“I came to see how you were holding up,” Sienna explains as she peels off her gloves, sets them on the counter, and slides onto one of the stools. “Dante was concerned about you being here by yourself.”
“I would have stayed at the hospital if he’d let me,” I mutter, dunking the bags into the pot and gathering two teacups. Dante sent me home onordersfor my safety; staying at the hospital was too open and risky after an attempt on Killian’s life.
“I can imagine.” Sienna’s voice is soft and yet it tickles through my mind, almost as loud as everything else trying to fill the space of Killian’s absence.
“Well there are enough guards here that I certainly don’t feel alone.” Turning back to Sienna, I set the cups down. “Sugar? Milk?”
“Two, and just a dash please.” Her smile is tight and a sense of importance flows over my shoulders.
So, this isn’t just a social visit?
“I also wanted to apologize,” Sienna begins as if she heard my own thoughts. “We did, initially, suspect you in Killian’s poisoning.”
I knew it.
The kettle boils, taking my attention from her to the teapot.
“And?”
“Well I was quick to rule it out,” she continues. “There would be nothing for you to gain, not even in personal revenge since it’s clear you and Killian are finding happiness together. Unless you were planning a romantic Romeo and Juliet finale.”
A soft snort creeps up on me as I set the teapot down next to the cups and gather the sugar.
“What, kill myself afterward?”
“Yes,” Sienna nods.
“I would do no such thing. Not even that, I would never hurt Killian!” Heat sparks in my chest as I slam the sugar bowl down and Sienna reaches for my hand, her fingertips warm as she squeezes.
“I know Cara. It was a brief suspicion but it passed quickly, believe me.” Her smile is honest but the heat refuses to dissipate in my chest. It rises to my cheeks as I take my own seat and a deep, bone-tired sigh escapes me, deflating my stance more than I would like.
“I don’t know how this happened. I don’t understand it, bombs and explosions and guns; that’s what I understand but this?” Dragging one of my hands through my hair, Sienna takes over the teapot and pours us both a steaming cup.
“Killing him like this is sneakier than we anticipated, I admit. It’s… almost personal and it sets you up as the prime suspect. It would cause instability between our families where the quiet suspicion would rot for months or even years to come before the supports under us collapse.” She sets the pot down and sets her firm gaze on me. “It’s clever but I like to believe we’re better than this. Poison is also most commonly awoman’s weapon when it comes to assassinations which again paints you as the suspect.”
Sienna lifts the cup to her lips as my mind races. A woman’s weapon? But who? No one has been here. I wouldn’t even know where to look for poison. I pick up my own cup, adding a spoonful of sugar as Sienna continues.
“Archer was considered briefly too,” she begins and my head snaps up.
“He would never!”
“Iknow.” A little force slips into her words, annoyed at my interruption. “But he is as close to Killian as you are, we had to consider all angles no matter how secure their loyalty is.”
She sips her drink and the edges of her eyes crease a little.
“So who does that leave on the suspect list?” There has to be someone, a name that as soon as Sienna says it, will jump out at me as the culprit.
“We have no one, currently,” Sienna admits and she takes another sip. “Once Killian is back on his feet, he can take us through where he ate, where he drank, and maybe we can piece it together, unless there’s anything you remember? Anyone that came here, even delivering takeout?”
“No,” I shake my head, “no one’s been here other than Sadie and Kimmy but they’re not part of this world. They wouldn’t know where to start.”
As the words leave my lips my heart starts to pound.
Blair!
She’d escaped my thoughts the past few days whilst I’d been caught up in worry for Killian, and all of Kimmy’s investigation results hit me in a rush.
Blair as the poisoner though? That doesn’t make any sense. Why would she try and kill him when she’s trying to trick him into thinking they have a child?