Page 88 of Forsaken Secrets

33

Kaiya

We stepped outside the front gates and I couldn't help whispering, "It worked! It actually worked, Eli."

"Shh. Kaiya. A little further, please?" His voice was strained, and he kept looking behind us.

He must be more worried than I thought.

Nodding, I tried to walk at a sedate pace, without drawing attention, until we were free of the crowd that had gathered outside. A sharp rattling sound made me look up, and I gasped as a tall black carriage rolled past … only it wasn't pulled by any horses. "A mechanical coach?" I muttered, watching as it came to a stop at the edge of the crowd.

Was that why they'd gathered? Who could be inside that would draw so much attention? I wanted to stop and ask someone, but Eli tugged on my elbow again and we turned a corner just as the carriage door opened and a single booted foot stepped out.

Whoever they were, they were obviously wealthy and important … perhaps a visitor from the Capital?

"Now can I talk?" I asked, glaring at Eli.

"I suppose," he said, shaking his head. "And here I thought I was the reckless one!"

I didn't care, though. My plan had worked. Against all odds, it had worked. I spun to face him and threw my arms around his neck. "IT WORKED!! I cannot believe it worked!"

Eli chuckled, the sound reverberating through his chest and then mine, reminding me we were close — too close to be proper. It made my chest ache in a way I wasn't entirely comfortable with.

I stepped back and brushed off my skirts, cheeks warm, then looked back up at him. "Thank you, Eli. Without you — this would have been a very different day."

His eyes crinkled at the corners and he leaned in, breath soft on my cheek. "Should we go to the ruins and celebrate before you go home? I could grab a treat for us from the confectionary … and then we could cut through the beach by the fort. A little moonlight picnic by the bay sounds fun. Doesn't it?"

Heart light, I shook my head and met his eyes. "I'd love to, but I really need to go tell my aunt."

"What about Lynk? Gods, I don't want to tell him!" Eli's nose wrinkled, and I had to smile.

"Well then, we won't. Let's just keep it to ourselves for tonight. When he tells us his plans, we'll tell him we already have it solved! Can you imagine how surprised he'll be?"

Eli nodded. "I really wish we'd talked to him first, though."

I grimaced. The last thing we needed was that barbarian stomping all over our plans. He'd been so controlling when he left us at that beach, and I just wanted to prove that we were capable, too!

He'd have to admit it after this.

"I'll walk you home then," Eli said, voice sunny.

I quirked a brow at him. "You think I don't know my way?"

"No, but it's getting late and my aunt and uncle would kill me if they knew I let you go home alone, regardless of how capable you are."

"Be careful now, Eli. Else they're going to think you took their requests seriously, and are courting me." His jaw dropped, and I tried not to laugh. "Don't worry! You're safe from my oh so dangerous womanly wiles."

"You know. They're only pushing because they haven't seen how you look at Lynk," he said, winking.

I tried to laugh, but the sound caught in my throat. "You're pretty fantastic too, you know."

He swallowed and looked into my eyes.

Confused by what I saw there, I looked away. A hackney rolled up beside us, stopping in front of a little tea shop. The door opened and an older gentleman in a top hat stepped out, followed by a woman with silver hair and a lovely violet gown. She held out her hand as she descended, and he pulled her to him. They linked arms and walked into the shop, heads bent together as they laughed.

I slipped a hand into my pocket, felt the silver coin there, then grinned.

Spinning around, I grabbed Eli's elbow and pulled him to the waiting coach. "Today is a special day and we shouldn't have to trek all the way across the city and bridge!"

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