around him. She had a similar feeling when she’d held his newborn son.
Kira watched as he appeared near his daughter’s bed. He leaned over, kissed her cheek and tucked the covers around her neck. When he turned, his eyes met Kira’s and a curious expression crossed his face. He slowly walked toward her, stopping at her feet. Kira drew up her knees to make room for him to sit.
“Are you well, Kira?” he whispered.
She nodded. “I had a bad dream.”
He looked past her to the open doors that lead to her room. “Do you fear sleeping alone? I can have Ussay stay with you.”
“No, I’m not afraid.” She looked at Arela and then back to him. “My dream wasn’t about me.”
A sudden understanding washed across his face. “I am told you are sensitive. This dream-was it a vision?”
Kira shrugged. “I don’t know. I get them mixed up some times, but I had it twice, so. .”
“You trust it?”
“Yes.”
He turned to watch his daughter. She stirred slightly in her sleep. “Is she in danger?”
Kira didn’t want to tell him what she’d seen. It seemed like saying the words out loud would make it all too real and she didn’t want to think about it, but then. . he had to know. She couldn’t stay with Arela all the time and his daughter’s safety was more important than Kira’s fears.
“I saw Shandira take her.”
His head jerked around to find Kira’s face again. The shock in his eyes set her back. “You are certain that is what you saw?”
“Yes.”
He brushed his fingers through his long black hair as a rumbling echoed through his chest. It was much like Octavion when he growled, only softer-she supposed not to wake Arela. “That woman has done enough damage to this family,” he mumbled. Then he stood and offered Kira his hand. “Come child, you need not concern yourself with my daughter. I will stay here tonight. You need your sleep.”
She took his hand, but when she swung her feet off the seat and tried to stand, her feet got tangled in the blankets and she almost fell. In one swift, effortless motion, Nestor scooped her up and carried her to the bed. She didn’t protest. She didn’t even blush from embarrassment.
“Thank you,” she said, as he tucked the covers around her like he’d done for Arela. His warm brown eyes left her feeling calm and relaxed, and his silence comforted her as he strolled back through the doors, leaving them open. He’d be watching both of them tonight.
Chapter Thirty One
“Ussay, why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Kira went to her dressing chambers and fumbled through the many gowns that hung on the far wall.
“I thought my best dress would due nicely, but when Mara saw me this morning she seemed disgusted with it.” Ussay plopped down on the large ottoman. “She hates me.”
“She doesn’t hate you. She’s. . spoiled, that’s all.”
Ussay’s head shot up. “Kira, you must not speak of royalty like that.”
“And you need to lighten up. And don’t you dare cry-you’ll make your eyes puffy and we need you to look like a queen, not a commoner.”
By the time they came to the end of the long row of gowns, they’d only made three selections. Ussay quickly tried them on, but they were all too big and made her look like a child playing dress up in her mother’s clothes. She sat back down, more depressed than before. “It is no use. I will have to wear my dress.”
Kira noticed a few white bundles covered with fine linens hanging on one side of the room. “What are those?”
“Ly-fancy ball gowns,” she said, not daring to mention Lydia’s name. Her shoulders slouched even more as she lowered her eyes.
“Perfect.” Kira grabbed several at once and threw them to the floor. “Hurry, help me open them so we can take a look.”
“Oh, no, Kira. I cannot wear something so beautiful,” Ussay protested.
“Yes, you can. Now grab that one over there and try it on.”
After going through most of the gowns, leaving them strewn around the dressing chambers and Kira’s room, they were both exhausted. They’d made quite a mess, but still hadn’t found the perfect dress to fit Ussay’s petit stature. Kira had almost given up until she saw a small bundle hanging behind a selection of outerwear opposite the doorway. She reached up, took it to the floor and peeled the linens from around it. When she held it up for Ussay to see, the poor girl’s eyes about popped out of her pretty little head.
“I remember her wearing that dress. It was her first ball. She was only fourteen and not allowed an escort, but her mother wanted her to feel a part of the festivities. She had it made special.” Ussay looked at Kira and shook her head. “I cannot.”
“We’re out of time, Ussay. The ceremony will start any minute and you have to be there. It’s not every day you get to be the center of attention.” Kira threw it at her. “Now put it on.”
Ussay had kept the fact that she was the commoner who expressed a desire to be a part of the Khapri ceremony a secret. It didn’t help matters that Mara had waited until late last night to announce her decision. It left no time to prepare.
Kira had already dressed in her new green dress when Ussay first entered the room. She only needed to make a few last minute adjustments to the combs in her hair and to put on her shoes.
When Octavion arrived to escort Kira to the ceremony, she insisted he take Ussay instead. She quickly made her way down the stairs alone so the two of them could make a grand entrance and get that “wow” factor Kira had been hoping for. This was the perfect occasion to show Cade what he could have with Ussay and she wasn’t about to pass it up.
When she got to the bottom of the stairs Kira found the grand hall packed full of people. Most were dressed in fancy Royal attire of deep blues and burgundies accented with gold and silver. All were adorned with jewels of every color imaginable-accessorized to the max. Even the men had masculine styles of adornment.
Her entrance seemed to signal the others to find their seats. She wound her way through the crowd to find Cade sitting off to one side, near the front of the room. She wanted to make sure he had full view of Ussay’s descent and catch any comments he may throw her way, so she scooted in next to him.
“You look lovely this morning, Kira,” he said. “Where is my cousin? I thought he went to fetch you.”
Kira winked at him and patted his hand. “He did, but took one look at Ussay and had a change of heart.”
He looked at her curiously, while the rest of the room fell silent. They both looked up to see Octavion nearing the top of the stairs with his prize. Ussay had made a last minute decision to take her hair out of her braid and sweep it up on one side, leaving several wavy curls drifting down the left side of her dress. It made her youthful face look more mature and sophisticated. Her gown of soft white chiffon-like fabric seemed to float when she moved.
Kira turned to see Cade’s expression and found him not breathing. She nudged him with her elbow to get his attention, but he ignored her. She wasn’t sure if the expression on his face held shock or jealousy, but either way Ussay’s entrance seemed to have the desired effect on him.
As the couple descended the staircase, Kira saw Octavion’s mouth moving. Ussay had her head down, watching her step, but when he spoke she straightened and looked straight ahead. He said something else, causing the nervousness to wash from her face and be replaced with a smile-her cheeks turning a shade darker than their natural pink. He was coaching her, easing her anxiety, which made Kira love him even more.
“She looks like an angel,” Kira said for Cade’s benefit.
He swallowed hard. “Yes, she does.” His eyes hadn’t once left Ussay’s beautiful visage.
“Too bad you’re such a jerk. You might have had a chance with her.”
He turned to face Kira. “Pardon me?”
