Gail places the plate of sticky buns between us, warm as the smile on her face.
“Look at you boys, back in my kitchen and begging for food.” Gail says this with so much endearment that she nearly chokes. She presses a hand to her heart. “Oh, how I missed this.”
Kitt nudges my shoulder with his own, looking happier than I thought possible after a day like this one. “Just like old times.”
My teeth sink into the honeyed dough. I nod. Swallow. “It would be more like old times if I threw you over this table.”
“Absolutely not,” Gail warns. “The both of you are much too big for that now—my kitchen can’t take it.” We smile at her scolding before she adds, “Where is Paedyn?”
Kitt takes a breath. Then he clutches his chest and coughs. “Is our company not enough for you anymore, Gail?”
“Don’t be smart with me, Kitt.” She plops her hands on full hips. “Forgive me for asking where your wife is on your wedding night.”
I stiffen.
“I just didn’t expect you to be spending the evening in my kitchen. Although”—the cook smiles sweetly at Kitt, having already forgotten he is now her king—“Kitty, sweetie, if you wanted to use that nifty Dual ability of yours to wash my floors like you used to, I would not be opposed.”
I am grateful for the swift change of subject. It seems Kitt is as well, because he chuckles, sounding relieved. “Don’t forget that Kai Pie here can do that for you too.”
I drop the sticky bun onto my plate. “You hate when I borrow your power.”
The words fall from my honeyed lips, though they still manage to taste bitter. I would like to blame the accusation in my voice on the very upsetting day I’ve had, but in truth, I would simply like to know where the brother went who so desperately wished to fight his own battles. The one who ached to enter the Purging Trials if only to prove the strength Father never let him use. He was tutored; I was trained. And Kitt had always dreamed of being a victor.
His earnest gaze slides to mine. “That was before I truly realized what a great team we make.” He smiles softly. “You are my strength. I am your control. We are matchless.”
I brace my arms against the rickety table. “And when did you finally figure that?”
“When I discovered my need for you was greater than my wish to be you.”
This shouldn’t startle me, but somehow, it does. “Why would you ever want that, Kitt? Father ensured that the worst parts of himself live within me.”
“So we will be so much better than him.” He holds my stare fiercely. “You and I, we will create our own legacy—a greatness that Father could have never dreamed of.”
I smile for him, because I feel as though I should. He looks happy, relieved, even, as though uttering the words has lifted a weight from his chest. Though, this tender moment only reminds me of the drastically different one I had witnessed hours ago. I’ve managed to bite my tongue until now, seeing through Kitt’s eager attempts to avoid the topic. But unfortunately, I love my brother too much to let his evasion of the subject and its accompanying awkwardness still my tongue.
“Kitt…” I start slow. “We should talk about what happened in the courtyard with Calum and—”
“Gail”—Kitt’s eyes flash a warning—“these sticky buns are delicious. Did you do something different?”
I stare back at my brother, not caring that Gail is in the room for a conversation long overdue. But I understand his secrecy on the matter, having watched him inform the Imperials that word of Calum’s death was to be contained. Few of the staff know of the brutality their king committed mere hours ago, and Gail is certainly not one of them. She does not even know what we have now learned.
“Well, I added an extra spice in this batch.” She wipes her hands on the stained apron around her waist. “This is how your mother always liked her sticky buns, Kai. She ate her fill that first year of marriage to the king. I was planning to bring one up to the tower for her.”
“A pregnancy craving?” Kitt asks, in the hope of remaining on this topic.
Gail’s face falters. “I… perhaps.”
I stare at the woman who raised me when the queen could not. The paling of her face is odd. She would have taken care of my mother when she was pregnant with me—
My heart sinks, heavy with a sudden realization.
Paedyn was born eighteen years ago, the daughter of Queen Iris and my father’s Mind Reader.
And yet, I am a year older than she.
My throat goes dry.
This is the first quiet moment I have stolen all day. Until now, I have hardly spared a thought to fit the pieces of Paedyn’s birth together. And there are still several missing—I am missing.
Gail is talking idly with Kitt. I can’t seem to make out what she is saying through the ringing in my ears.
“When were you going to tell us the truth of Queen Iris’s death?”
The cook gapes at my words. “Kai…”
“I mean”—my sudden laugh sounds crazed—“Kitt just married a lost princess, and he didn’t even know it until Father’s Mind Reader filled us in on the details.”
“What? You know…?” Gail chokes.
Kitt stands from the table at the same moment I do. “Kai, what the hell are you—”
“I’m going to find answers,” I breathe. “We are drowning in secrets, Kitt. Your wife isn’t the only one who was lied to.”
Gail’s hand is pressed to her heart, the look of regret on her face the last thing I see before striding out the doors. Kitt follows in a flurry of confusion. His steps echo behind me. “Brother, just tell me what is going on. Please.”
I turn only slightly. “I will. But only after I’ve ensured I’m right.”
Then I’m off to steal away my queen.
