Realm of the Chosen: A Reverse Harem Romance

Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

The rain had let up for a little while a few hours ago, but now, as Cassius stood in the hallway near the door that led to the barn and Kit’s favorite garden, it was pouring again. At least there was no lightning or thunder this time. He prayed, wherever she was, she was safe.

He’d been in the Representative’s room that morning, visiting with several of the other men, when his liegeman had come to tell him Snowduster was missing. Ral had said that, during a break in the rain, he’d gone out to the barn to check on him, and the steed was gone. The stable boys assured him there was nothing to worry about, but they wouldn’t tell him who had taken the prize stallion.

Cassius had run out to see for himself, and when he noticed a few other boys washing off Belle’s hooves, he had an idea what had happened. He would’ve ridden after her if he hadn’t also noticed Aeros’s stall was empty. So... wherever the fair lady who had absconded with his horse had gone off to, he had to believe she was in capable hands.

That didn’t make the waiting any easier. He was aware Kit was infatuated with that house in the woods, though why or what it was, he had no idea. He’d gathered the notion that she used to go there with Eli when they were younger, but to him, that seemed like a silly reason to go riding off to visit it in a rainstorm. As well as he had gotten to know the princess, there was still much he did not understand. He was willing to take as much time as necessary, though, because he was quite certain he was already in love with her.

So he was willing to stand there and wait, no matter how long it took for her to reappear. A few of the others had come to check on him, Jate and Landon, Reeve and Danyen, but they all knew he was the one who needed to be there waiting when she came back, and despite their longing to be with her just as much as he did, they respected it. The horse was his, and right now, the girl would be his, too, unless she came riding in with a grin alongside Eli and it turned out she didn’t need Cassius after all, but he had a feeling that wouldn’t be the case.

He spotted the horse before he made out the rider. Through the haze, across the mud and muck, he saw a glimmer of white appeared between the distant trees. She was alone, although he had a feeling the commander couldn’t be far off, even if Kit didn’t know it. Once she reached the castle grounds, he took off for the barn, thankful the rain had let up some though there was no doubting he’d be drenched by the time they got back inside. Luckily, he was wearing dark blue and not anything that couldn’t be incinerated later if necessary.

The moment she noticed him, her eyes widened. He could see it even from far away, and a smile came to her face. She sped Snowduster up and rode him hard, which was no problem since he was anxious to see his rightful owner as well. The horse sprang to a stop in front of him, and he moved around the side to help her down. “There you are, you horse wrangler,” he teased, grabbing her around the waist and lifting her off into his arms.

Kit wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and the uncomfortableness of standing in two inches of mud in the rain all melted away. “I’m sorry,” she said into his neck. “I didn’t think you’d mind. I tried to take Belle, but the mud was too thick....”

He cut her off. “You’re forgiven.” He tilted his head up, and she came down to meet him, their lips brushing together in a sweet kiss. He could tell something was wrong, and it wasn’t just her wet clothing that had her upset. “We should get you inside.”

“You can put me down.” She smiled at him, and he reluctantly sat her on her feet, sliding her hand down his arm to intertwine her fingers in his.

Already, the stable hands were moving to get the horse out of the rain. Cassius petted his nose lovingly and then led Kit back to the castle, thankful she was back safely. She sneezed, which alarmed him, but she brushed it aside like it was nothing. “Is everything all right?” he asked, hoping she would know it wasn’t just about a potential cold.

“Not in the least,” she admitted, and her shoulders slumped to show it. “I can’t talk about most of it, though.”

“Eli didn’t... hurt you did he?”

“Not physically,” she said quickly. “Not intentionally.”

The fact that he had hurt her at all made a ball of anger well up inside of him, but Cassius kept it at bay, knowing the quarrel was not his, and Kit was able to manage herself. Still, the idea that anyone would harm her in anyway made him furious.

“I think I should like to take a hot bath and leave all of it behind me,” she said with a loud sigh as they reached the porch. He pulled the door open for her, and they made their way down the hall.

“If there’s anything I can do...” he began, but as soon as they rounded the corner, his words caught in his throat. At the end of the hall stood the queen and several of her guards. This was worse than he had thought.

Kit exhaled slowly, as if she were trying to control her breathing and failing. Her eyes flickered from her mother, dressed all in red velvet, a substantial crown on her head, and Cassius’s face.

“Katrinetta, come with me at once.”

“Yes, Mother,” she replied, both of them bowing slightly at the ruler. Before she stepped forward, she tugged on his arm. “Will you go to my chambers and ask my ladies to start a hot bath for me? I am hopeful this will not take long.”

“Yes, of course.” The fact that her mother wouldn’t even allow her to change out of her dripping wet clothing didn’t seem fair, not that he could question the queen.

“Thank you.” She smiled at him with her eyes and took a step in the queen’s direction before she turned back and whispered, “Wait for me?”

He tried to keep his grin contained so that the queen wouldn’t see it, but he nodded at the princess, and Kit headed off toward her mother, her head bowed, a streak of water trailing her down the marble hallway.

Queen Rona walked at least fifteen steps ahead of Kit the entire distance to her throne room, which was so far away from her own chambers, Kit always felt like she was in a parade or taking a constitutional by the time she got there. Her mother turned down a side hallway headed for her private throne room, which was less intimidating than the larger one she used for visiting dignitaries and other important events, like meting out justice. The smaller room was more intimate but just as highly decorated, and Kit was slightly embarrassed to be dripping rain water all over the red carpet.

Her mother took a seat on her throne, waving her hand at the guards, who closed the doors behind them, and Kit lowered her head, waiting patiently for her mother to give the signal that she may rise. After thrusting her ring in front of her daughter’s face, letting Kit kiss it, and then taking several more beats of silence just for her own amusement, Rona said, “Rise, daughter.”

Kit straightened up the best she could, suddenly very aware that her stay was missing. Perhaps her mother wouldn’t notice, what with all the sogginess everywhere. Whatever it was her mother wished to ask her, she prayed to all the goddesses above she managed to answer without getting Eli in trouble and hopefully without having to lie to her mother. The queen was accomplished when it came to discerning untruths.

“Where have you been?” Rona rolled her thumb and first finger around in a circle like she was holding a miniscule object, her red fingernails looking a bit too much like claws.

“Out for a ride in the forest,” Kit replied, trying to keep her tone nonchalant. “I felt cooped up inside after all the rain.”

“It’s still raining,” the queen reminded her.

“Yes, Mother, I know it is now. But it wasn’t when I left this morning.”

Rona considered her statement and then asked, “Have you seen Eliason?”

Kit’s eyebrows raised. She was getting straight to the point—unusual for her mother, the queen. “I saw him this morning, in the dining hall.” It wasn’t a lie, not exactly. “He didn’t go with me on the ride.”

Twisting her head to the side so that she was peering at her daughter out of one eye, Rona studied her. Kit tried not to swallow too hard or blink too heavily. “Did you see him in the woods?”

“No, I didn’t.” Also not a lie. They had been in the house the entire time she’d been looking at him....

“Funny you should both go missing at the same time....”

“Mother, it honestly doesn’t surprise me at all. Eli is always concerned about my well-being. Knowing him, he followed me at a distance, just to keep me safe. I don’t know for certain if you saw me arrive back at the castle, but I know your guards must have. I was alone, wasn’t I? Cassius met me out by the barn, but I haven’t seen Eli.” She stopped short of saying “for a while.” Obviously, she had seen Eli. It was up to the queen to determine what length of time she was referring to.

“Where did you go?” She was agitated now, not liking the answers she was getting. Clearly, she’d hoped to turn this into something, though what she had in mind, Kit wasn’t certain. It wasn’t as if Kit couldn’t spend time with Eli. He was a Representative, after all.

“I told you, Your Majesty. I went for a ride in the woods. It started to rain too hard; I turned back.”

“You didn’t go anywhere specific?”

“I went out near the stream, the one we crossed the other day when we were hunting Frick. But it was swollen with rainwater, so I didn’t tarry long. I rode around a bit. Snowduster is a magnificent beast. You should ride him sometime. I’m sure Cassius would love it if you did.” Kit was doing her best to throw her mother off now. “When I started to sneeze, I headed home. I wish I’d planned a little better. A hooded cape would’ve gone a long way toward keeping me dry.” She glanced down at her gown, thinking it was likely ruined. Burning it would not hurt her feelings in the least after the day she’d had.

Rona stopped rolling her fingers and adjusted in her chair. “Katrinetta, are you telling me you didn’t go out to that blasted house in the woods, the one I warned you never to visit again?”

“House?” It was no use trying to avoid outright lying now. She’d have to. Or tell the truth and suffer the consequences. She’d plead ignorance. “What house?”

“Surely, you remember. You used to ride out there with Eli. A ruined, old thing, falling down. Pierce was asking about it today.”

“Pierce?” The fact that his task had gotten back to the queen infuriated Kit, but she couldn’t show it. “Mother, Pierce is doing all he can to try to impress me with his knowledge of all things related to Wrenbrook and my life here. I have no idea why he might think I’d want to know about an old burned out house. He’s an odd fellow....” A look of dissatisfaction crossed her mother’s face, and she remembered the queen was fond of Pierce. “But I have decided to give him an opportunity. Tomorrow night. After the play.”

At this news, her mother’s eyes lit up. “I’m glad to hear that, Katrinetta. He is a fine young man.”

“Yes, he is.” She bit the inside of her cheek, hoped her mother didn’t notice, and let it go. “I’m certain he was only trying to be useful. He told me just the other day that he thought the rains may have delayed my new lady. When can we be expecting her? I do hope she makes it before the labyrinth run.”

“Yes, I am hopeful that she will make it in time as well. It should be a wonderful time.” The queen’s face lit up and Kit imagined she was thinking about watching all the Representatives chase the noblewomen through the maze. Kit had been out to the labyrinth several times when she was younger, and it was always a good time. For her own event, she was already working on a strategy so as not to get caught.

Kit sneezed a few times, and her mother’s nose twitched. “Pardon me.” Kit wished she still had Eli’s handkerchief, but she didn’t. And even if she did, she couldn’t use it in front of her mother, although she was fairly certain there were no identifiable markers on it.

“Are you getting ill? Katrinetta—if you come down sick after all of that gallivanting....”

“No, Mother. I’m not.” She had no idea how she meant to protest catching a cold, but she refused to do so. “I’ve asked Cassius to tell my ladies to draw a warm bath.”

Queen Rona settled back into her chair, her expression relaying that this may have been the first sensible thing her daughter had done in years. “Very well. You should head back to your room.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Kit bowed her head but waited, certain her mother wasn’t through.

“Cassius is a good man, Katrinetta. Pierce is as well. There are others. Give them a chance. Don’t waste all of your time on a man who isn’t good enough for you, who wouldn’t be able to put his own needs aside and serve you. Strong will, leadership, intelligence, those are all fine skills to have as a commander of men, but those are not the talents you are looking for in a duke.”

Kit waited until her mother was finished and then nodded in understanding. She had received the message—loud and clear. “Mother, you may want to know, Eli and I had a quarrel recently. It was over something silly, but I thought it might make you feel... relieved to know we are on the outs, at least at the moment.”

A soft grin of satisfaction pulled back the corners of her mother’s mouth. It was the closest thing to a smile Kit had seen from the queen in a long time. “I’m sorry to hear that,” she said, but her eyes said differently.

Shrugging in indifference, Kit bowed her head again. Her mother need not know that her heart felt less than whole any time Eli wasn’t fully in it. “Will that be all, my Queen?”

“Yes, daughter. You may go.” Rona waved her hand, and Kit backed to the door, thankful when her feet crossed the threshold into the hallway and her mother’s guards closed the doors between them. She didn’t look at their faces—they were all the same to her. Evil men who would do whatever the queen said without thinking twice about the moral implications. The only one who ever stuck out in her mind was the one with the jagged scar and that was because the wickedness radiating off of him was even more profuse than the others.

Kit turned to see two of her own guards waiting for her and smiled up at them. They both nodded, not showing their own joy at serving the princess while in front of the Queen’s Guard, and then they all moved back down the hallway together, Kit half a step ahead of them.

Once they rounded the corner, she breathed a sigh of relief. Despite her soaked gown and her difficult day, she was happy to be back among friends. “Tem, Lok, how are you today?”

“Glad to be in your service, my Princess,” Tem replied. He was older than Kit, possibly in his thirties, with a full red beard and curly hair. He had a wife and two children, and Kit often thought of him like an older brother whenever he was on duty, he was always so paternal and kind.

She turned to Lok, a dark haired fellow who had only started working in the guard a few months before her Choosing began. He couldn’t have been much older than her. “Are you having a fine day?”

“I was happy to see the rain slow down for a bit,” he replied.

Kit agreed, although she might’ve added she wished it had stopped for as long as she had anticipated when she’d left the castle. She waited until they were nearly to her chambers before she quietly asked, “Have either of you seen the commander recently... since I’ve returned to the castle?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Tem said, and by his tone, Kit could tell there was something wrong. “He went to the infirmary as soon as he returned.”

Kit stopped in her tracks. “Is everything all right?”

“I believe so, Princess. Galter insisted he go. They came in together. I believe he may have inhaled some smoke. I’m not quite sure.”

“Smoke?” Kit asked. She knew she’d doused the fire.

“Yes, apparently the Queen’s Guard set a structure on fire in the woods, and he meant to put it out. Or something of that nature.”

Her heart stopped for a moment, and Kit’s hand went to her chest. Leave it to her mother to make sure she never went out there again! Poor Eli, having to watch his house burn for a second time.

“Are you all right, Your Highness?” Lok asked, concern in his voice.

“Yes. I’m fine. I’ll be fine, thank you.” She walked the rest of the way to her chambers in silence, hoping Eli wasn’t hurt—physically or emotionally. But something told her the latter would be far more scarring than any smoke inhalation or burns he may suffer from.