Chapter 29

Kaine

The courtyard is unusually quiet. A fine layer of frost clings to the edges of the garden stones signalling the approaching winter. I pace the outer ring slowly, trying to let the cold numb me from the outside in. It doesn’t work.

I’ve come here hoping for silence, for clarity.

Instead, I get Jasper.

“Brother,” he calls from the edge of the fountain, tone light as always. “Out walking your ghosts?”

I don’t break my stride. “You always lurk around corners, or is that just for my benefit?”

“I find you fascinating,” he says, falling into step beside me. “The way you pretend you don’t have a temper now when the whole kingdom knows what you are capable of and what you’ve done. The way you hover around Ember like she’s part of your oxygen supply.”

My shoulders tense. “She’s my guard.”

“Is that what we’re calling it now?”

I stop.

Jasper smiles, satisfied. “You barked at me like a territorial mutt last week. ‘She’s mine.’ Bold words from a prince.”

“I was angry.”

“You were honest.”

I exhale through my nose and keep walking. “She’s a palace employee. A soldier. She’s nearby because she’s meant to be.”

“Come on,” he says, stepping ahead of me, pivoting to face me. “You’re telling me it’s all professional? That the way you look at her… you’re telling me that’s just protocol?”

“She’s earned her place,” I say. “She’s competent, disciplined, loyal. If she were a man, no one would question it.”

That lands harder than I expect. Jasper blinks once, like he wasn’t expecting a defense. His smile falters for a beat but after a moment it’s back. Smug. Cunning.

“Alright. So you respect her. Good to know. But if it’s all so professional, would you mind if I tried again?”

I don’t speak.

“I mean,” he goes on, “It won’t be the most conventional courtship, I’ll admit, she did give me her word that she would go on a date with me. I was thinking of asking her to take a walk sometime. Something… private.”

Rafe, who had been showing remarkable restraint until this moment, pushes forward, trying to take control.

My jaw clenches. My hands curl.

Jasper watches me, amused. “So you do care.”

I force the Rafe back, fighting to stay in control of both of our tempers. “Stay out of it.”

“Why?” he says, stepping closer. “Because she’s off-limits? Or because you know you can’t actually claim her?”

I take one deliberate step forward. “Because if you hurt her, even a little, I’ll make you regret it.”

Jasper's eyes flash as real fear rears beneath the arrogance. Then it fades, replaced with his usual smirk.

“Got it,” he says lightly. “Touchy subject. You could’ve just said you were jealous.”

“I’m not-”

“Right,” he interrupts. “Because Bianca’s your future.”

He claps a hand on my shoulder in mock reassurance.

“You keep telling yourself that,” he says. And then he turns and leaves, whistling as he goes. I stand there for a long time, still staring after him, the cold forgotten.

I don’t know which part bothers me more. That he got under my skin or that he might be right.

Ember

The morning air smells like winter, crisp and sharp, and for once the training grounds feel like the only place I can breathe. I stay longer than usual, working the same drills past the point of exhaustion. Muscle memory takes over where thought used to be.

I’m halfway back toward the main palace when I see Jasper waiting along the path. He spots me instantly.

“Well, if it isn’t the hardest working guard in the kingdom,” he says, straightening from his lean.

“Prince Jasper.” I nod, politely, but I don’t break my stride. He falls into step beside me.

“You know, I’ve been thinking about you lately.”

I keep my expression neutral. “That’s unfortunate.”

He chuckles. “You always this charming after drills?” I don’t answer.

He doesn’t take the hint. “I remember when you were assigned to Prince Kaine. A female guard that was unheard of. And now? You’re climbing the ranks as the talk of the palace.”

“I’m just doing my job.”

“Is that all it is?”

His voice dips into something lower. Smoother. The same voice he used that night he cornered me, asking me out, when the threat of being caught out of bounds had been enough to trap me.

I feel Nara become unsettled at his words.“He’s trying to pressure you. Don’t engage him.”

“I admire your focus,” Jasper says. “Still, doesn’t it get lonely? Always trailing behind Kaine like a ghost? He barely sees you. Wouldn’t you rather spend time with someone who actually notices you?”

I stop walking. He pauses too, surprised.

“I am his personal guard. I have my assignment.”

He studies me for a long second. “That sounds like a no.”

“It’s a ‘mind your business’” I saw walking away.

He calls after me, still smirking. “I’m around if you change your mind.”

I sigh, knowing that this won’t be the last I hear from the Second Prince, still, I don’t look back.

That night, I meet with Kaine in his office to review the updated security measures around the estate. The desk is covered in blueprints and shifted patrol maps, a half-drained cup of tea cold and forgotten.

He doesn’t look up when I enter. “Sit.” His voice is clipped.

I lower into the chair opposite him, laying out the documents I brought. “The new locks arrived this morning. Jake and I oversaw the installation on the south perimeter.”

He nods once, eyes scanning the lines of the map but saying nothing. I hesitate. “The rotation schedule will shift slightly. I’ll make sure the second patrol adjusts.”

“Fine.”

The silence stretches as I try to focus on the logistics, on anything but the way his expression won’t soften or the way he won’t meet my eye.

It feels like all the progress we’d made has been smashed to nothing overnight.

“Is something wrong?” I ask, unable to stop myself.

“No.”

I wait, but he says nothing more.

“Right.” I gather the maps. “I’ll let you know the outcome of the new rotations.”

I stand. Kaine still hasn’t looked up.

“I’ll see myself out.”

As I step into the corridor, Nara presses close. “He’s not like he was yesterday.”

I know. Something happened.

He probably realized he made a mistake. I walk faster, my feet carrying me away from his office. He thinks he let me back in too easily. I haven’t regained his trust.

“That’s not what I felt.”

Then what? She doesn’t answer and I don’t ask again.

Halfway down the hall, I glance up and find Jasper leaning against a column, watching.

His expression is unreadable as he stares. He doesn’t speak and doesn’t move, but the attention in it is clear. He’s still interested.