Testament (11 page)

He smiled. “It’s all right, Red. I just got here.”

Any nervousness dissipated at the sound of his nickname for me. I wondered if he wanted a rise out of me, so I decided not to give in to him. “So, what’s on tap for today?”

“I did breakfast with Emma, so how about a little stroll along the property?”

“Okay, that sounds nice.”

Kellan led me down towards the lake. The water shimmered like diamonds as a gentle breeze blew the strands of my hair and the hem of my skirt. Geese waddled up to us. He motioned for a servant who stood at the top of the hill. After a few moments, the servant produced a fresh loaf of bread. “Here, feed them this,” Kellan said.

I eyed it for a moment. It seemed wrong to throw something to the geese that so many people were dying to have. Kellan noticed my hesitation. “What’s wrong? You aren’t afraid of them, are you, Red?”

“I’m not afraid of anything,” I retorted, snatching the bread from him.

I shredded part of the loaf and tossed it to the geese. They snatched and grabbed at pieces—it was almost the same reaction that happened when people couldn’t get enough food. Kellan’s voice made me jump. “You wanna tell me what the hell that was about, Red?”

Raising my head, I glared at him. “I have a name you know.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Then why don’t you use it?”

A smirk slunk across his face. “Because I like calling you Red, and I like doing what I want.”

I rolled my eyes. “Just when I thought you couldn’t be more arrogant…”

Kellan held up his hands. “All right, all right, I concede.
Cadence
,” he paused, “tell me why you didn’t want to give the geese bread.”

“This,” I gestured to the loaf, “would mean a lot to some starving people I know. That’s why I was having a hard time giving it to some overfed palace geese.”

“Oh,” he murmured.

“That’s all you can say is ‘oh’?”

Jamming his hands in his pockets, he retorted, “What do you want me to say?”

“That you can understand why I reacted the way did, or that you feel really shitty that after everything people have been through, there are still starving people.”

He stared at me, a quizzical expression on his face. “Wow, I really don’t know how to reply to that little tirade. I mean, you really put me in my place.”

I sighed. “That wasn’t my intention. I just wanted you to realize there’s a whole world outside this property.”

“And, I appreciate that.”

I couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or sincere, so I chose to drop the subject by spreading out the last pieces of bread. Then Kellan started walking off along the shore. Rolling my eyes, I followed behind him. An uncomfortable silence hung in the air, weighing us down. Finally, my frustration broke lose, and I blurted, “Why am I here?”

Kellan arched his eyebrows. “Excuse me?”

I rolled my eyes. “I realize I’m a woman and allegedly inferior to your brainpower, but don’t insult my intelligence by pretending not to know what I’m talking about.”

“Hmm, you want to know why you’re in the Top Three?”

“Yes,” I hissed.

He smirked at me. “I’m surprised you’d even have to ask. I would think a simple glance in the mirror would answer that question.”

“But there were other girls in the Top Seven prettier than me,” I argued.

His eyes roamed from my face to take a lingering stroll along the curves my body. “I don’t think so.”

“So you’re that superficial and shallow? All you want is a pretty face you could tolerate looking at for the next fifty years or so.”

“No, that’s not the only thing about you.”

“Then what?”

“I like your spunk.” My eyes widened, as I realized Laurel had been right about him. “None of the girl’s has what you do when it comes to personality and attitude. You remind me of Venessa and…”

“And who?”

“My mother.”

“Oh,” I murmured. On impulse, my hand reached out to rub his arm. “I’m so sorry about her…well, you know.”

Kellan’s expression suddenly darkened. “She tried to overthrow my father’s regime. She became a traitor to the government and me.”

“Surely you don’t believe that.”

He raised his eyebrows in surprise. “That what she did was traitorous?”

I chewed my lip, wishing I had a tiny edit button to keep me from always saying too much. “Perhaps to the government, but not to you. I’m sure she loved you—that she still does. A mother’s love doesn’t die, especially one as strong as your mother’s.”

He sucked in a breath. “And just how do you presume to know about my mother?”

“My stylist used to work for her.”

“Laurel,” he murmured.

“Yes.”

Shrugging, he grumbled, “She’s just a lowly servant. What would she know?”

My eyes narrowed at him. “Yeah, well, we ‘lowly servants’ aren’t so intellectually stunted that we can’t see and feel, sir.”

When he stared at me in disbelief, I ducked my head. “You certainly say and do what you feel, don’t you?” he questioned.

“I suppose I do, sir.”

“You don’t have to call me sir, Re-, uh, Cadence.”

Cocking my head, “I’m sorry. I was merely doing what was expected of a lowly servant, like myself.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I cringed. It seemed whenever I was around Kellan, I let my mouth get the best of me even more than usual.

Surprisingly, he chuckled. “That mouth of yours is dangerous.” There was a gleam in his eye that led me to believe there was innuendo behind his statement. It made me feel uncomfortable, so I thought it was best to change the subject.

“Was it hard letting Venessa go? You know, since you loved her?” I asked.

“Once again, you don’t hold out on anything, do you?”

“Well, we are supposed to be getting to know each other, aren’t we?”

Kellan shrugged. “I don’t know…I mean, I’m not sure I even know what love is.”

I arched my eyebrows at him. “By your answer, I think you’re still evading the question.”

He gave me a cocky grin. “I imagined you would appreciate that answer more than if I said guys like me don’t believe in love—we’re worshippers of lust instead.”

“Really? Why, I had no idea someone of your
alleged
experience would be anything but a lover of the flesh.”

Kellan laughed. “Trust me, Red, it isn’t alleged—it’s the real thing.”

“Spare me.”

“All right, all right. I’ll answer the question,” he said, holding his hands up in surrender. “Yes, I cared about Venessa. I guess I still do.”

“Then why didn’t you fight for her?”

Kellan snorted. “Right. Like my father would have ever allowed that.”

“You could have tried. It might have meant something to Venessa to know how much you cared.”

“She knew what kind of man my father was—hers is the same. We practically grew up together. Our families used to vacation together all the time.”

“Ah, so it was easier for you to imagine yourself having a future with her since she was one of your kind?”

“My kind?”

“You know, wealthy and from the right kind of family and social standing.”

“And I would imagine you know a lot of people working in the palace and in the fields who are from the right kind of families.”

I shrugged. “Maybe they were at one time. But even before the Great Fall, they weren’t in your monetary leagues I’m sure.”

“By your position in the palace, I wouldn’t think you came from too modest means.”

“My parents were college professors. Their parents had been educated and did well for themselves. We had a nice home, and we went on nice vacations.” A lump formed in my throat. “We had a nice life,” I said in a whisper.

Kellan studied my expression before he spoke. “I assume your parents are dead.”

For a moment, I became speechless. I couldn’t tell him the truth that my parents had been killed in the religious rebellion. Kellan took pity on my hesitation and asked, “I guess they died in the Great Fall?”

“Yes,” I murmured.

“I’m very sorry about your parents, Cadence.”

When I met Kellan’s gaze, there was such sincerity it took me off guard. “Thank you.” Without asking, I sunk down onto the emerald grass near the shoreline. To my surprise, Kellan eased down beside me.

Stroking a blade a grass, he asked, “So, tell me something unusual about yourself—something that very few people know.”

I laughed. “That sounds totally staged.” At Kellan’s surprised expression, I said, “Why do I get the impression this is some standard “date” question you’re asking all of us?”

“Just answer the question, smartass,” Kellan retorted.

I pointed my finger at him. “Tsk, tsk, you really need to work on your wooing skills.” I surveyed his amused expression, and then glanced up at the sky. “So, something that’s just me.”

“It shouldn’t be that hard of a question, Cadence. After all, you’re far more complex than most of the girls I’ve met.”

“Really?”

He nodded.

I sucked in my bottom lip in and nibbled on it. The most unique thing about me was my dream interpretation. But if I told him that, would he think I was a freak?

Kellan sighed in exasperation. “Just spit it out.”

“Fine, just remember that you asked for it,” I replied. His response was to lean forward, which caused his leg to rub against my bare knee. A shiver went through me, so I rushed on and said, “Okay, so, I can interpret dreams.”

I ducked my head, bracing myself for Kellan’s laughter. When it didn’t come, I peeked at him through my hair. Instead of an expression of mocking, he wore one of curiosity. “How do you do it?” he asked.

Drawing in a deep breath, I said, “I have to be touching someone, usually holding their hands is enough. Then I have them tell me what they remember from the dream. When they do, it’s like the bits and pieces swirl together to form a perfect picture in my mind where I see the dream as they did. Once I see the dream, it’s like the symbols just become clear.”

Kellan’s expression turned to awe. I had to admit it was flattering. Very few people found my dream interpreting interesting.

“That’s amazing, Cadence. I can’t imagine what it must be like to have such a gift.”

I pulled the hem of my sundress over my knees and tucked my chin over my legs. “Sometimes it’s not so much a gift as it is a burden.”

“And you never fail in interpreting the dreams of others?”

Shaking my head, I replied, “No, it’s only my own dreams that go unanswered.”

“Fascinating.”

We sat in silence for several minutes, the breeze rippling our clothes and hair. Kellan interrupted the solitude. “Can I ask you something else?”

“Sure, why not. I mean, I just told you one of my deepest secrets,” I replied

“Is the Pageant Cadence the real you?”

My brows wrinkled in confusion. “I don’t understand.”

“Everything you’ve said and everything you’ve done…is it real? Or are you just playing the shrew to throw your chances?”

My face reddened. “Did you just call me a shrew?”

An impish grin curved on his lips. “Maybe.”

“You’re impossible,” I grumbled.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“Yes, it’s the real me. I don’t pretend for anyone, least of all you, and unless you’ve been comatose the entire time we’ve known each other, you should grasp that. I’m loud and opinionated, and I’ve meant every word I said and every action I did.”

Kellan crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t believe you.”

“Is that right?”

“Yep, that’s right.”

“Why?”

He leaned in close to me. “Frankly, I don’t buy your sexy nymph persona.”

I shot to my feet and stared down at him. “Obviously you bought some of it, or I wouldn’t be here with you right now.”

Kellan shook his head. “I’ve seen the way you act around the palace. You’ve never slunk seductively like you did last night a day in your life. Not to mention, you’ve never offered yourself to me.”

My nose wrinkled in disgust. “Girls actually do that?”

“Lots of them do.”

“Ugh, don’t tell me you actually buy in to all that fake adoration?”

He rose to his feet and met my gaze. “No, but it sure makes for interesting nights.” He waggled his eyebrows

“Whatever,” I muttered, as I started back down the path.

Kellan was close on my heels. “You know, if I had to wager, I’d bet you’ve never even been kissed.”

I whirled around. “And you’d lose that wager, sir.”

“Hmm, so someone tamed you long enough to kiss you?”

My face reddened again with exasperation. “No one tamed me. I kissed him because I wanted to kiss him. I kiss
who
I want,
when
I want.”

“Ooh, Red, that sounds promising.”

I snorted. “Don’t get your hopes up.”

“So this guy you kissed, do you love him?”

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on just a minute. You asked me about Venessa.”

I refused to meet his intense gaze. “That’s different.”

“It’s just a simple question, Cadence.”

“Love is never simple.”

Kellan thoughtfully rubbed his chin. “Hmm, that’s true.”

I thought I was off the hook, but he cut in front of me, blocking my path. When I looked up at him, he waited intently for my response.

There was no way I could tell him the truth. I didn’t want anything bad to happen to me or Micah. “We, uh, were friends. And then, things were questionable…”

“When you came here?”

I nodded.

“Do you want to throw the pageant because of him?”

“No!”

He stared into my eyes as if he was trying to reach deep into my soul for the truth. “Then kiss me.”

“What?”

A cocky grin slid across his lips. “You heard me, Red.”

I stood stunned at his request. He took my one speechless opportunity to brush the hair out of my face. His hands were so warm they scorched my cheeks. “Kiss me and show me that you’re not thinking of that other guy.”

Micah had kissed
me
the first time, and then I had been so overcome with emotion the time I kissed him, that I just acted and didn’t think. So really, when it came down to it, I had no idea how to kiss someone else. I leaned in and closed my eyes. Before I could bring my lips to Kellan’s, he was kissing me. Soft and tender at first, but when I started to pull away, he crushed me against him until we were perfectly molded against each other. I didn’t protest, although I probably should have. Instead, I let his arms encircle my waist, his fingertips feathering along the exposed skin of my lower back.