The late afternoon sun slanted across the courtyard of the main mansion, turning the charcoal stone paths to warm slate and catching the spray from the central fountain in a fine, glittering mist.
It was Saturday, and Kira had wandered out here alone to take so fresh air, since Derek was all holed up in his office, buried in work, and she didn’t have anyone else to speak to. She sat on the wide lip of the fountain, her slippers abandoned beside her, and bare feet dangling in the cool water. Her toes traced lazy circles, sending gentle ripples across the surface. In her lap, her diary lay open. She had written the na "CLAIRE" in bold capital letters, circling it so many tis.
She was only half conscious of her surroundings, because most of her thoughts kept drifting back to the sa thought: Who was Claire? And why had that woman called her by that na?
She had returned to the sa shopping centre twice since that odd encounter, but the woman had vanished without a trace. With a soft sigh, she added a large question mark beside the circled na and sucked her teeth in frustration, narrowing her eyes at the page.
A shadow suddenly fell across the page.
"Well, well," ca a warm, amused voice. "If it isn’t the Queen who’s managed to steal my cousin’s heart and half his sanity in record ti."
Kira looked up, startled, then broke into an involuntary smile when she saw Kai standing a few steps away, arms folded, that trademark mischievous grin already in place. He wore a casual linen shirt, sleeves rolled to the elbows, dark jeans, and looked far too comfortable for soone who technically wasn’t even living in the palace of Dravengard.
"Kai," she said, closing her diary. "I didn’t know you were still here."
"Officially, I’m ’consulting on security upgrades.’" He unfolded his arms and strolled closer, dropping down to sit on the fountain edge beside her, close enough that their shoulders almost brushed, but not so close she felt crowded. "Unofficially, I’m avoiding my own pack because my mother keeps asking when I’m going to settle down and give her grandbabies. Figured I’d rather annoy Derek than endure another lecture about legacy."
Kira laughed despite herself, the sound surprising her. It had been days since anything felt light enough to laugh at. Kai had always been nice to her, but they had never had a proper conversation.
"Poor you," she teased. "Trapped between a rock and a hard place. Or should I say between a mother and a cousin who looks at you like he’s calculating how much force it would take to throw you off the nearest balcony?"
Kai clutched his chest in mock offence. "You wound , Your Highness. I’m delightful company. Everyone says so."
"Everyone except Derek, apparently."
"Especially Derek," he agreed cheerfully. "Which is why I like you already. Anyone who can make His Grace scowl harder than usual has my eternal respect."
He dipped his fingers into the fountain water and flicked a few droplets at her, grinning when she yelped and swatted at him.
"Oi!" Kira laughed again, flicking water back. "I’m trying to have a dignified mont of reflection here."
"Dignified?" Kai raised both brows. "You’re sitting barefoot in a fountain, annoying Derek as much as you can, singing ’Sweet but Psycho’ at the top of your lungs at twelve in the morning. Dignity left the building a few weeks ago, darling."
Her cheeks heated at the reminder of that night a few weeks ago. "You heard about that?"
"Trust , the whole east wing heard about that," he said, eyes dancing. "I was tempted to co film it for blackmail purposes, but I decided I’d rather keep you as a friend than a target."
Kira tilted her head, studying him. "You’re not what I expected from Derek’s family anyway."
"How so?"
"You actually smile. And you don’t look at like I’m a walking diplomatic disaster. Everyone else does. Well, except for Nana and a handful of others."
Kai shrugged, leaning back on his hands so the sleeves of his shirt slid higher, revealing tanned forearms corded with muscle. "I’ve spent enough years around brooding Lycan royalty to know it’s exhausting. Soone has to keep the mood from turning into a funeral. Besides—" he shot her a sidelong glance, grin turning sly "—you’re interesting. Most people either cower or simper when they’re dropped into this family. You just... keep being you. It’s refreshing."
Kira felt an unexpected warmth bloom in her chest. Not attraction, but the quiet relief of simply being seen as a person instead of a problem or a threat.
"Careful, Kai," she said, nudging his shoulder lightly with hers. "Keep talking like that, and I might start liking you."
"Perish the thought," he replied, voice mock-serious. "Derek would have my head on a pike by breakfast."
They both laughed, the sound mingling with the steady trickle of the fountain.
After a comfortable beat of silence, Kai nudged her back. "So, tell honestly. How are you finding this marriage? Or should I say, how are you surviving it?"
Kira exhaled, her gaze dropping to the rippling water around her toes. "I’m... managing. One day at a ti. Mostly by annoying him and pretending the mansion isn’t a very luxurious cage."
Kai’s grin softened into sothing almost gentle. "You’re doing better than most would. And for what it’s worth—" he leaned in conspiratorially "—I’ve known Derek since we were boys. He doesn’t let people close. Ever. But you’ve already got under his skin more than anyone I’ve seen. Keep doing that. It’s good for him."
Kira t his eyes, surprised by the sincerity beneath the playfulness. "You really think so?"
"I know so," he said simply. "Now co on. I want to corrupt the queen of Dravengard, and if we’re doing so, we should at least start with sothing fun. There’s a rooftop terrace on the west wing with the best view in the city, and a stash of truly terrible cheap wine I’ve been saving for an ergency. I can also give you an interesting version of a tour. I heard Connor gave you one, but he is too polite to be fun. What do you say?"
She hesitated only a second before smiling. "Lead the way."
Kai stood and offered her his hand with exaggerated gallantry. "Your wish, my command, Your Highness."
Kira took it, letting him pull her to her feet.
And sowhere in the mansion, behind the tinted floor-to-ceiling window, Derek watched their figures walking side by side, fingers tightening around the glass of whisky he was drinking, while his beast gave a low, restless growl he refused to na.
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