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Chapter eleven

Adelyna

“ B ut Your Ascendance,” the overdressed manservant called out to Adelyna, “the Yitz’mal is—”

“But—”

“An hour! Give me a moment’s peace, for once.” Adelyna pulled Qiana the rest of the way into the room and slammed the door, the satisfying clang echoing through the space. Now alone, she turned to one of the most beautiful women in court, smiled, and kissed her.

Qiana—with her perfect smooth complexion, hair the color of soft chestnuts, and eyes so dark it was easy to forget oneself in their depths.

And then her figure… While Qiana was shorter and smaller-framed than many court women, she carried herself with such confidence that it was an honor to be with her.

A strange feeling, for royalty. An addicting feeling.

Adelyna lost herself in Qiana’s mouth as Qiana devoured her in return, her hands exploring the folds of Adelyna’s garments.

Qiana’s rouged nipple, already perched precariously high due to her corset and low neckline, peeked out of the top of her bodice, be ckoning in a way Adelyna couldn’t resist. 66 If only she had more than an hour before she had to meet her brother. The things she would do to her…

A moan escaped Qiana’s mouth when Adelyna nibbled her lip, right before Qiana broke off the kiss, laughing lightly.

“I didn’t come here for that,” Qiana said. “Though that’s always welcome.”

“Why ever not?” Adelyna nuzzled Qiana’s neck, inhaling her floral scent. “This has always been one of your best qualities.”

“A quality you share with many women.” Qiana grinned, stepping away from Adelyna’s embrace. Qiana lifted her bodice, tucking the escaped breast out of sight. “Unfortunately, Your Ascendance, I have news that can’t keep.”

Adelyna sighed and rubbed her eyes. A serious talk was the last thing she wanted—she’d had enough of that at the morning’s council meeting. “I’ve told you, for decades now—Adelyna. Call me Adelyna . And what’s this all-important news that ruined what should’ve been the best hour of my week?”

“I’m flattered I rank that high.”

A dimple appeared on Adelyna’s cheek. “Of course you do.” Adelyna had a long-time partner, Nerine, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t have other dalliances.

No one would’ve looked twice at a male Kor’yitz doing so.

Why shouldn’t she be with who she wanted?

And Qiana…Qiana was a rare friend at court.

Qiana was of the few who went to her first with uncomfortable information others were too scared to tell her—much like she was now.

Qiana had also been by her side, literally if not figuratively, for years.

Yes, Adelyna needed to be grateful to be with her, despite having her morning plans torn apart.

Any mirth on Qiana’s face was gone. “Thank you, Lady. But what I have to say is going to ruin the rest of this week. And possibly the following one.”

“Why?” Adelyna crossed her arms. This wasn’t good.

“First, it’s Marise.”

“What about her? What did she do now?”

“She’ s…ill, Lady. The shivering sickness. I received word this morning.”

What? How? Why didn’t someone send word to Adelyna directly? Her heart sank. It wasn’t hard to figure out why—no one liked to give the Kor’yitz bad news. Even when it involved her friends.

“I’ll visit her,” Adelyna announced. “Is she still in Vaulpri?”

Qiana solemnly shook her head. “They won’t let you. You know that. The shivering sickness spreads. And kills.”

Unfortunately, Qiana was right. Marise wasn’t one of Adelyna’s lovers, but she was a treasured member of her court all the same. 67 That she couldn’t visit her friend, when she needed her…what was the point of being Kor’yitz if she couldn’t do that?

“I’ll send her my physicians.” As if a healing-by-proxy made up for her absence. A pathetic replacement. “And is anyone looking after her daughter? That is, do you know if arrangements have been made, in case…”

“I assume so, but I don’t know for sure.”

Adelyna nodded. “Alright. I’ll have my steward inquire and it will be done. At least she won’t have to worry about that.”

“That’s generous of you, Lady.”

Any distress at Qiana’s news was brushed aside by the fact that her friend’s posture suddenly became more rigid. “There’s more.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yes. And even worse.” Qiana shuffled her feet. “There are rumors the R?ll is naming Aherin his heir.”

A choked laugh emerged from Adelyna’s lips. “Is that all? I’ve heard that rumor since the day Aherin was born.”

Qiana grimaced. “It’s worse than that. He…he apparently wants to name Aherin as the R?ll’s Voice and send him to war with Cerdoran. Not you.”

Adelyna bit her lip. Was this rumor true?

The R?ll’s Voice was a ceremonial position, a cross between symbol and leader.

A position that was hers by right. It was strange that her father hadn’t sent her yet, but the open conflict hadn’t started in earnest. Skirmishes, yes.

Bloody ones, yes. But not outright battles—Cerdoran had yet to fully invade.

The announcement naming her as R?ll’s Voice was due at any time. Overdue, really.

And Aherin ? Aherin couldn’t tell a bayonet from a butt crack .

Most court rumors weren’t worth paying attention to, but this one was. If Adelyna was not sent…then the R?ll really was thinking of passing her over as heir.

This was supposed to be hers .

This changed everything.

“He might be expecting this war to end soon,” Adelyna said, not wanting to show her fear, even to Qiana. “He discussed peace treaties at the last council.”

Qiana let out a mirthless laugh. “Peace with Cerdoran? We both know the curse won’t let him enter into a treaty. Not until it decides it’s time.”

“Of course, the curse gets what it wants,” Adelyna said sarcastically and paced the room.

As much as it would be convenient to believe the curse was nothing but rulers’ greed and human ambition, Adelyna had witnessed too many different Sight Bearers attest to it.

Apparently, the Gift Bearers 68 were able to detect the curse, and universally vouched for the way it ingratiated itself into the kingdoms. The curse was a power that perpetually punished those in the five kingdoms, and kept their attentions from spreading to the wider world.

And then there were people like Qiana, whose parents had died trying to break it.

“And even if he’s not planning on ending the war,” Adelyna continued, mostly speaking to herself, “we don’t know if he is for sure sending Aherin.

And even if he did, that doesn’t mean he is going to demote me.

I’ve done nothing wrong.” That wasn’t true.

What ruler of Ca’mail didn’t have the sight?

It was unheard of. Dammit, she had to stop talking.

While Qiana was discreet, it wouldn’t do for her to be blatantly worried. No, it would not do at all.

While Adelyna paced, Qiana kept her expression even, though only a fool would think that Qiana’s mind wasn’t analyzing every word and movement.

Adelyna stopped and looked at a portrait of R?ll Adelyna IV, her namesake.

Stoic in the painting, she was young when she ruled.

She managed, albeit with a husband. Now, what was this Adelyna going to do?

What could she do? She had power, and yet so little.

“I’m still the heir,” Adelyna said. “I have to be.”

“You think Aherin would—”

“I think, if named Kor’yitz, he would do anything.” Adelyna shuddered and took a deep breath. “I will be alright. I am the heir.” 69

“Of course, Lady,” Qiana said, far too diplomatic to say more than she did already. “But I’d still be careful all the same.”