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Chapter Thirteen

H e was like a tiger; a tall, dark and handsome tiger that would sneak up on you just in time to flash you his pearly teeth before tearing you apart.

Adir stood from the bench, sizing up to his sly uncle but still coming up a few inches short. I could see the family resemblance when they were nose to nose, making them look more like brothers than an uncle and nephew.

“Do you mind, Jet?” Adir hissed at him, the sharp sound startling me off the bench as well. “The princess and I were in the midst of a private conversation.”

Jet didn’t look at me, his attention fixated on the prey in front of him. “I apologize for interrupting, but I come on behalf of your father,” he said coolly. “He wishes to speak with you.”

The fire didn’t flee from Adir’s eyes, but I could see his strength dwindle. He couldn’t refuse a request from the sultan, even if Jet was the one to deliver it .

“What does he want?” Adir asked, his fists clenched at his sides.

“I’m not entirely sure, just that it had something to do with a thief.

..” He flicked his eyes to me so quickly that I almost missed it.

What was strange was that the look wasn’t accusatory—instead, it was almost fearful.

“You should hurry along. I’ll be more than happy to keep Princess Kya company in your absence. ”

He pressed a hand to his chest, and Adir looked like he was ready to sever the hand from his wrist. The tension between the two thickened the air, adding to the humidity and making it seem harder to breathe.

“I’m sure you would,” Adir growled, inching forward until his shins hit the bench in between them. “You always enjoy taking what’s mine.”

My breath caught, and Jeteran merely smiled at his nephew like he was a misguided child.

“Unfortunately, the lovely princess isn’t yours for me to take,” he said with a chivalrous nod in my direction.

“Though I suppose I am robbing you of her time. However, I can assure you she will be perfectly content under my care, unlike the other princesses, who are growing fussy over their missing jewels. You may want to address the situation before it gets out of hand.” He raised a brow, which only seemed to prod at Adir further .

“I would be happy to address the situation.” Adir folded his arms. “Though I doubt you’ll admit to anything yet.”

“Adirion,” Jet began menacingly, and he walked around the bench, his steps slow and foreboding. “Are you accusing me of being the thief?”

“You’ve always had an eye for diamonds.” Adir shifted in front of me, preventing Jet from getting any closer. “I can think of one in particular that you’ve been obsessed with your entire life.”

The breeze picked up again, but this time the air was hot. Leaves scattered around us, scratching at my arms and filling the air with a piney scent.

“Don’t pretend I’m the only one.” Jet’s tone deepened, his polite facade fading entirely. “We all have obsessions , Nephew. Don’t act as if yours are any nobler than mine.”

“Don’t act as if yours are noble at all ,” Adir fired back.

Jeteran smiled, the expression compelling me to look closer. He didn’t look victorious, but I could sense that there were far more layers to this conversation then I could wish to understand.

“You should go, Adir,” I said with a slight tug at his arm. “Take care of what you need to. I can handle Jet.”

“Listen to the princess,” Jet said in a monotone voice. “Your father doesn’t like to be kept waiting. I wouldn’t want you to disappoint him when you have such an obsession over his throne.”

Adir didn’t say anything, but that didn’t mean that the exchange was over. After a tense silence, Adir turned to me, his eyes full of warning.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he said in a low voice. “If you need anything , call for a servant.”

I nodded, and with one final glare at his uncle, he disappeared toward the nearest door. Jet stayed with me, and the uncomfortable silence continued for a moment before he finally decided to break it.

“I think your bird yaps less than he does,” he said with a snort as he watched Adir run inside. “I’ve heard peacocks that wail softer.”

My heart stammered at the mention of Kipu. He couldn’t have heard his current favorite word, could he?

Lamp...

“W-what do you know about Kipu?’ I asked with a stiff swallow. My mouth was dry, and I longed for a sip of water to cool off. It had been a while since my body had threatened to betray me, and I wasn’t ready to break the streak.

“You should know by now,” Jet said. “I know everything that goes on in this palace, as any good royal should. ”

I felt my blood boil as he took another jab at Adir. No amount of good looks could make up for the ugliness in his soul.

“Then you should know that you’re wasting your time talking to me,” I said. “I don’t care what you want with me. I’m through helping you.”

“But I’m not through with you, Kya.” He took a step closer, his encompassing presence running goosebumps across my neck.

He looked at me so differently from how he looked at the prince.

There was no annoyance or distrust in his eyes.

He looked at me with almost longing, like I was still the key he required to unlock his own ambitions.

“If I were, you wouldn’t be here anymore. ”

“What do you mean?” I felt my palms go cold, even in the blazing heat.

“I’ve always known who you really are, Kya,” he said in a smooth tone. “But I’ve allowed Adir to keep up his ruse.”

“For your own benefit,” I spat, my breathing growing short as anger filled my veins. His face was only inches from mine now, and his gaze devoured my hatred like he was itching to discover its source.

He’s awful. Yet...I can’t look away.

“And for yours,” he said with a slight rasp in his tone that made my heart stutter.

The more I stood with him, the angrier I felt, but that was it—only anger.

The frustration he fed into me felt almost like an instinctual reaction and not one that I could fully explain.

It was like there was another wish that had been cast, charming me into falling prey to his flowery words and promises.

“Don’t forget who is keeping you safe, Kya. ”

Just then, a peacock screamed somewhere behind me, loud enough to scare me out of my wits. I jumped almost high enough to kiss the monkey in the tree, then stumbled forward. Without missing a beat, Jet caught me in his arms.

Panic flooded through me, racing hot blood through my cheeks and filling me with the desire to elbow him and run.

But when I looked at him this time, I didn’t even feel angry anymore.

“I’m not your enemy, Kya,” he said softly.

A leaf stuck in my hair, and Jet’s gaze settled on where it was tickling my cheek.

He reached out to brush it away, and for some reason I didn’t even pull away from his brief touch.

“I only wish to lend you my strength. Maybe someday you’ll realize how strong we can be together. ”

The gentle brush of his fingertip against my skin felt too hot.

My heart blared through my ears, blocking out his voice before I could let him feed me any more lies.

I pushed away from him, scrambling out of his grip as a massive dizzy wave started to overtake me.

My illness must have been filling me with delusions.

That had to be it; my head was aching, my heart pounding, and my skin felt on fire.

I’m going to faint at this rate. I have to go.

I ran inside.