Chapter 79

Kaine approaches one day as I walk through the corridor. I slow my pace and let him catch up. His face looks solemn.

“I need you to do me a favor,” he says before I can speak.

I incline my head to side, in invitation for him to continue. “I know you’ve been busy since you’ve stepped up as Captain, but I need you to resume attending Luna training with Bianca.”

I stop walking mid-step and gawk at him. “I am acting Captain and our investigation is more important than ever, but you want me to take time out to go back to Luna training?”

I take a deep breath, reminding myself that I shouldn’t speak to the Prince in such a way. “I’m sorry. There’s just a lot on my plate right now.”

Kaine has the decency to look apologetic as he replies. “I know. That is exactly why I need you back at training. The palace is more dangerous than ever and now that Bianca and I are moving forward with our engagement there could very well be a target on her back.”

My heart rate spikes at the mention of their engagement, but I do my best to stay calm as he continues. “Bianca doesn’t have many responsibilities or a set schedule yet, but the one thing she can be counted on attending is her Luna training. If anyone is after her that will be the place they strike. I want you there to protect her.”

I shake my head. “No. I have to much to do. Surely some other guard can be assigned to this.”

Kaine raises his eyebrows. “That is an order not a request. As her sister, you’re the only one I trust with her safety. Besides, I don’t want to worry her too much. If you start training with her again it will be much less suspicious than some random guard sitting in the back.”

I sigh, resigning myself. “Fine.”

Kaine smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Thank you. One more thing?”

I suppress a groan. “Yes?”

“You might have forgotten the schedule, but I believe her next sparring lesson is in about ten minutes.”

I drop any attempt to hide my irritation. “Ten minutes? Do you have any idea how much I needed to get done today? If you had told me earlier I would have had time to rearrange my schedule!”

Kaine doesn’t say anything, just shoots me another apologetic look before walking away.”

I don’t bother to conceal my huff as I hurry off in the direction of the sparring gym. When I arrive, Bianca looks surprised to see me, but doesn’t mention as I take my spot opposite her.

Instead, she raises an eyebrow. “You look like you’re feeling better.”

I nod, but I know that won’t last long. I already feel myself getting winded from rushing to the gym so quickly.

We begin sparring and I take an easy lead. I can see Bianca’s improvement, but she still has a long way to go before she’ll be ready to take on a real threat. I’ve come to expect her cheap tricks so any upper hand she had using those to her advantage has vanished.

I smile to myself. I felt good today, strong, almost like my old self. We continue in this manner for few rounds before it hits me. The nausea.

I try not to double over as Bianca moves to strike my arm. “What’s wrong sis? That mysterious illness catching back up to you?”

I ground my feet. “I’m fine.”

She smirks, looking doubtful. “I’m sure that awful shade of green you just turned is nothing then.”

“I said I’m fine.” I push through my nausea and do my best to continue, but Bianca quickly gets the advantage. My movements become sluggish and she lands hit after hit.

I manage to keep her from striking my stomach, and I catch her eyes narrowing as I do. I start to panic. I know Bianca suspects that I slept with Kaine but if she finds out I’m pregnant I don’t know what she’ll do.

We continue for the rest of the training session in much the same manner. I use all my strength to avoid taking any hits that might harm the baby, and she glares at me.

“You really should see the healer.” She says as she lands hit on my shoulder. “You’re fighting like shit.”

I ignore her and shake of the blow. “Unless there’s something else going on? Maybe it’s not illness that has you feeling down.”

I fight the urge to freeze at the remark. “I haven’t been sleeping well. That is all.”

She looks doubtful but lets it drop. I fight my panic.

I need to do something, maybe find a healer away from the palace who can give me something to manage my symptoms, or it will only be a matter of time before she or someone else finds out. I need to get it together if I plan on staying in the palace until the Chantarelle investigation comes to a close.

That night it takes me a long time to drift off to sleep. When I finally do, I am following a lead, looking for evidence of rogue activity. I look around, but something seems off, as if the area hadn’t been recently traversed.

I look up about to tell the other guards on mission when my vision starts to swim. I panic, confused about my sudden lack of focus. My mind is screaming that somethings wrong, but I can’t push past the fog.

I see a blur and then I feel body hit the ground with a thud. I feel pain, and then the warmth of my own blood.

Before the rogue strikes again I jolt awake, breathing heavy and covered in sweat. My breath comes out in gasps.

I feel Nara press closer to the surface, lending me her strength. “It’s over now. He didn’t strike again, Kaine saved you.”

I gulp air, trying to steady my breath. Nara doesn’t say anything else for a long time, as my breathing returns to normal, but she stays close.

Eventually, when my heart has found it’s normal rhythm she speaks again. “Although the rogue is gone, I must ask, did you forget about the amulet?”

I have not.

“Then you will also remember who gave it to you. I think it is time you accept the truth about what Bianca has done. What happened that night was not an accident.”

I swallow. I had my suspicions of course, but I tried to suppress them. I couldn’t face that my own sister had plotted to have me killed.

She hated me, sure, but I had hoped that family meant something to her somewhere deep down. I was wrong. I have no choice but to face that now. She’s dangerous.

“You need to tell Kaine.”

Nara’s right, I should tell Kaine, but something stops me. What if it backfires?

Bianca already suspects me of sleeping with Kaine, if she finds out about the pregnancy there is no telling what lengths she will go to in order to keep that from coming to light. I need to be careful.