Kane wanted to return their smiles, but his mouth wouldn’t cooperate. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Doran and Solara had robbed him. While they’d returned to Renny on Vega, he’d spent two groggy days in the underground compound before his memory had returned, and that was two days he could’ve used to track Cassia. He knew he’d forgive his friends eventually, but today wasn’t that day.
He gestured at Doran’s wrist. “More like your dream just came true. Now you have a legit reason for never leaving her side.”
“Hey,” Solara objected, but then the synchronized click of a dozen boots sounded from the other end of the hall, and they turned to find another squadron approaching, wearing uniforms Kane recognized as belonging to the royal guard.
The guards came to a halt in the lobby and parted to reveal Cassia, who was dressed like royalty from the waist up and a soldier from the hips down, in a red satin tunic above black leggings and knee-high boots that matched those of her men. Kane’s heart leaped at the sight of her…until he scanned her face and his insides sank to the floor.
Oh, Cassy, he mouthed.
The furious girl from his imagination was gone, replaced by a shadow version of herself with sunken cheeks, hollowed from weight loss, and weary, bloodshot eyes that told him she hadn’t slept well in days, maybe weeks.
She had survived, but at a terrible cost.
He could only imagine the things the Daeva had done to her. A fresh surge of guilt erupted within his ribs. He should’ve listened to his instincts on Vega and stayed with her instead of running away like an injured dog…and then letting another girl lick his wounds. He’d failed Cassia in the worst possible way, because he hadn’t simply been absent when she’d needed him; he’d pushed her out of his mind.
Did she hate him as much as he hated himself?
Glancing at her, it was hard to tell. Her gaze sparked when it met his, and for an instant he thought he saw a hint of a smile, but he blinked once and it was gone. She kept looking down and fidgeting with her hands as though she couldn’t decide what to do. He wanted to close the distance between them and gather her in a hug, but something in her expression warned him not to. He didn’t deserve to touch her anyway.
Finally, he told her, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s my fault. I should’ve sent word to you sooner.” She nervously tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “We’ll have the grid up and running again soon.”
“I’m not talking about the shield.”
Her cheeks colored.
“Are you okay?” he said, and immediately cursed himself for asking such an idiotic question. Of course she wasn’t okay. “What happened? Did Marius let you go?”
She answered with a dry laugh, then lifted her right hand to reveal a scab bisecting the pad of her index finger. “No. I gave him what he wanted.” A tiny smirk played on her lips. “Or what he thought he wanted. I’m sure he’s regretting that decision now.”
It took a moment for Kane to absorb the meaning. He’d been away from Eturia for so long he’d forgotten the royal custom of joining bloodlines. Then realization hit with the force of ten solar flares and nearly knocked him off his feet.
“You married him?”
He wasn’t sure if he’d asked the question out loud. The choking sensation in his chest felt like the time he’d accidentally inhaled a sip of Crystalline. His lungs had burned and refused to draw air until he’d coughed himself raw. He felt that way now, like he needed to cough in order to breathe.
“A few days ago,” she said. “He’s honeymooning in a jail cell down the hall.”
A few days. That was nearly how long Kane had spent dazed and useless in the underground compound. He should’ve tried harder, reached her sooner. After all the years she’d spent running from Marius, she’d had to marry him anyway. She’d had to stand in the temple and kiss him…and then do a lot more than kissing after the ceremony ended.
No. He couldn’t think about that.
Instead, he peered into the eyes of his closest friend, wishing more than anything he could rewind time. “I should have been here.” He knew he’d spoken aloud, because he heard the subtle shift of his voice breaking. “I’m so sorry, Cassy.”
As soon as he spoke her name, the guard standing beside her went rigid and growled, “You will address your queen as Her Royal Colonial Highness.”
Kane blinked at the man and noticed he was a Booter, not a royal guard, and a high-ranking one if the colorful bars tacked to his shoulders were any indication. He seemed young, no more than twenty-five, but with an arrogant, dour attitude that made Kane want to rebreak his crooked nose.
Cassia waved him off. “It’s fine. These are friends, and we’re not in public.”
“Wait a minute,” Kane said as the Booter’s words finally sank in. He wrenched his gaze back to Cassia. “Queen?” Did that mean her parents had died during the war? Panic gripped him. He still didn’t know if his own mother had survived the bombings.