Kiva nodded her understanding, knowing enough about head injuries to not need — or want — further mollycoddling.
“Your turn,” Rhess said, relocating to sit beside Caldon. “Clothes off, if you please.”
“I thought you’d never ask,” Caldon drawled, flexing his muscles as he removed both his green jacket and white shirt, leaving him wearing only dark pants and a pair of boots.
Once again, his attempted seduction flew straight over Rhessinda’s head — as did his impressive body being on display — with her focus being solely on her task. Kiva leaned forward to look at his injury, distracted for a moment by the other scars lacing his torso, one in particular looking as if someone had tried very hard to gut him. But then she shifted her gaze to the fresh stab wound near his shoulder, the flesh around it puffy and red, the blood already clotted. Some disinfecting and a few stitches, and he would be fine.
Rhess reached the same conclusion, unstoppering a vial as she said, “This isn’t too bad.”
Kiva breathed easier at the confirmation, but then her attention was diverted by quick footsteps and low voices heralding the arrival of a small group of guards bursting through the doors to the River Room. In their lead was Jaren, the look of relief on his face when he caught sight of Kiva making her stomach flip in an undeniably pleasant way.
With long strides eating up the space between them, Jaren reached her just as she stood to greet him and drew her straight into his arms.
“I was so worried,” he whispered.
Kiva knew she should push him away, but try as she might, she simply couldn’t do it. Instead, she returned his embrace, wishing she felt repulsed or disgusted — anything other than protected and cherished.
“I’m all right,” she said quietly.
He leaned back enough to see her face, his gaze landing on her head wound, his expression tightening.
“It’s just a little bump,” she said quickly. “I can barely feel it.”
Caldon snorted, drawing Jaren’s eyes, and shared with brutal honesty, “It’s actually a concussion bad enough to make her pass out, puke her guts up, and struggle to stand on her own, with even the dimmest of lights causing her acute agony.” The prince shrugged his uninjured shoulder. “But, sure, it’s just a little bump.”
At the tension refilling Jaren’s body, Kiva hissed at Caldon, “Would you shut up? You’re not helping.”
Amusement flittered across Caldon’s face, but it turned into a wince when Rhess dabbed his wound with silverseed oil, a bitter antiseptic smell flooding the room.
“What happened to you?” Jaren asked his cousin.
With a sly look at Kiva, Caldon answered, “Your girlfriend stabbed me.”
Kiva flushed as everyone turned to her — the guards, the royals, and the healer. “It was an accident,” she said, ignoring the girlfriend remark entirely. Frowning at Caldon, she warned, “But at this rate, the next time won’t be.”
The cocky prince grinned widely, and Jaren’s chuckle sounded in Kiva’s ear, prompting her to turn back and see the humor lighting his eyes.
Distance — she needed to put some distance between them. It was the only way she’d survive all that was coming.
Clearing her throat and stepping out of his arms, Kiva glanced over at the new arrivals. Naari was there, showing vivid relief at seeing Kiva safe. Behind her stood a handful of Royal Guards and Captain Veris, the latter of whom Kiva had been introduced to during her first Trial at Zalindov, though in reality she’d met him ten years earlier. It was hard for her to look at him now, part of her fearing he might suddenly recognize her, and the other part unable to repress the memories of that horrific winter’s night when her life had changed forever.
“Well,” the queen said loudly, smiling benevolently at the guards. “What an evening we’ve all had. Thank you for your help in searching for our guest — we’re all very grateful.”
Her dismissal was kind but clear. In response, Veris gave a respectful dip of his head and ushered his troops back out the door. No doubt he would receive a full report later, but Kiva was thankful the queen was limiting her own involvement in that.
With the guards gone, Jaren, Naari, and Ariana waited for Rhessinda to leave before asking any questions. Sensing their impatience, the healer finished her sutures quickly and covered Caldon’s wound with a bandage, declaring her work done. On her way out of the room, she handed Kiva a small vial of poppymilk, warning her to awaken every few hours during the night and send for help if needed.