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“So I can grab a rag and a pail of water,” she said.

Rian waved her off. “You don’t need to do that.”

“Enough of that, Rian. It’s just the two of us.”

Rian chewed on the inside of his cheek, then nodded. “Through there and to the right.” Rian pointed to a door that was cracked open.

Kallie headed that way while Rian unbuttoned the leather strap around his waist holding his sword. Metal clanged behind her as he tossed it onto the floor. But Kallie didn’t look back and instead pushed the door Rian had specified open.

Rian’s bedchambers were empty of personal items besides a small stack of books on the nightstand. Around the bed, a black velvet curtain with red embroidery hid the bed. Kallie walked past it and headed for the bathing chambers.

She stopped in her tracks.

In front of the single window in the room, a gold crown sat atop a cabinet. Before Kallie realized it, she was walking toward it as if pulled by it. She had only ever seen the crown from afar or in the portraits decorating the hall since neither Rian nor his father had ever worn it in her presence. And up close, it was even more magnificent than she had imagined. The rubies adorning the golden points were brilliant, and little fires burned inside them.

Her hand reached out.

This, this piece of metal, was what she was fighting for. Her purpose.

“Kalisandre?” Rian called from the other room. “Everything all right?”

Kallie cleared her throat, her hand falling and the crown’s spell vanishing in the air. “Yes, just looking for a towel,” she shouted as she rushed into the bathing chambers.

“There should be some sitting near the sink. That’s where Bernard usually sets them.”

Kallie snatched a couple of towels from the counter and grabbed the pail of water sitting next to it.

“Found them!”

When she returned to the sitting room, Kallie had to tighten her grip around the pail of water once she found Rian. Her mouth fell slightly ajar.

Before her, Rian leaned against his desk. His white button-up hung over the back of a chair alongside his jacket, leaving him in nothing but his trousers that hung low on his hips. His gaze met hers, and a flush rose to his cheeks. He reached for the shirt. “Sorry, I can—”

“It’s all right,” Kallie said, shaking her head. “I can attend to your cuts better this way.”

Kallie swallowed as she dropped her head.

She didn’t know if his shirt on or off was worse, though, if she was being honest with herself. Part of her admired the view—a compelling part. Another part wanted him to throw his shirt back on and perhaps a bag over his head, too, for good measure. Seeing Rian like this was making it even harder not to make those personal connections she had been trying to avoid. And it definitely was not making it any easier not to have some sort of feeling about him. Even if they were superficial.

Kallie placed the bucket of water on the table beside him. He reached for the towel, but Kallie moved it away, dipping it into the water.

When she raised it to his face, he grabbed her wrist, his grip soft. “You don’t need to do that, Kallie. What I said the other day . . .”

“This isn’t about my role or my duty, Rian. This is simply one friend wanting to help another.”

Rian smiled. “We’re friends now?”

Kallie chuckled and shrugged. “I’d like to think so.”

He nodded, grinning ear-to-ear as he released her hand and rested it on the desk.

With a gentle hand, Kallie washed the dirt off his face. “How could Sebastian do this?” she asked, the question no more than a whisper on her breath.

Rian cleared his throat. “It’s my fault. I’m rusty. I haven’t—I haven’t had that much time to keep up with my training since inheriting the throne.” He winced as Kallie brushed the rag across his ribs. “Sebastian did me a favor by reminding me, truthfully.”

Kallie glared at him.

His features softened. “Truly, I am fine.”