Broken

there.” She took one more twirl, making her ruffles flip up in the air, and disappeared.

Chapter Seventeen

Kira continued watching the place where Arela’s angelic mist melted away. She felt the blood rush from her face as everything in the room seemed to tilt ever so slightly. Ussay grabbed her arm and helped her to the bed, but Kira slid to the floor beside it instead. She pulled her legs up under her chin and wrapped her arms around them.

What if it was a Darkord playing that flute? Or Draego? Or any number of people who could have done her harm? And who put her to bed? She had to be more careful. She'd made enough stupid mistakes in the past, all of them putting herself and her friends in more danger. The last one-trying to keep Shandira from entering the portal to Xantara-could have caused Lydia's death. It was the first time she'd let herself think about her role in that and to take full blame for what happened. A sharp stabbing ache settled in her heart. She pressed her fingertips against the pain and tried to push it away, but it didn't help.

She'd killed her best friend. It was that simple.

“What is it?” Ussay asked.

Kira shook her head. “Nothing. All that spinning must have made me dizzy.”

Ussay put her hand on Kira’s shoulder. “Shall I get you some food before you dress? That may help.”

Kira nodded.

Ussay stood and exited the room, leaving Kira alone with her guilt. But she wasn't really alone. Altaria still lived within her and she could feel her spirit warm her heart and take some of the pain away.

“Al, I'm so sorry. I'd give my life if it meant you and Lydia could be together again. I hope you know that.” Tears threatened to come, but she pushed them away. She was tired of crying, sick of being weak. That part of her died when her mother left and she never wanted to go back-never wanted to be a mouse again.

Kira untangled her gown from around her legs, stood and went to the French doors. She jiggled the handle. Locked. Whoever put her to bed either left through the inside door leading to the hallway or was a Royal and saw the inside of her room. Even if she kept the doors locked from now on, he’d be able to see it in his mind and pop in anytime he wanted.

A shiver ran through her. Who would do that? If it were Draego and his brother, they would have killed her, not tucked her into bed. It had to be Octavion. But if she asked him, and it wasn’t, he’d freak-probably lock her away where no one could get to her. At the very least, he’d hover and not let her have a moment of independence or privacy.

She made a mental note to ask Cade next time she saw him. In the meantime, she’d have to be more careful. Not assume anything and keep her wits about her. No more stupid moves.

When Ussay returned with breakfast, Kira had already dressed, made her bed and sat on the window seat watching the staff scurry about in the garden, clipping old buds off bushes and trimming the shrubs. She couldn’t help but notice Mara sitting near one of the many fountains, barking orders and pointing out all their mistakes. Maybe her sharp tongue came from pregnancy hormones-though Kira doubted it.

“Is she always like that?” Kira asked.

Ussay leaned over and looked out the window to see who Kira pointed at. “Lady, Mara?”

“Yeah.”

“She tends to be nicer when Nestor returns from one of his many business trips. I think she misses him terribly.”

“That makes sense. I’d be grouchy too if Octavion were away a lot, especially if I was that pregnant.”

While Kira ate, Ussay straightened the rest of the room and remade the bed. Kira didn’t say anything, she figure if someone checked to see if it had been done properly Ussay would get the blame, not Kira for messing it up.

Ussay gathered the dirty clothes and linens and left the room. A few minutes later she returned with a lavender dress, matching ribbons and a white shawl. She laid them out on the bed.

Kira looked down at the simple prairie-type dress she’d chosen that morning. “I’m already dressed.”

“The festival is a very important time for us. I thought you might want something special. It is up to you, of course.”

“Oh, well in that case. .” What could it hurt? Lavender was one of her favorite colors.

Ussay scurried about, first helping Kira take off her dress, then helping her put on the other one. She braided her hair with tiny ribbons, weaving them through the intricate braid and forming a bow at the end.

“I have enquired about the flute music to the night staff.” Ussay blurted. “No one saw or heard anything. Are you sure you did not dream it?”

“I’m sure.”

“We should tell Octavion. He would want to know if a stranger is near the castle, especially so near to your room.” She glanced up at Kira.

“No, I don’t want him to know. Not yet.”

Ussay shook her head. “I cannot keep something like this from him.”

“I’m not asking you to deceive him or lie, just. . please, don’t volunteer the information. Can you do that?”

Ussay nodded. “I can try, but he knows me. I have never been able to keep anything from him.” Then she took away the breakfast tray and left the room.

Kira stepped to the full length mirror and took in the full effect of her girly outfit and hair. If it weren’t for the scar on her face and dark eyes, she’d have admitted she looked beautiful. As it was, she knew people wouldn’t notice her dress as much as her red hair and ebony eyes. At least they’d lightened a little since she woke and emerald green shone around the edges.

Kira glanced over the shoulder of her reflected image when Ussay returned to the room. “Thanks for your help. I do look better in this.”

“You are very welcome.” Ussay stepped to Kira’s side and adjusted a strand of hair, tucking it behind a section of ribbon. “Are you ready?”

Kira nodded. Her stomach in knots-nerves, she told herself. She took a deep breath, practiced her smile with a brief curtsy and followed Ussay out the door. When they got to the top of the stairs, she felt him. Octavion’s spirit embraced her. She didn’t know why she hadn’t noticed before, but now that she knew her ability to sense an approaching Royal was a rare gift, she seemed to be more in tune with the differences, more able to distinguish between one Royal and another. She recognized Octavion’s loving spirit long before his masculine physique appeared-behind her.

“May I be your escort, my lady?” Kira felt the warmth of his breath on her neck and it made her shiver. He put his hand on the small of her back and turned her to face him. “Are you all right?” he asked in gentle, smooth tones.

Kira smiled. “I’m fine now.”

He crooked his arm in her direction. “Shall we?”

Ussay waited at the bottom of the steps, so Kira linked her arm with his and together they began their decent. For some reason, Kira thought the festivities would be in the garden. Maybe because she’d seen Mara there earlier and the servants seemed to be preparing it for something. But Octavion led both girls in the opposite direction-through the front door and into the courtyard.

Octavion motioned for Ussay to come closer. “We can go together.”

Ussay’s eyes widened. “Oh, no. I will walk.”

“Nonsense. This is much quicker and more fun.” He wrapped one arm around Kira’s waist and pulled her close, then opened his other arm, coaxing Ussay closer.

“Fun?” Ussay swallowed hard. “When I was a child you dropped me in the river.”