Page 18

Chapter 18

Kaya

N one of my other friends were available to travel to Kingstown. But it’ll be fine as long as I get on the road quickly. I load up the wagon I borrowed from Rychell—not easy with my thumb still hurting—and get moving right after sunrise.

Traveling to Kingstown won’t be dangerous if I get there during daylight hours. The Veiled Kingdoms are fairly safe because we haven’t had any droughts or political uprisings—the two things that tend to make folks desperate here. I’ve only heard of one instance of robbery in the woods that separate our town from the city that houses the king and queen. That was over a year ago, too.

Sio curls up beside me on the wagon’s bench. He hasn’t spoken this morning, but he has stayed close. Last night, I told him all about Devin, Cyrus’s protective fire magic, and the dragon shifter ghost. I didn’t have time to talk to Laini or Tully about the ruins and what Cyrus found, and besides, I don’t want to. They would only give Cyrus trouble for going up there and tempting the supposed curse. Sio slept in the space between my shoulder and head all night long, and it was truly comforting. I’m so grateful for him.

I click my tongue at Rychell’s black mare, Tamar. She’s a sweet old female, and she immediately increases her pace until we are beyond the town walls and in the dappled shadows of the forest.

We bounce over a rough area on the road. The cart wheels squeak lightly, and Sio digs his claws into the bench. I turn to check that the ropes I have securing the magical chest of baked goods are still in place. Thankfully, they are. A nice scent comes from the wooden container—cinnamon, orange, and butter—and it combines with the perfume of sun-warmed earth and green plants. Mistberry bushes grow along the road, but their fruits are still too small to eat as they get less sunshine under the large oaks, beeches, and maples.

I pass a merchant family on their way to Leafshire Cove. Younglings hang from every edge of the cart, and they laugh uproariously every time the wagon goes over a bump in the road. I wave, and the merchant and his wife raise a hand in greeting.

After that, I don’t see anyone for hours. Tamar and I stop a few times to rest, eat a little—bread and cheese for me and clover for the mare—and to drink from the Leafshire River’s offshoot, Mossy Creek.

I don’t mind being on the road like this. The finches are chirping merrily overhead as we make our way through the woods. Sio and Tamar answer all of my little questions with meows, whinnies, and huffing sounds.

“So you think I’m doing the right thing, backing away from Cyrus?”

Tamar whickers, and Sio rubs his head against my arm.

“All right. Good. But that kiss…”

A growl of sorts rumbles from Sio’s warm body, and Tamar grunts.

“Fine. I’ll try to stop thinking about it. I just wish I was more used to being kissed.”

Sio meets my gaze. “You should ask Betilda about the kissing booth at the May Day Festival. Get yourself some experience kissing other upright walkers.”

I blink and nearly drop my reins. “Sorry. I, I don’t think I’m used to you speaking yet, Sio.”

He purrs and touches my wrist with his cold nose like he’s saying, That’s all right. I understand.

“I had forgotten about that booth. I don’t think they did it last year, did they?”

Sio meows what feels like a no .

“That’s why I didn’t think of it. It’s a great idea!” I shake the reins to encourage Tamar gently and get her moving more quickly. “I can kiss the whole town if they’re up for it. The coin the committee collects usually funds a charity, so this would be good for more than just my selfish purposes. Maybe if I kiss enough people, I will stop thinking about my moment with Cyrus.”

Like I summoned him with a word, Cyrus drops through the tree canopy high above and lands in the back of the cart. My heart careens up my throat. The wagon lurches, and Tamar whinnies though she eyes Cyrus with raised ears so I don’t think she was as surprised at his appearance as I was.

“What are you doing here?” My heart beats like a crazed drummer has been released inside my chest.

Behind the bench where I sit, Cyrus kneels. He eases one arm over the back of the bench.

“I found out you decided to go alone, and I thought you might need company. Besides, it’s an unnecessary risk going alone like this,” Cyrus says.

“Have you turned into a granny overnight? Why are you so worried about everything now?”

A chuckle rumbles from him and I see the tip of a wing over my shoulder. He is shielding my head from the inconsistent sunlight through the trees.

“I guess I have become rather granny-like when it comes to you.”

“You’re a good friend,” I say, quickly. My hands are sweating and the reins feel slippery between my fingers.

“Aye.”

I wish I could see his expression right now. Does that fact make him feel content or is he frustrated about it like I am? No, I don’t care. I refuse to consider it.

“We’re nearly to Kingstown now,” I say. “I would have been fine.”

“You still have the ride back.”

I give him a look. Secretly, I’m glad he is here. But I also know that concentrating on my delivery will be so much harder now.

He grins. “Look, let’s forget about everything and simply enjoy ourselves in Kingstown.”

My heart races and my palms grow even stickier. Tamar seems to notice my mood and slows down.

Cyrus moves his hand back and forth as if to dispel whatever dark look I’ve given him. “Just shopping and seeing the city,” he says. “Doing whatever you want to do. You never take time off, Kaya.”

I snap the reins lightly over Tamar’s back and she trots faster. “I went climbing with Renen a few weeks ago.”

“You hated every second of that.”

I purse my lips. “Not every second.”

He tilts his head and raises an eyebrow.

Shrugging, I say, “The last part when we returned home was really nice.

A chuckle comes from Cyrus, and then we are turning off the main road and onto the lane that leads to Kingstown’s mighty walls.

I wonder how this is all going to go. I have a friend I wish was my lover and a ridiculous amount of baked goods to deliver to the queen’s tea.

“I have to admit that I am nervous the nobles won’t like my pastries.”

Cyrus takes my hand and smiles. “They will love it, Kaya. Everyone does.”

He releases me, and my fingers mourn the loss of his touch. I nod and click my tongue so Tamar will line up behind the row of folks trying to enter through the city gates—gates larger than my entire shop.

Cyrus’s eyes glitter as finely armored guards patrol the top of the curtain wall. “It’s an adventure.”

That’s exactly what I was afraid this was. Sio curls into my lap. I shake my head at myself and try to feel excited instead of anxious.