Page 38 of A Rose Among Snakes

“I told him I would not be a kept woman, and he needed to figure out a different plan, or that’s it.” Her jaw was set, but in the mirror, her lip trembled. I paused what I was doing and looked at the eighteen year old woman in front of me. Though she was six years younger than me, she bore a grief that sometimes made her seem older, like there was no gap in our ages. This sad, vulnerable side was not one she let show often, and it broke my heart. A single tear fell from her eye and she swiped it away as I placed my hands on both her shoulders and squeezed, leaning down to rest my cheek atop her head. Kezara responded by patting my hand and taking a deep breath.

“It will be fine. No matter what, I will befine.” She sounded as if she didn’t quite believe it yet. “Distract me. Tell me what youdid while I was gone.”

I straightened and got back to work on her hair. “Well, I took a bath, and your brother interrupted-”

“What?”

“Yes, I know. Thankfully, the bathing room door was mostly shut, but he did come into the bedroom because I didn’t answer the door when he knocked.”

“Why? What did he want?” Kezara’s lip was curled with disgust.

“He was checking on us before he turned in for the night.”

“Where did you tell him I was?”

“I said you were out exploring the castle. I think he was too uncomfortable to ask further questions.”

“Heavens, I’m sorry, Mihrra.”

“It’s alright,” I said, chuckling. I finished up her hair and helped her out of her gown. Kezara crawled into bed, and I made my way back to the sofa.

“Are you really going to sleep there?” Kezara asked.

“Yes, it’s quite comfortable, honestly.”

“If you insist.”

I blew out the candles and the fire remained as the only source of light as I wrapped up in a blanket and settled onto the sofa.

“Remember the look on Fingley’s face when I told him you would be sleeping in here with me?” Kezara snorted with laughter, “I’m sure he’d never heard of that before.”

“No, I’m sure he hadn’t,” I agreed.

“He’s probably never known any employers to be friends with their staff.”

I snickered. “I don’t think your brother is paying me to be your friend.”

“True, it’s just a little bonus for you.” Kezara paused before muttering, “I don’t think he planned on paying someone only to fall in love with her either.”

I froze. “What did you say?”

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed all the stolen glances between you two.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “He looks at you differently.”

My whole body was heating up with embarrassment. “I have no idea what you mean,” I said, grateful it was dark and she couldn’t see me blushing.

“You can pretend you’re immune, but I see it all, Mihrra.” Kezara yawned and rustled under her covers.

“You’re tired, you’re speaking nonsense.”

Kezara chuckled and repeated, “I see it all.” She went silent as she gave in to sleep, but I was wide awake then.

Kezara had to be wrong. He was only being polite to me like he was to everyone else—and yet, he was uncharacteristically cold toward me sometimes. I lost track of how many times I’d found myself wracking my brain to think of how I might have offended him.

I closed my eyes, but I only saw his face; a crooked smirk melting into a dazzling smile, rich brown hair normally swept back but falling forward into his green eyes. I remembered the feel of his arms as he held me close and let me cry; how strong yet gentle his embrace was, and how safe I felt near him. I could brush offthe charged emotion in that embrace due to the life-threatening circumstances, but then I recalled the way he looked at my lips after I said I owed him. I couldn’t deny there was a spark.

At some point, my arguing with myself dissipated enough for me to sleep fitfully until our breakfast arrived the following morning.

Chapter Twenty-One

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