A tremor rocked me as my jaw loosened. She’d taken the pain away. I couldn’t believe her generosity.
Hand trembling, I placed it over hers. “I should’ve known then,” I said, voice thick as I lifted her hand to my mouth. It was stained with both of our blood. I kissed her knuckles.
“Known what?” she asked.
“Known why they wanted you so badly that they made you the Maiden.”
The skin at the corners of her mouth pinched.
“Come.” I held on to her hand as I started walking.
“Where are we going?”
“Now? We’re going back inside so we can get cleaned up and…” I saw she had to hold up her pants. I sighed. I really should’ve taken my time with those buttons. Turning, I dipped, threading an arm behind her knees. I lifted her to my chest. “And, apparently, to find you some new pants.”
Poppy blinked rapidly. “These were my only pair.”
“I’ll get you new ones.” I strode forward. “I’m sure there is some small child around here who would be willing to part with their breeches for a few coins.”
I grinned as her brows snapped together.
“And after that?” Poppy insisted as I stepped over a thick branch.
“I’m taking you home.”
“Home?” Her breath snagged. “Back to Masadonia? Or to Carsodonia?”
“Neither.” I looked down, my smile spreading wide. It was the kind of smile that hid nothing. “I’m taking you to Atlantia.”
I WAS RIGHT
Our return to Haven Keep didn’t go unnoticed. Everyone simply made themselves scarce as I crossed the courtyard in the falling snow with Poppy cradled to my chest.
Except for Kieran.
He stood at the second-floor railing, his arms folded across his chest. Our eyes locked. He raised a brow at the sight of me, shirtless—at the sight of us.
“You can put me down,” Poppy muttered. “I can walk.”
That was not the first time she’d said that. It was more like…the twentieth. I’d ignored the nineteen variations that came before. “If I do that, your pants will fall right off you.” I kicked open the door to the stairwell. “And then you would expose your thighs—your very lovely thighs.”
The flush in her face was visible, even in the darkened stairwell. “Only because you destroyed my clothing.”
“Be that as it may, I doubt you want to flash anyone.” I paused mid-step, glancing down at her. “Or is that what you’d prefer?”
Poppy blew out an exasperated breath. “No. That is not what I prefer.”
I grinned as I started back up the steps. “I didn’t think so.”
She was quiet as we rounded the landing and I climbed the remaining steps. I imagined she was reliving the moment she’d plunged the dagger into my chest. Truth be told, her pants weren’t the reason I’d insisted on carrying her. After all, I wouldn’t complain if she flashed me. Her thighs were so very lush. But the snow was coming down in sheets, soaking the rest of her clothing. She was cold. Hell, I was even getting cold. But keeping her close also kept her as warm as possible. Plus, I was faster.
Entering the second-floor hall, her hands curled tighter in the shirt she now wore, and her face burned brighter. I shifted her higher, allowing her cheek to reach my shoulder. She turned her head, pressing her forehead against me.
It wasn’t necessary for her to hide her face, though. Kieran’s attention remained fixed on the heavy snowfall and the forest beyond.
Wanting her in my chamber since it was bigger and a bit nicer, I passed the room she’d been kept in and took her to mine. A faint smile tugged at my lips. Kieran had cleaned up the blood.
And removed the dagger I’d plunged into the floor. Smart move there.
I carried Poppy to the much larger bed and set her down, grateful that the flames in the fireplace were still strong. As I straightened, her mouth opened. “I know you have questions,” I cut in. “I will answer them, but there are a few things I need to take care of.”
Poppy’s lips pinched but she didn’t argue for once. Turning from her, I stopped with my hand on the door, once more reluctant to leave her. I looked back at her. She was still where I’d put her, hands now resting on the bed.
“I’ll be back,” I promised, then stepped out into the hall. Forced myself.
Dragging a hand through my damp hair, I turned to Kieran.
“Do I even want to know why she is wearing your shirt and you are without one?” Kieran asked.
“Probably not.” Lowering my hand, I joined him at the railing. “Thank you for cleaning up the room.”
Kieran nodded. “No one needs to smell your blood.”
A wry smile tugged at my lips as I rested my hands on the railing. “I need you to watch over her for a little bit.”
“You trust me with that?” was all he asked. He likely already knew what I intended to do. “After I wanted to go after her?”
“But you didn’t,” I reminded him. “And you won’t.”
“Because she’s…” Kieran looked at me then. “How did you say it? ‘She is mine?’”
“That’s not exactly why.” I rolled my neck. “She’s half-Atlantian.”
Kieran pushed back from the railing. “You are certain?”
“I tasted her blood. I’m sure.”
His forehead creased as his brows lifted. “Well, I have a lot of questions about that.”
“I bet you do.” The snow was already well on its way to covering the tracks I’d left. “But what’s important right now is that she’s one of us—and, Kieran, the part of her that’s Atlantian? It’s strong. Look at my chest,” I said, and he did just that. “The wound is far more healed than it normally would be.”
Kieran stared, then his gaze cut to the door I’d exited from. “Damn.” He ran his hand over his hair, clasping the back of his neck. “It explains so much. Her abilities. Why the Ascended want her.”
“It does.” I looked down at my hands. They were still stained with blood. Fresh streaks would join them soon. “And it doesn’t.”
It took a moment for Kieran to understand. “Her parents? Her brother…”
I nodded slowly. There was no way they were her parents—at least one of them couldn’t have been. But Ian? He could still be a half brother. Regardless, all of this would still come as a blow.
Kieran squinted. “They planned to use her to Ascend the Lords and Ladies in Wait? But why? They have Malik. They…”
I tensed all over. I knew what he was thinking. That they needed Poppy because Malik was… “He’s still alive.”
“I didn’t say he wasn’t.”
My heart thumped heavily. “He’s probably weakened, and using him to Ascend all those in Wait would likely kill him. That’s why they need Poppy. It’s the only thing that makes sense, especially if her blood is strong.”
“And for them to know that, they must have…”
Drank from her at some point, likely without her knowledge. My hands tightened on the cold railing until I heard the wood groan. I pushed away. “This won’t take too long.”