Crown of Blood

16.2.|| Fragile Hearts

Kat was seething. She hadn't expected the King of Iride to accept her proposal. She hadn't even expected him to be there to meet her, if she were honest. What annoyed her most, however, was his existence.

He was handsome. So handsome, that all the magical protection in the world couldn't deny that. Had they really been involved? Had she touched him, kissed him? Had he been hers?

Her head throbbed as she tried to find the answers to those questions and deny them at the same time. She remembered the pain. She remembered crying because of him. New information trickled in like ice cold needles piercing her skin.

He told her he loved her. Then he took her virtue and abandoned her on an empty beach to die. He'd hurt her in ways no one had before.

And yet...

Goodbye, Kit-Kat.

That stupid nickname haunted her. It didn't sound disdainful. It only sounded... sad. Like an inside joke between them which had lost its power.

The only good to come out of all of that was Jinx still being by her side. Once the meeting was over, she'd been given a horse and now rode just a few steps behind Kat. Her wrists were still chained, but she no longer seemed to care. Her eyes were downcast.

"You," Kat said. "Get over here." She desperately needed a distraction and this was a better one than most.

Jinx ignored her. Kat clicked her tongue in annoyance, but slowed her horse the slightest bit so that they could fall in line. The rest of her envoy did the same, leaving the two of them in the lead.

"What was that?" she asked.

"Just leave me alone," Jinx mumbled.

"I'm sure you didn't go through all that trouble just to tell me to go away."

Jinx raised her eyes. They were filled with tears that slid down her face with the movement. Even if she could no longer remember things properly, Kat was sure she'd never seen Jinx cry before. She didn't seem like the kind of person to ever cry.

"You could have gone with them."

"I said leave me alone." In a burst of magic, Jinx was on fire.

The horse under her spooked and reared, but she held on tightly. The flames doused and simmered until they were off, but her outburst made a true impression. There were gasps from their entourage and the sound of whining horses and terrified men. Kat herself was taken aback by the power of the display,

"I'm already sacrificing enough for you," Jinx said between her teeth. "The least you could do is give me a few fucking hours."

Kat didn't say anything, but continued to ride next to the other woman. Hours ticked by as they made their way to the nearest garrison. Even if she hadn't planned on what to do in case the negotiations went sour, Kat saw no point in returning to Corosa. It was much too far from the border and she knew that she and her magic were her army's best hope.

Thoughts of Leila had her stomach twisting. She hadn't told her friend about the meeting with the king of Iride. She claimed she wanted to see the status of the border villages. She didn't feel like telling Leila about her plans against their enemy and she wasn't sure why. Her friend and closest advisor was all for war. She'd been pressing Kat about it for weeks. And yet, something held her back. A fear of criticism which felt misplaced. Why would she care so much if Leila agreed with something or not?

"I hope," Jinx said, startling Kat out of her thoughts, "that you realize the weight of my sacrifice."

"What are you talking about?"