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Rian shrugged again. This time, he couldn’t hide the hiss that escaped as the muscles tightened from the slight movement. “Just because I am the king does not mean he should go easy on me.”

“Go easy on you?” Kallie reached out a hand.

Rian leaned away, and her hand fell to her side.

Kallie’s brows furrowed. “You’re hurt, Rian.”

“It’s nothing,” he said. Pain, however, laced each word.

“Fine,” Kallie said, taking the hint that Rian did not wish to talk about this matter publicly. She smoothed a hand down the silk fabric of her dress, straightening it. “Where are you off to now?”

Rain sighed. “My rooms. I need to clean up before my next meeting with some of my advisors.”

Kallie nodded. “I’ll walk with you.”

“I don’t need—”

“Nonsense,” Kallie said with a smile as she wrapped her arm around his. “I know you are more than capable of walking to your room by yourself. Is it a crime if your betrothed wishes to steal a few minutes with you alone before your advisors take you away from me again?”

Rian chuckled, but Kallie could still hear the hesitancy in the sound.

“And, if I am honest, I still get turned around when walking the castle. So, in truth, you would be doing me a favor,” Kallie added, squeezing his arm.

Rian offered a small smile, some of the tension releasing from his muscles. “If you insist, my lady.”

Gods be damned if someone saw the king needing help,Kallie thought with an inward roll of her eyes.Men and their egos.

And although his words suggested otherwise, Kallie knew the king was thankful for her assistance as he leaned into her.

They strolled through the halls, discussing various topics, such as the weather, Rian’s past travels, and the status of the wedding. As they walked, Kallie kept peering at the growing bruises on his skin and the dirt on his clothes. And even though she knew better, she couldn’t help the rising concern. She did not like Sebastian. Every encounter with the prince only made her detest him even more. The recent conversation with Sebastian echoed in her mind. She had heard the jealousy in his voice, the anger.

My brother is no more a king than you will be a queen.

While Sebastian put on a good act in front of the others, there was animosity between the brothers. Even if it was merely one-sided.

Either way, she didn’t trust him.

Once Kallie and Rian reached the king’s door, Rian released Kallie’s arm and opened the door to his room.

Kallie didn’t hesitate, and she entered the room behind him.

With a confused look, Rian paused just past the threshold, hesitating with his hand wrapped around the edge of the door.

“Rian,” Kallie said, arching a brow. She placed a hand over his chest where the tip of a blade had sliced his shirt open. “Let me help you.”

“But—” Rian’s brows furrowed, confliction a deep wrinkle in the center of his forehead. His eyes closed, his shoulders dropped, and he released a soft, strained breath. “All right.”

Rian stepped away, and Kallie walked into the king’s private quarters. The door clicked shut behind them.

Similar to her own accommodations, the king’s quarters opened up to a grand sitting room. On the southern wall, there was a beautiful hearth, and a black mantel was nailed to the cobblestone wall. Various items sat atop the mantel, including a small globe and a golden sculpture of a dragon. Across from the fireplace sat a black leather couch with cushions that were unwrinkled as if they had never been sat on.

On the opposite wall, a large mahogany desk occupied the majority of the space with an extravagant rug beneath it. Two twin chairs sat on one side of the desk, which were made from the same wood and adorned with velvet wine-red cushions and black jeweled buttons lining the edges. The top of Rian’s desk was covered with maps, loose parchment, and books that overflowed onto the floors. It was so unlike her father’s study, which was kept meticulously clean, not a single item out of place. Only once had Kallie seen pages scattered across Domitius’ desk.

Rian cleared his throat.

Kallie looked over to him with a sweet smile. “Where’s the washing room?”

Rian arched a brow in question.