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Chapter Ten

“ A re you all right, Kya?” Adir lightly touched my arm, startling me out of my thoughts. “He didn’t do anything to you, did he?”

His sincere expression was clouded by an intense lock in his jaw. I placed my hand over where he held my arm, gently pulling his fingers into mine to show him I was well.

“No, he only wanted to dance,” I lied smoothly, my heart pounding against the ring hanging around my neck.

“Good.” He squeezed my hand, then let it drop as he took a detailed glance around the party. He seemed more on edge than normal, like at any moment someone would let the tiger out of its cage. “Let me know if he gives you any trouble. I can’t let him expose you.”

I felt my cheeks flush. The heat from all the dancing bodies and warm air was starting to get to me. Not to mention I was already feeling weak after my dance. I spaced my feet apart to take a wider stance, trying to fight the dizzy sensation before it could take over any more .

It would be so easy to wish for some energy or even miraculous healing, but this was never my ring to wish on. There was someone who needed it more.

“Thank you, Adir,” I said, my hand brushing against the warm chain resting on my neck “I’m sorry to have placed such a burden on you. Maybe I can help alleviate some—”

“No, no, you’re not a burden, Kya.” Adir cut me off with a firm shake of his head.

“I’m the one who should be apologizing. It’s my fault you were caught by the guards with the bracelet, and my fault that you’re stuck playing the role you are now.

This is my mess, and I promise to keep you as safe and comfortable as I can while I fix it. ”

My heart sat heavily in my chest as I watched him pile the guilt onto his shoulders.

He had no idea how much of this was my doing.

He looked back at the crowd, once again perusing the party for danger of prying eyes.

I unfastened the chain from my neck while he looked away, my fingers shaky as I slid the ring back onto my finger.

This is my mess, too.

“Adir.” I got his attention again, his worried eyes big and glassy in the moonlight. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your kindness. But what if I told you that there was a way to fix everything? What if I could do something to help? ”

The music softened, the light notes of a flute whistling through the air as Adir stepped closer to me.

The close proximity made my heart flutter, not helping the wooziness I was trying to fight off.

He didn’t say anything for a moment, so I filled the silence by holding out my hand to him, flashing the ring in the lamp light.

The stone glittered with its hidden potential, but Adir never looked away from my face. He blindly reached for my hand, accepting it without even realizing what I was trying to offer him.

“I appreciate you offering to help,” he said, sweetly petting my hand and brushing my ring. “But I wish you would let me handle this on my own.”

My throat tightened as his wish thudded in my ears. The drums kicked up, the music syncing with my pulse as I realized what he’d just done.

He used the ring.

I opened my mouth to speak, but my tongue was tied. The word diamond felt like a foreign language when looking at Adir, and the urge to rip my hand away was growing by the second.

“As your prince, it is my job to look out for you,” he continued, blissfully unaware of the magical binds he’d just placed me in. “And as your friend, I don’t want you to risk your safety any more than you already have. ”

He released my hand, and my arm moved on its own, pulling the ring away and tucking it safely at my side. I couldn’t help him anymore...which meant I couldn’t tell him what I had found.

What do I do now?

“That is, if you’re still willing to stay in the palace?” He bit the edge of his lip. “I’m not planning on keeping you imprisoned.”

I nodded, afraid to test my voice. I needed to sit down. The swell of magic was too much to bear. It felt like I’d taken a long gulp of a warm drink that was laced with both a sleeping aid and a stimulant herb.

“Y-yes,” I said, relieved to hear my voice obeying. “I’ll continue to stay.”

I replayed the prince’s wish in my head. He’d wished to do things on his own. Did that mean I could still agree to help if it was his idea?

I can’t show him the ring unless he asks to see it.

My arm remained sealed to my side, not allowing me to move it into the prince’s line of sight again. I guessed flashing the ring in his face counted toward offering assistance.

“I’m more than happy to remain in the palace so long as it’s not in the dungeons,” I said, trying to mask my discomfort behind a playful laugh .

“I think we can manage that.” Adir laughed with me. “I should probably tend to some of the other guests, but please don’t hesitate to find me if there’s anything you need.”

He bowed to me, the action slow and sweet as he kept his eyes locked on mine. I curtsied in return, but it wasn’t my best effort since I was dangerously close to swooning already.

The moment he left, I found the nearest seat I could, which just so happened to be in front of the tiger display. I slouched on the bench, resting as much as I could while I fought my body for dominance over my consciousness.

I kept my focus on the diamond, watching darkness cloud around my eyes and fade again a few times while it made up its mind whether or not to knock me out. Slowly, the gem became clearer, and the dizzy sensation was replaced by the crushing pressure of my overwhelmed thoughts.

Jeteran knows about the ring, and now I can’t tell Adir.

If I was going to protect the kingdom, I needed to hide it from everyone. To do that, I was going to need help.

“I wish I could talk to Jean tomorrow morning.”