A Queen of Gilded Horns (A River of Royal Blood #2) - Amanda Joy Page 0,20

me any of this? If he wanted me to fight for the khimaer, why keep me in the dark?

A muscle flexed in Aketo’s jaw. “As I said, the situation is dire. That is why I joined the Queen’s Army. Not just for the chance to leave the Enclosure, but so that I could go to Ternain and attend Court. My mother hoped that I would find allies there. And I did believe you were my best chance in find anyone sympathetic.”

It must have been so frustrating then when my actions—first fleeing the capital for Asrodei before my nameday, and then leaving again afterward—had kept him from seeking any allies.

“I was naïve when I left my home,” Aketo continued. “First I thought Throllo was an outlier and that most humans were like the King and General Nafi. I thought there was a way to fix this without rebellion. But by the time I reached Ternain, I had spent four months training at Fort Asrodei. By then I knew how wrong I was. The noble-born soldiers were determined that I knew my place as a khimaer. As a beast. When I met you, I was afraid you would be another disappointment.”

“And once you knew me, why didn’t you tell me then?”

He stepped close until we stood less than a foot apart and extended a hand, expression plaintive. “You were a bit busy running for your life at the time, Eva.”

At this I laughed without mirth. I stepped forward, taking his fingers in mine. “I understand.”

Still he frowned down at me, suspicious. “How reasonable of you.”

I canted my head and offered my most convincing smile. “I can be reasonable.”

“You can,” he allowed, “but I can tell you’re still upset.”

Not so convincing, then.

I didn’t know why I even bothered. He would know, with his ability to sense the emotions of everyone near him. And Aketo was quite determined about taking note of mine, most especially when I was keen on doing just the opposite.

Of course he sensed the sudden sadness in me. Knowing he’d held this in for so long made my eyes burn with unshed tears. Because I should have asked. I should have begged him every night to talk of his home and his family. But I’d spent the last months focused solely on my problems without worrying about him.

I rose up on my toes, aiming for his mouth, but I could only reach his throat and so I kissed him there. “I’m not upset with you.”

“Not even about hiding the affair?” Aketo murmured into my hair.

“Not even that. I swear it.” I stepped back. “We should finish and return to camp.”

Aketo caught my arm as I turned to retrieve the buckets. “Wait, what did you want to talk about?”

Wind snaked through the underbrush, making music as it joined the chittering chorus of night bugs. I folded my arms, skin pebbling from the cold and the loss of Aketo’s warmth. “It’s altogether possible no one lives in that place. My father’s family could have abandoned it a long time ago. I figured if I can’t find out my father’s plans here, then the next best chance is asking the woman he trusted more than most. If it’s even possible to sneak into the Enclosure.”

Aketo’s loose, inky hair fell forward till only his mouth was left visible. “It can be done. I know a way.”

“Good.” If we failed tomorrow or if Papa’s family were all ghosts like him. “And since Isa’s no closer to agreeing to a truce, we should see what can be done about Throllo.”

“Thank you.”

“No more hiding anything. I will swear the same. There has to be absolute truth between us. We have to trust each other completely or this won’t work.”

Our fingers laced together. Aketo kissed the back of my hand. “I promise.”

His eyes did not leave mine as I kissed his hand and repeated the vow.

We retrieved the buckets and strode to the well. We fell into easy silence as we worked to fill them and made our way back to camp.

* * *

The next morning I woke well before the sun crested the horizon.

I dressed quickly, methodically strapping on all the supplies and weapons I’d laid out last night, and stumbled from my tent, mind still bleary with sleep. At the sight of Aketo seated by the smoldering remains of last night’s cook fire, I smiled.

I filled one of the camp’s battered copper kettles and set it atop the coals. I plopped down across from Aketo, picking