No one is safe so long as the Voider is in our world.
I hobble to Deven on the balcony, bringing my unease with me. I have difficulty believing the raiders could not find a way onto the island. The Voider certainly gave them the proper motivation to try.
Deven watches the city intensely, dissecting every weakness of this stronghold. Lestari is lusher than the desert surrounding Vanhi but as isolated as the Alpana Mountains where I was raised. I still miss home, usually when I think of my best friend, Jaya. But remembering her requires that I also think of her death, and that hurts too much to dwell on.
Deven’s temples bounce, his jaw is so rigid. He must be thinking of his family. I slip my hand closer to his on the banister. His pinkie finger reaches for me. I do not glance at our tiny link, but his jaw loosens and my knotted stomach relaxes.
Natesa romps back into my chamber. “My antechamber is huge!” Yatin strolls in after her, his hair and shirt mussed as though they had been kissing. “The vanity has makeup, and I found silks in the wardrobe. I’ll help fix up your appearance, Kalinda. We cannot let the Lestarians think our ranis are slovenly.” Only Natesa can volunteer to be of assistance while criticizing someone at the same time. “What time is supper?”
“Soon, I hope,” Yatin answers, patting his slimmed-down girth.
Natesa grabs him and Deven by the arm and drags them to the door. “You both need to leave.” Yatin goes willingly, but Deven digs in his heels.
“We can wait on the terrace—”
Natesa shoves him out, shuts the door, and whirls around. Her critical gaze sweeps over me. “Let’s hope supper is running late.”
I bottle a retort—I know better than to back talk when she is preparing to beautify me.
While Natesa searches the wardrobe for a garment I can wear to supper, I sit at the vanity before the mirror glass. My cheekbones are sharper than usual and my skin is a sallow yellow. She was right. I do need her to fix me up.
For a second, my pupils flash with a sapphire flame. I blink and peer closer at my reflection. My eyes have returned to their normal deep brown, stark against my pallid complexion, yet the memory persists.
You’re just as safe as the rest of us.
Am I really? The Voider is far away, but a piece of him is right here. Planted inside me.
I drop my face in my hands. Before the Voider poured his cold-fire into me, my powers were improving and expanding. I had mastered soul-fire and nature-fire. Wildfires heeded my command. Flames bowed to embers at my feet. I even summoned a dragon of fire and rode upon its back. I should not fear a flash of blue in a mirror glass. And if it were only my imagination, I would easily overlook it. But agony has a long memory, and the cold inside me will not let go.
4
DEVEN
Yatin is stationed on the opposite side of Kali’s door. We stare forward, arms tucked close, and stand guard. The hushed corridors allow my thoughts to wander back to Indah and Kali’s earlier conversation. They assumed they talked quietly, but I overheard enough. The datu trusts Kali—a wise decision. But Kali is not the prince’s intended, and the datu should not pressure her to commit to him or compel her to choose between us. That is the very reason I have not imposed my will on her. I will not offer her my future just to outpace another man or from fear of losing her. When I ask Kali to spend her life with me, my proposal will originate from love, and love only.
Thinking of proposals reminds me . . . I look askance at Yatin. “What happened to your lotus ring? Did you lose it?”
“No.”