A murmur of thanks as Alina turned from the stag, letting Nikolai’s arms wind around her again. “A necklace,” she decided. “That way it is fully on display, there can be no mistaking that I have the power and can wield it for the greater good.” But she stilled at Genya’s question.
“With both of us gone, he’s probably either said that we are ill…or positioned it as a kidnapping,” Nikolai frowned, his hands still soothingly rubbing Alina’s back. “Either could leave an opening to seizing the throne if he wished. But he left the Palace too. I had the word straight from Baghra. She was agitated…I trust that she was telling me the truth.” He’d always been able to detect the bullshitters among courtesans. In a way that his parents and Vasily had not.
“The question is,” he continued. “What will happen if he catches up with us. We musn’t allow that. Alone in the woods? My head would be ripe for the taking.” It was said cheerfully enough but it was the truth. Should Kirigan catch them, Nikolai had no doubts that he would depose the current king to ensure his vision for the future.