Chapter 87: Torn clothes
Ren narrowed her eyes as she pulled out a chair for her maiden and seated her at her left hand. Arkilla, naturally, settled beside the girl. The gesture alone drew sharp glances from several nobles. Their glares said enough, they found the act offensive, but none dared voice their displeasure aloud. But among them, Ren spotted some agreeing and smiling, mostly the ones who befriended humans in this castle. Ren had a purpose for doing this, to prove to them not all humans were shrewd and crafty. She could swear that among shifters some men and women loved each other but dared not to express or show it.
Lunch passed pleasantly, the food too good to invite arguments. Even those who held their pride like a sword chose to eat in silence before returning to their provinces. This was actually a farewell ritual before the elders of each land would leave.
Afterward, Kai took Ren for a walk through the garden. It was the first moment they had truly to themselves since her arrival, too many obligations had stolen their time. Thankfully, Elaika had left with her grandfather and wouldn’t jump here to ruin it, and Coran had ensured she wouldn’t stir trouble with that sharp tongue of hers.
"How was your day?" Kai asked, his tone softer than the spring breeze brushing past them, despite the hot weather of this short summer. Agara was right, summer was short in this land but scorching.
"Hard," Ren replied with a wry smile. "I only moved a few tiny water drops. I get distracted too easily."
Kai glanced at her, his fingers tightening around hers. "What distracts you? Is it me?"
She should have told him he was only one among a thousand thoughts storming through her mind. Instead, she said, "Everything. Including you. But on the battlefield, your safety matters most. If those vampires mutate again for any reason... I worry. If I fail to create something that can buy time, what then?"
"My army is fast and strong," Kai began but then hesitated. The weight of unspoken truths pressed heavily on his chest. Her uncle, no, her father, King Benkin... The man had only tried to save Ren because of their blood bond, not love. Still, Kai couldn’t pretend the king’s ulterior motives were ever pure. Not anymore. Not when both he and Agara had vowed not to let that man use her again. The Fae would protect Ren even if it cost them a war. They didn’t know about her blood yet but Kai was determined to tell them.
"King Benkin, I mean," he corrected himself. "He commands a shadow army, assassins trained to kill without mercy. I doubt many could stand against them. Vampires are not intelligent but they are elites."
Ren exhaled slowly, then offered a faint smile. "Send my regards to my uncle, and tell him I’m alright, will you? I know he’s not a good man... but he treated me far better than my own father ever did."
Kai gave her a slight nod, his jaw tightening. His stomach burned with the weight of the truth he hadn’t spoken. The king had begged him, pleaded, not to tell her yet. Kai didn’t owe that man anything, especially not his silence. But still, he couldn’t bring himself to add another burden to her heart. Not now. Not when she was already carrying so much. She was too innocent, too pure. He wouldn’t be the one to let hatred or vengeance taint her soul.