“We can, but that doesn’t mean what you’re thinking is correct,” he shot back. “How were you—how wereanyof us—to know that a Revenant would climb its happy ass up a fucking castle wall and try to take Poppy out?”
I wasn’t sure if the Rev planned on taking Poppy out or just putting her in stasis. If it were the latter, it had succeeded and then some. “I should’ve been better prepared for something like that happening.”
“How? By not sleeping?” He raised his brows. “Based on your way of thinking, am I to blame for not being here?”
“I had you out there handling things. So, no.”
He shook his head. “If the shoe was on the other foot, and this happened while you were unconscious and Poppy was sleeping, would you think it was her fault?”
I scoffed. “No.”
He gave me a hard, deliberate stare.
“What the fuck ever,” I muttered. “I cannot believe you’re asking me to leave her side for some dead Ascended.”
Kieran’s shoulders rose with a deep breath as he leaned against the door. A moment passed. “Do you thinkIwant to leave her side? Or that I want to leave yours?”
I didn’t answer because I knew he wanted to be right where I was.
“The only reason I’m able to is because I know you’d be going out of your mind if not beside her,” he said when I stayed silent. “Terrified that something might happen to her or she’d wake up when you’re not here.”
That was true.
“That’s why I’ve stepped up. For the most part, it hasn’t impacted the running of Carsodonia or the kingdom. But that doesn’t mean there haven’t been problems or concerns. The people are worried and confused by everything that’s happened. Learning the truth of who and what the Ascended really are and the fact that we remain at war with those who still support the Blood Crown. Then there are the wolven patrolling the streets,” he went on as I started to frown. “We also had a godsdamn god waking from under the city Atheneum. Then there’s the people’s general distrust of Atlantians. And don’t get me started on the vamprys’ entitled fucking demands.”
“You forgot the draken flying over the city every hour,” I tacked on.
“Yes, there is that,” he said with a dry laugh.
“Whyare the wolven patrolling the streets in that form?” I asked.
Kieran arched a brow. “Are we required to hide our nature?”
I shot him a flat, unblinking look. “No.”
“But?”
“But the vast majority of the mortals here believed the wolven were extinct,” I reasoned—pretty fucking logically, if I did say so myself. “Seeing a wolf the size of a pony would beunderstandablyfrightening.”
He smirked. “They’ll get used to it.”
I shook my head at him.
“There’s also the fact that news has spread of what their new Queen actually is,” he continued. “You have no idea how many people have come to pay homage to Poppy. Naill and Perry keep running them off.”
Gods. Hearing that would make Poppy so uncomfortable. But damn straight, they should be paying homage to her.
“Then there are the others.” Kieran loosely folded his arms. “The ones who still support the Blood Crown—the wealthy land and business owners. While we set a curfew for their safety, at least until we can be sure all Ascended are accounted for, we haven’t been able to keep people in their homes.”
“I know.” My gaze shifted back to Poppy. “People have to work. They need to bring food home. They have families to care for.”
“And while they’re doing that, people are talking. Asking why neither the King nor the Queen has made any public appearances since we overthrew the Blood Crown,” he went on. “They fear they are being misled once again. And those who remain loyal to the Blood Crown are sowing that fear.”
My head cut to Kieran. “You want me to address them? Without my Queen beside me?”
“That’s not what I’m saying. You know I don’t think an address serves any real point at this moment in time.”
“Good.” My gaze tracked its way back to her. “Because right now, no one really knows what’s going on. They don’t even know for sure that we are in the capital. If I go out there,” I said, jerking my head toward the window, “people will know, withouta doubt, that something is up. And it would take no leap of logic for them to believe that she is injured or in a position where she is unable to rule. That could give others ideas, including anyone loyal to the Blood Crown, the Revenants still roaming around, and Kolis.”
