Page 70 of The Ashborn

Chapter 27

—Kienna—

When Moira fell asleep, Kienna left her to rest. It was weird, brushing her hair. She only knew it worked well enough for her when Moira would do it. She left the room to find Danek sitting alone at the table. “Tristian and Tislin?” she asked.

Danek shrugged. “Tislin made Tristian leave and then went to bed. I’m not good enough company, apparently.” He said it with a laugh, but Kienna could tell he was struggling.

“Care for a walk?”

She didn’t wait for Danek to answer as she sauntered to the front door, opening it and waiting for him to follow. Leaving his full plate on the table, he stood and approached the door. Kienna tried to give him a winning smile, one he’d respond to. He passed by her without any acknowledgement. Kienna pursed her lips together and closed the door.

The moon accentuated the silver beads of cobblestone roads as they entered the Dove Port streets. Musicians paraded, playing a string quartet. The breeze floated from the sea and nipped Kienna’s shoulders. She still wore the shirt Danek bought her—at least she was sure it was Danek. He never said anything about it. Shivering, she lit her hands with a faint warmth pulsing in her veins, hugging her arms to stave away the cold.

She wondered how long she would enjoy her power before either Tristian or Connak finally mentioned it. Everyone knew now. Kienna expected they’d bring a new charm in no time. Until then, she’d reap the benefits of being able to warm herself.

Connak found Ash, in case you were worried, Ruva’s voice pushed through.

What took him so long? Kienna asked, embracing the silence that continued between her and Danek.

He got roped into a card game. Ash has apparently joined a men’s group at the sawmill.

Kienna laughed to herself, which caught Danek’s attention. She held her half-smirk on her face and glanced at him through the side of her eyes. It was strange to look up at him instead of eye-level. He bit his cheek, working his strong jaw. Her fingers grazed the rings she wore, thinking of something to say that would break the uncomfortable quiet lurking between them. “Are your hands still in pain? Connak should be returning soon.”

“Where’s your favorite place in this city?” Danek asked.

Kienna jerked back. She never considered it before. She stopped walking to put together a coherent thought. There were so many places she loved. The workshop with Ash. The Brass Knot. The shipyard.

“The Lysiria,” she responded. It was a generic answer. Who wouldn’t love looking at the sea, the great expanse of the unknown? It offered adventures she could dream of now that she knew what Alistile had to offer.

Danek grinned. “Care to see it from the ship?”

Kienna cared nearly too much. She gripped Danek’s arm and let him escort her to the shipyard. The men had already closed the docks for the evening. Ships sat beyond Dove Port, rocking steadily with the waves deeper into the sea. They silhouetted in the moonlight, deep blues shimmering with the stars reflecting off the water.

“Were you able to build the platforms and stairs?” Kienna asked.

“No.” Danek shook his head, staring at his hands and then her. “I want you to see it, though. We can climb.”

Kienna shifted her focus to his hands. The tips bruised with a fading gray. Anyone could have missed it, but now and then, Danek harbored a blue glow in his fingers that went missing when Tislin touched him.

“Let me try, please,” Danek said. His voice came like the edge of a sword that told Kienna not to fight him on it. “For you.”

“Do I let you fall if you give out?” she asked.

“You manage to catch yourself when you’re afraid, right?”

Kienna inhaled and held her breath, rubbing at her shoulder to determine if she’d be strong enough. She trailed the ship’s height to calculate how far Danek would drop. It wouldn’t be a big risk climbing the unfinished planks if he fell near the keel. If he fell further up… She shook her head. Danek knew how to climb.

“Up you go, then,” she teased.

Danek gripped a plank and winced, but he ignored it, taking another plank.

Please don’t fall, Ruva whined.

He’ll fall and save himself, or I fall, and he’ll save me. Either way, his magic comes back. Now that I think about it⁠—

The wolf howled. Don’t you dare.

I thought you liked Danek. You don’t think he’ll catch me?