Page 37 of A Kingdom of Lies

“Then that’s what we do,” I agreed. “Wait until the rescue party comes and you –weget away.”

There was no ignoring the way Althea’s shoulders relaxed as relief settled over her. Forcing a smile, I fought hard to make sure my eyes screamed with sincerity, but one glance at Gyah and I could see that she didn’t believe the mask I put on. She kept silent though, which I was thankful for. Gyah knew I would not go. Althea, perhaps, wished to believe I would give up on this path so easily.

You would be wrong, friend.

“I feel like death chewed me up, spat me out and then came back for seconds.” Althea lay back, closing her eyes with a slight hiss through her teeth. “Allow me to be the bossy princess I was destined to be and let me sleep. This salve is wearing off as quickly as my nerves and I admit I cannot cope with the pain.”

“Let me help you,” Gyah said before Althea finished her next breath, reaching for the brown-glass pot of lumpy cream liquid that rested upon the oaken drawers at the bedside. And Althea did not refuse. “It would be wrong to allow such abossy princessto apply her own medicine. How very beneath you.”

“Gyah, never in all the years I have known you, have you harboured such sarcasm,” Althea retorted. “It suits you.”

“Robin is rubbing off on me,” Gyah said with a smile, throwing back the sheets to reveal an angry, yellow, wet wound across Althea’s thigh. Her grin faltered the moment her golden eyes laid upon Althea’s wound. Even now, remnants of the Hunter’s salve were dried across her skin. The sheets were stained green with pus that seeped slowly from the dark wound, but it was the smell that had my empty stomach nearly spilling what little was left across the floor.

“It doesn’t feel right not knowing what is in this.” Gyah dug her fingers into the pot and pulled out a glob. Carefully she slopped it atop of the wound, whispering an apology as Althea released a long curse.

“Not like there is much chance for me to be concerned.” It was clear Althea was in more agony than I first imagined. Red-hot veins spread from the wound, the skin around it inflamed and leaking. “The relief it gives me is far stronger than the pain that iron bolt offered.”

I moved to the side of her bed, carefully brushing red strands of hair from her forehead as Gyah worked at covering every ugly inch of the wound with cream. “I may not trust a single person outside that door, but Idobelieve they won’t let you die on their watch. You, Althea Cedarfall, are far too valuable.”

“My blood is valuable,” Althea corrected.

“You are valuable,” Gyah looked up, mouth drawn with tension.

Althea let the words settle over her, more so the emotion behind them. If I noticed, so did she.

“I need more time to speak with Duncan, one-to-one,” I said, feigning confidence when the idea of being in a room with him again displeased me. “He has answers, and seems to be willing to share them.”

“He shouldn’t be trusted,” Gyah said, as if that was a fact I hadn’t already worked out.

“Is that why you left me with him this morning?” I replied, watching heat flood Gyah’s cheeks. “If Duncan wanted me dead, or any of us, it would have been done. That must stand for something.”

“Be wary,” Gyah murmured, focusing back on the task at hand. “I believe Duncan has a lick of restraint, but that doesn’t negate from the fact that he is the most dangerous of them all.”

“Is that why you left me with him?” I asked, eyes narrowed. “Because you sense he has control over his desire to harm me?”

“No. I didn’t realise he would stay behind. He took me to Althea, we left you in the room. If I’d known he was going to come straight back to you, I would never have left.” Gyah stiffened. “He offered to take me to Althea, and as much as I care about you, she is my duty…”

My duty and my pleasure. The words, Erix’s words, rocked through my core. They pierced my heart, reminding me just how shattered and broken it was.

I lowered my head, not wanting them to see the shift in my mood. “I understand. But I also think Duncan is different from the other Hunters.” I blinked, visions of the hungry expressions that stained the many faces of the Hunters as they watched the five figures take their own lives filled my head.

“Regardless if he prays to Duwar or not, heisstill one of them,” Althea hissed, followed by another breathy apology from Gyah.

There was nothing likable about Duncan, but I still found myself hoping that his control over the Hunters in Finstock remained long enough for us to survive whatever was to come. Whatever this Duwar stood for, I was willing to bet that the hate for our kind was mixed within the faith. It was an unconfirmed hunch, one I couldn’t put aside. There would come a time when answers would be required. We needed to know more about the Hunters and Duwar before breaking bread with the mouthpiece of the so-called god that drove people to end their lives in his name.

Perhaps Duncan had those answers. He wanted to show me the blood rite for a reason. Maybe as a warning, or maybe something more. There was only one way to find out.

“Can I sleep now?” Althea asked, voice a murmur, her eyes already closed. “You both should rest too. We need as much strength as possible.”

Without opening her eyes, Althea patted her hand across the bed until her fingers slipped over Gyah’s arm. She grasped her, brows furrowing and pale lips parting. “Just… do not leave my side, Gyah.”

Gyah took a sharp inhale of breath, sucking air through her teeth before replying. “I wouldn’t dare.”

“Then I do not need to order it?”

“No, it would be a wasted one,” Gyah replied. “I will not be going anywhere. I said it is my duty.”

“Duty…” Althea huffed, a weak smile presenting itself across her beautiful face. “You make it sound like I am forcing you.”

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