Kensi always traveled with us when we left home, and this time was no exception. Papa's townhouse was open and ready when we arrived and all I had to do was change clothes before I headed out to my first lecture.

The professor was not nearly as dynamic and engaging as my Ambrose, but the topic should have been enough to hold my attention. I was anxious, however. I knew Ambrose was coming to Karami, that I would see him in a matter of days. My belly flipped and my heart skipped at the possibilities.

The possibilities were stark and few. He would accept and forgive my deception, or he wouldn't. He would become my lover, or he wouldn't. Either of those paths could happen concurrently or independently of the other and I had no idea where or how the chips would fall.

I was surprised when the lecture closed and counted myself fortunate that I made a habit of recording live lectures when I attended them. My mind wandered far too often, and I honestly had no clue what I had just watched. I was annoyed, of course. My mind was never so easily disrupted. I hoped I could manage and settle myself quickly. Otherwise, this entire trip could be wasted, all because I took a leap of faith.

I needed a distraction from my distractions and resolved to spend an evening at one of my favored clubs. Anticipation curled in my belly when I strode through a private entrance to my reserved rooms. Veiled servants helped me change out of my gown into a silver dress with a form-fitting bodice that allowed strategic peeks at my skin while concealing my scars. My flowing skirts fell in layers around my legs, and matching heeled sandals made me tower over the Karim women around me. A shimmering silver mask covered my entire face leaving only my eyes and mouth visible and fitted down my throat to completely cover the scar.

Sparkling fingerless gloves that went up over my elbows completed my ensemble. Here I was Lady K, faceless and icy, with my pale hair pulled up into a high braid.

I took my seat on a balcony off my room that overlooked the club's public playrooms. I scanned the activities and settled down to enjoy the show. Tension and distress eased away while I immersed myself in the vigorous sensual activities around me. I allowed the eddies of abandon, desire, and passion to swirl around and through me, taking me out of my own head as nothing else ever could. A few hours later I snapped out of my haze when I spotted flaming red hair threading through the crowd below me.

It couldn't be Ambrose, could it? His hair was a darker, richer red, wasn't it? A moment later I was sure it wasn't my Ambrose. This man's hair was shorter, brassier, and when he glanced up and around, his eyes were a dull and sickly green.

Gods. How many red-haired men was I going to notice before I finally faced the only one I wanted? The man's gaze fell on me and a moment later I realized he was boldly -indeed, rudely- staring. I narrowed my eyes and pointedly turned away, dismissing him. He bore such a striking resemblance to Remus Fanche that I had to presume they were brothers, twins even.

Perhaps they were related to my Ambrose. Dru had a twin brother whom I had never met. She didn't talk about him much, but it was entirely possible that Remus and this man were his offspring. My train of thought was broken when a servant approached with a bow.

"Lady K, His Lordship Prince Robin Fanche requests the pleasure of your company."

Ah, so he was a Fanche, just not the one I was yearning for, and thus I had no interest whatsoever in meeting him.

"Please inform His Lordship that I'm not in the mood to entertain, Nanci."

I arched a brow when the girl shivered. "My Lady, His Lordship was most insistent."

"Then he will be disappointed. If he causes you problems, I will deal with him."

Nanci bowed again and left me.

I put Robin Fanche out of my mind and turned back to watching, easing myself back into the flow of emotions. Moments later, the door to my room rattled and burst open.

I rose slowly, watching the man himself stride arrogantly across my room to the balcony.

"Lady K," he gave a mocking bow. "Good evening,"

I remained silent and still, relaxed but poised. The bastard that dared invade my sanctuary moved forward and picked up my half-full goblet to drain the dark red wine within.

"A fine vintage," he pronounced and raked my body with those dull eyes. "Did you really think you could deny me, wench? I am a Peer of the Realm, bitch," he laughed roughly. "The rightful heir to Hyki. No one denies me."

I waited for him to make a move for me and when he did, I lashed out, striking him in the chest with my knuckles. I followed that with a sharp punch to the throat and a knee to his face as he collapsed to the floor.

"You are a fool, sir," I informed him calmly as he wheezed and choked at my feet. "I don't give a fuck who you are, Peer or pauper, the only bitch here is you."

I stepped around him and pulled a bell rope to alert the guards. He was still choking when they dragged him away.

With my evening ruined, I summoned my carriage and went home to study the day's lecture.

***

I was surprised to receive a note at breakfast the next day. It was an apology from the proprietor of the club. She begged me to forgive her for Prince Fanche's behavior and took full responsibility for the intrusion on my solitude.

Bemused, I put the matter aside and enjoyed my meal with Papa.

It wasn't easy or cheap to get seafood and fresh fruit in Karami, but we both agreed that the expense was well worth it. Karim fare was bland on our Hykini palates. The one time I tried it I spent the remainder of the day with a heavy, sour feeling in my stomach.

"Did you enjoy the lecture yesterday?"

"Hardly," I sighed. Even curled on a comfortable lounger in my room, I hadn't followed the recording as closely as I should have. "I'm afraid I am badly distracted."

Papa gave me a loving smile and refilled my papaya juice. "Hardly surprising," he chuckled. "Meeting a potential suitor can be distracting."

"He's hardly a suitor, Papa," I remarked wryly. "We've never spoken more than a few words to each other in person," I added, "and he was so distraught at the time that I'm sure he doesn't even recall."

Papa frowned. "So, you have met him before."

That's when I remembered that I hadn't told Papa who I was meeting. "At Dru's memorial," I murmured, wondering how best to break the news.

Papa's frown deepened. "We didn't spend much time in Hyki City. It must have been a terribly brief..." His gray eyes sharpened, and his frown cleared. I smiled, sipping my juice. "Good gods, you mean Prince Rafal?"

I nodded and patted my lips with my napkin. "I only knew him as Master Ambrose," I explained. "I didn't know he was Dru's son until I saw him put her urn in the Fanche family crypt."

Papa took a deep breath and blinked rapidly. "My, how things do turn out," he muttered. "All the years we failed to get you two together and you find each other anyway. Marvelous."

"I never told him the truth of who I am," I confessed quietly. "He only knows me as his student, Kayla D."

"But that is exactly who you are, Kay-love," Papa insisted. "I doubt His Grace will care what you call yourself. He didn't label himself as the Heir of Hyki, after all."

"Oh, true," I laughed, feeling much better about the whole thing. "I'm sure he has reasons, though."

"As do you, my dear," Papa saluted me with his juice, and I laughed harder at his cheeky wink. "May you and Ambrose, I mean Rafal, I mean His Grace, find each other as attractive in person as you do by letter."

***

I had three lectures to attend today, and I was determined to get my mind off of Ambrose. I arrived early for the first one and took a seat near the front to better focus. As I waited for the professor, I scrolled through the corresponding assignment and made notes of points I needed to be clarified.

Hours later, I had to accept that my attention span was not going to align with my resolve. I scheduled myself into follow-up lectures with glum determination. Perhaps after I met with Ambrose, I would be more capable of putting my mind on task.

It was late evening when I returned to the townhouse and found that Papa was out. My spirits dropped a bit lower at the prospect of a solitary supper, but I shook myself out of it. Papa rarely abandoned me for his societal obligations. I didn't expect to be eating alone again the next day, but I did.

A cryptic note awaited me when I returned home from my round of lectures, and it left me more bewildered than anything else.

Kay,

   Called to the Manor on urgent business. May be a few days.

  Don't fret.

  Home soon.

  -All my love,

         Papa

What the hell? Why would Papa be spending days at Karami Manor? He wasn't affiliated with the Domai at all.

A moment later I smacked my forehead with the heel of my hand and groaned.

Of course. Prince Rafal was Domai of Karami as well. Sudden fear swept through me at the thought of my mischievous and well-meaning Papa alone with my Ambrose.

Holy hell. I would never live it down if Papa exposed me to the Domai. I hurried to the study to send an urgent link to Papa's com and growled in frustration when it was immediately redirected. I didn't leave a message and jumped when my com chimed.

"Papa?"

"Hullo, Kay-love," his smile calmed me only slightly. "Didn't you get my note?"

"Yes, but," I licked my dry lips and cleared my throat. "Papa, why are you with Ambrose...Prince Rafal... at the Manor?"

His soft laughter didn't help me remain calm. "His Grace is aware that I spent time with Dru,  learning to use our Gifts. He requested my assistance in that capacity."

I nodded and rubbed my hands together to try to control my panic. "Papa, I would like to speak with Ambrose myself," I said quietly.

My father's look of shock brought an immediate shameful blush to my cheeks. "Kay, I would never," he said softly.

"I know...I know, Papa. I'm sorry."

"No need, love," he smiled at me gently. "This matter has you quite out of sorts. Just take your ease now. I must attend His Grace, and we will speak again in a few days, yes?"

I nodded, too emotional to speak, and closed the link.

Gods. How could I be so stupid? Papa would never do such a thing to me, and I knew it. I couldn't bring myself to eat much of the fine supper Kensi served me. I dragged myself to bed early and downed over half a bottle of brandy before I finally found sleep.

I paid for my excess drinking the next morning and rescheduled all of my lectures. I was incapable of attending anything but a steaming bath and a dark room today. Kensi was kind enough to attend to me in hushed whispers and stopped the maids from opening my drapes while I lay curled up in my bed, a ball of misery under the covers.

"Just ring when you want your bath, milady," Kensi murmured. He left me a tray with buttered toast and a carafe of coffee on the bedside table.

I whimpered in gratitude and inched a hand out of my cocoon to grasp a slice of toast. I nibbled on it with a soft groan of appreciation. The bread was fresh and warm, just crisp enough to be satisfying. My tormented belly settled as I swallowed the last bite and drifted back to sleep.

I was gentle with myself for the rest of the day, taking a leisurely bath before settling into a dimmed study to go over my recordings. I found it odd that I was focused enough to complete the assignment with my head pounding. I managed to sip on a seafood broth with crispy crackers for another solitary supper and turned in just after dusk.

My dreams were dark and chaotic, and I awoke feeling sluggish to a dreary day washed gray by heavy clouds that seeped an annoying drizzle instead of an honest rain.

I sighed and resolved to spend the day indoors again. My spirits lifted considerably when Kensi handed me a note from Papa telling me to expect him home no later than supper tonight. I thanked Kensi and tucked into my breakfast with renewed energy.

It didn't escape my notice that my mood dipped so low in Papa's absence. We kept each other in good spirits, sharing bright energy through our Gift. I suffered a moment of bleak despair, knowing the day would come when he was no longer walking this world and quickly shoved it away.

That day was not today. I would push it as far off as I could for as long as I could. 

I changed my plans and went out into the colorless day. There were no lectures today, so I wandered the Market looking over fresh fruits from the mountains. I recalled a time when these stalls weren't worth the effort. That was before Rafal became Domai. He implemented reforms that allowed farmers and artisans to take full advantage of their proximity to the Imperial Compound. As a result, prosperity swept across the entire province and spilled over to neighboring lands.

I found a few trinkets that intrigued me, and I parted with enough coin to leave smiles in my wake. When the clouds parted enough to allow a few weak streams of sunlight to cascade through, I found a cafe and bought a bowl of hearty venison stew with warm brown bread for lunch. The meat was gamey, but the carrots, potatoes, and onions along with highly creative seasonings gave it a savory flavor that satisfied my Hykini palate. I even drank two mugs of frothy cider.

I was momentarily startled to see Robin Fanche with a group of rough-looking young men being herded along by Steward Kovax and several Imperial Guards. The young men all held bags and carried pointed poles. Steward Kovax lined them up and set them to gather scraps of refuse around the square.

I chuckled to myself, as the arrogant Prince from a few nights ago shuffled by my table in sullen silence, poking angrily at random bits of trash. He didn't recognize me, of course, and I hid my humor behind my mug.

Truly, an uplifting moment.

I wandered home with my purchases and read in my room until Kensi sent a maid to fetch me down to supper. Anticipating seeing Papa again made me hurry down the stairs and a squeal of happiness pealed forth when I saw my dear father sipping brandy at the table.

I rushed to him, and he stood to embrace me with a happy laugh. We stood together for a few heartbeats, soaking in the presence of each other.

"I quite see what you find so attractive in our Domai, my dear," he murmured playfully. "If I was twenty years younger, I might fight you for him."

"Papa!" I gasped and joined him in laughing. "Dru was like a sister to you!"

"Aye, and that young man of hers is a feast," he winked. "Ah Kay-love, I do hope you don't mind sharing, though. Young Ramsi Thorne is firmly rooted in Prince Rafal's heart, and I've no idea how long they've been together."

"It must be new," I insisted. "He would have told me if he was involved with anyone."

"You're certain?" Papa pulled out a chair for me and sat close.

"Absolutely."

If Ambrose was seeing Ramsi before he came to Karami, I knew he would tell me. 

"Well, young Thorne was rather fierce about Rafal," Papa sighed. "So, I do hope he is of a mind to share the Prince if you are."

"Papa," I bit my lips as a dreadful thought occurred to me. "What if I waited too long? What if Rafal no longer wants me now that he has Ramsi?"

Papa shrugged and patted my hand. "I cannot begin to say, my dear. He didn't speak of you in my presence, and I didn't mention you. I don't think he knows Kayla D and Makayla Dyxn are the same person yet. Only fools borrow trouble. Bide your time and find out when you see him where things stand. He hasn't called it off, has he?'

Hope sprang to life amid my growing despair. "He hasn't but I've not had any letters from him since we got here."

"Why would he write, love?" Papa chuckled. "You're both here in town and will see each other in a few days. What's the point?"

As usual, Papa calmed my fears, and we spent the rest of the evening catching up. He didn't speak much about whatever he was doing these past days at the Manor. Instead, he relayed tales of the antics of the Manor folk, the Rangers guarding Rafal and his inner circle. He kept me laughing for hours, even over our after-supper brandy.

It was late when we finally bid each other good night and I slept deeply and restfully for the first time in days.