Page 27 of Fearless

Well, not quite my father. Just the man who raised me.

At that sudden thought, Calum’s brows rise slightly in surprise. I sigh, shaking my head. “I’ll explain later. But for now… thank you. For everything.” I return his nod with another small smile. “I just wanted you to hear me say it out loud.”

My eyes trail over Calum’s shoulder, finding Kitt and Kai conversing softly. I step aside, gesturing for them to continue their murmuring in the study behind me. Kitt nods in silent agreement, striding past to take a seat behind his desk. Calum follows quietly, leaving only Kai standing before the doorway.

He had carried me up into the castle, started the fire that warmed my numb limbs. Then he’d kissed my forehead and slipped out the door, likely dealing with more pressing Enforcer duties than the crumbling queen-to-be.

He watches me now, an ache in his gaze that mirrors my own. I want nothing more than to be held by him, enveloped in the comfort of his arms. He is a weakness I am not supposed to indulge in. Not in this life, at least.

I can’t imagine what he sees in this moment. Likely running makeup and dirt-stained cheeks. Tangled hair and blood-drenched skin I’m struggling to ignore. And yet, he looks at me with a relieved sort of adoration, ensuring I’m all right with a lingering swipe of his gaze.

Our fingers brush as he steps past, leaving me standing in the doorway. I take a long, steadying breath before turning to retake my seatbeside the fire. Only then do I allow my thoughts to stray back to the horrors I’d seen. My sharp words cut through the men’s conversation with ease. “What the hell happened out there?”

Kai leans against the desk, shaking his head. “The explosions came from man-made bombs. Six of them. I haven’t seen those since—”

“The first Trial ball,” I finish for him. My gaze lands on Calum. “Only the Resistance had use for those. Why go through all the trouble of making bombs when an Ignite could do just as much damage?”

Lowering himself into a chair, Calum sighs. “If I had to guess, I would say that this attack was meant to be a message more than anything.”

“All that for a message?” I hiss. “Innocent people died.”

Kitt coughs into his fist, likely due to the inhaled smoke. “How many casualties, Kai?”

“Nine. So far.” My eyes fall shut as he adds a low, “But dozens are injured and being tended to by Healers.”

My eyes flutter open to the sight of Kitt rubbing a hand down his face. “Do continue, Calum. I’d like to hear this theory.”

“Well, it wasn’t an attack on the royals themselves.” Calum gestures around the room to our very much alive bodies. “Which leads me to believe that this was an attack on the meaning behind the parade. On… well, the future of this kingdom.”

“There won’tbea future if our borders remain closed, and Ordinaries remain banished,” Kitt huffs under his breath.

“The people don’t want Paedyn as their queen.”

I swivel toward the foreign voice, finding a minty head of hair in the doorway. The court’s spokesman steps into the room, his clothing finely pressed against dark skin.

“Ah, Easel, welcome.” Kitt gestures toward him while addressing the rest of us. “As head of my court, I figured it best to hear what he has to say on the matter. Or rather, what the people are saying.”

“Your Majesty.” Easel tips his head toward the king. “The people are in a state of unrest.”

“They don’t want an Ordinary as their queen,” I say bitterly.

“Well, you did kill the king that ensured an Elite society,” Kitt mutters.

Calum, his voice distant, adds, “And that is not the only royal you have killed.”

My eyes dart to his. “What are you talking about?”

He opens his mouth quickly, folding stiff arms behind his back. “A piece of Kitt died that day, did it not?” Gesturing in the direction of the west tower, he adds solemnly, “Along with the king’s wife, now sick with grief.”

Guilt sinks its teeth into my chest, gnawing at my conscience. For the first time, I feel a twinge of shame for bestowing death upon the king. Not for his sake, but for those around him.

“You’re right.” Swallowing, I glance over at the brothers, having wounded them both in very different ways. “I am sorry, again. For the hurt I caused you, Kitt.” My gaze flicks to the Enforcer beside him. “And for the grief that has sickened your mother.”

There is a long, contemplative pause from the three of them. Kai nods his forgiveness as Kitt breaks the unbearable silence. “Thank you, Paedyn.” The words are stiff, but spoken, nonetheless. And within the next breath, he’s returned diligently to the conversation at hand. “So, why not go after Paedyn if she is what they see as the problem?”

It’s Easel who answers. “This is now much bigger than her, my King. The whole kingdom has been suddenly told to welcome Ordinaries when they now barely tolerate the multiplying Mundanes. No matter the reasoning, most refuse to accept this.”

“Do they not realize what is at stake here?” I scoff. “Ilya will fall without resources.”

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