwhelmed."

"So it was what? A way for you to get your mind off of everything else going on?" Graeson asked. His words made it sound like she was the one using him that night.

Perhaps, a part of her had used him. After all, men had always been a good distraction for her.

She shrugged, turning away from whatever emotion floated in the air between them.

Graeson scoffed. "You are so full of shit, you know that, right?"

She swung her gaze back to him and an icy fire rose in her eyes. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I hurt the princess's feelings?" Graeson sneered.

Kallie ran her tongue across her teeth and sneered. "Watch what you say next, Graeson."

"Or what, little mouse?"

And the smirk appearing on his smug face after he uttered her nickname in mockery sent her into action. Grabbing a hold of the familiar metal buried in the pile of her clothes beside her, she threw her dagger.

Graeson didn't blink, he didn't even move as the dagger narrowly missed his ear, digging deep into the bark of the tree he leaned on.

"I said it once, and I'll say it—" He stopped mid-sentence as bird poo fell on top of his head as one of the Red Spirits previously perched upon the tree branch flew away, scared off by the dagger.

So they’re a good omen then.

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