Page 118 of The Chaosweaver's Daughter
“I think you can call him Ehmet . . .”
The shadow of a smile flitted across her face, and Kas nearly leaned in to kiss her, but the timing was too poor.
“He tried to kiss me, got mad when I pushed him away,” she explained.
“I’m sorry, I misread that situation, argued with you about it. I shouldhave been there to protect you. I wasn’t there to protect you.”
“I don’t need protecting.”
“I know you don’t, but I want to.”
She squeezed his hand, and they sat there in silence for a minute, processing everything, thinking through details.
Always appreciative of a good summary, Kas’s reasonable suspicions poured from his mouth, “I’m almost positive Nekash coerced Rihan into stealing your blood and the king’s. Nekash will donate his own. When the runes show Ehmet is related to both of you, and you’re not a relation of Nekash’s... Ehmet’s reign will be over. The prince is going to prove his brother illegitimate and take the crown.”
“Nekash istryingto prove Ehmet illegitimate,” she bit out. “He won’t succeed. You said Hevva’s riding south? She’ll get there in time. She’ll fix this. They’ll fix this.”
“I hope so.” Kas turned onto his side to pull Nesrina toward him. Curling up, she burrowed into his chest with their interlocked hands nestled between their bodies. Gently, he scratched her back.
“But Ehmet’s a fantastic leader. Nekash would be awful for Selwas.”
“I agree. And that’s why this can’t get out. Not now, likely not ever. It means we have to keep letting the masses believe chaosweaving’s a mutation Are you all right with that?”
With a nod that rubbed her hair against his chin, she released his hand. Kas feared she was going to pull away, but she pressed her palm against his chest and left it there. “Your heartbeat is calming,” she murmured.
“You’re tired.”
“So tired.”
She glanced up at him, and he pecked her on the forehead before imploring, “Nes, I need to hear you say it. We cannot tell asoulabout this.”
She mimed locking her lips and tossing away the key. Then, she reached up with her bandaged arms, clasped the sides of his face, and pulled him down to press a firm kiss against his forehead.
Kas tipped his head up at the last possible moment and captured her lips. One slow, searing embrace later, he released her with a hushed, “You need to sleep.”
“Yes.”
She must’ve been exhausted to not argue on that front, when there were so many things they could continue to discuss... like herother“yes.”
“I’m going to let you rest for a while, and I need to send a letter after Hevva with more information.”
“What are you going to say?Howare you going to tell her?”
“I have a few ideas. I’ll ask after Nekash, which will stand out as incongruous to her but not to anyone else. And I’ll include the symposium program with a note that makes a clear reference to theridiculous and unbelievablesession on fae blood magic. We chatted about it briefly before she left—she already knows I have suspicions. But everything you said confirms it. Maybe I’ll ask after Ehmet and reference his blood loss. That should do the trick. Hev’s not dumb, she’ll catch on.”
Nes nodded, sleepily. Her eyes were struggling to remain open.
“Rest, please. I’ll check on you in a few hours. I have a couple quick things to take care of.” He winked.
She smiled softly as she settled against the pillows. “Come back for me?”
“Of course. And if I haven’t, come find me yourself. I know you will.”
“I will. Promise.”
forty-one
Nesrina does some reading.
