Yena let out a soft, frustrated noise and grabbed his neck, pulling him down for a hungry, desperate kiss. She tasted like raw anxiety and fierce loyalty.
Kai kissed her back hard, gripping her waist and lifting her slightly so she pressed firmly against his chest.
They stayed hidden in the closet, sharing a frantic moment of stolen heat while royal guards marched past the wooden door.
"Get out of the palace," Kai ordered softly when they finally broke apart. He kissed her forehead and stepped back to give her space.
"Wait for my signal at the inn. When the sky turns blue, you'll know the Matriarch is dead."
Yena nodded slowly, fixing her wrinkled uniform.
"Don't make me come back here to collect your corpse."
She slipped out of the closet first, blending seamlessly into the flow of passing servants. Kai waited a few minutes before returning to his private suite.
The afternoon sun baked the marble balcony, casting long shadows across his expensive silk bed.
