Page 43 of Of Songs and Silence

He looks away. “I was hoping I was wrong.”

“You aren’t,” I tell him bluntly.

A few of the nobles swim past, their haughty expressions narrowing on us in suspicion. Kane stretches and leans back against the wall, pretending to study one of the books on the shelves.

“Great,” he says once they’re gone, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Shall I just start torturing you myself, then? Or would you prefer to wait for our king’s gentle touch?”

“I have it under control,” I lie.

Nothing feels remotely controlled where she’s concerned.

“Sure you do,” he says with a shake of his head. “Well I should be off. Kindly send word if I should expect to come home to your severed limbs rotting in a cage. You know I like to be prepared.”

“I’m not sure how you’d like me to convey that message from said cage,” I respond in an equally nonchalant tone. “But I’ll certainly do my best.”

“Have Napo bring a note,” he suggests, and I roll my eyes.

Then, his expression turns more genuine and he places a hand on my shoulder, the closest thing to affection Mayima show one another.

“Just be careful, Cousin.”

I nod curtly. “And you as well. Tell the family I said hello.”

“Consider your message delivered.”

He swims away as quickly as he had come, and I try not to wonder if the next time we see each other, there will be bars in between us.

One way or the other.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

MELODI

Kala’ni Danica is nothing like my mother.

She is reserved and cautious. While there is still an iciness that coats her words, she is not as cold as her sister or her father, which is a relief in itself. By the time my lessons are over, though, she seems just as eager to escape the library as I am.

Once we’re safely behind my doors, I let my shields down more than I’ve allowed myself to all day. My stomach growls as my gaze rakes over the tray of food on the bed. I don’t wait before helping myself to some of the seaweed wrapped scallops.

Ari doesn’t leave right away like I was expecting. Instead, he shifts closer, and the proximity warms me from the inside out.

When he speaks though, it’s not what I was expecting him to say.

“Kane is getting word to your sisters.”

A curious mix of relief and dread settles over me.

I don’t know how I feel about Kane, but he obviously means a lot to Ari, and I can’t handle the idea of anyone getting hurt because of me. Images of the woman with her missing hand assault me, and I force them out of my mind.

Mother may well do worse to my sisters if they go to Delphine for me. So I don’t argue, don’t ask him to call Kane back.

Perhaps I am more my mother’s daughter than I realize. Or perhaps fear turns us all into monsters.

Either way, the food turns to ash in my mouth.

Ari gives me an inscrutable look, and I wonder how many of those thoughts he’s heard. If he thinks less of me for them.

“Peace, Kala,” he says. “We all do what we must in order to protect the people we love.”

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