Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“I see bad sexual decisions being made,” Khalida commented.
I glanced around. Kisses were being stolen. Butts were being stroked. Couples were disappearing into shadows or buildings.
“Several people are going to wake up smelling of regret.” Khalida pursed her lips, placing her now-empty tankard beneath her chair. “You know, there are a few men here who would—”
“You really don’t need to occupy yourself with finding me someone,” I told her with a soft sigh.
“You need a regular bedtime treat. It’s a great way to burn off stress, and you have to be enduring plenty of that. There’s only so much that nights at the tavern or library can do.”
My little tumble with Talon had done wonders for my stress levels, but only temporarily. While having a regular arrangement might help, I didn’t trust any of the candidates to not kill me. I found a number of officiates attractive, but I shied away from doing anything about it. “I’m okay. Really.”
“Or, like Jelani, you only want someone in particular.”
Well, yes. It just didn’t seem right to sleep with someone when a part of me would wish they were someone else. I wouldn’t like it if the situation were reversed. And I wasn’t holding out hope that anything more might happen between me and Talon.
“I’m right, aren’t I?” Excitement lit up her eyes. “Who is it?”
“Nobody,” I denied before taking a casual sip of my cider, going for nonchalant.
Ignoring my answer, she joined her hands and hummed thoughtfully. “Let me guess.” She started listing names—some officiates, some candidates.
I shook my head each time, even when she tossed out Talon’s name. But something in my expression made her gaze narrow and sharpen.
“Aha. It’s Talon.”
Knowing that to emphatically deny it would only make her more convinced she was right, I instead said, “He’s beautiful in a very savage way—I’ll give him that. But I don’t have my eye on him.”
She let out a pfft sound. “You’re a good liar, Anara, but there’s no fooling the Master of Deceit.”
Shaking my head at her persistence, I looked away, not wanting to admit that she was right. I wished she wasn’t. Wished he didn’t intrigue me. Wished I didn’t crave more of what had occurred in his tent.
How very aware I was of him grated on me, as did the way that I couldn’t stop my gaze from seeking him out. It was so dark here that the bonfire and lanterns all but glowed. Still, despite the poor lighting, I’d spotted him easily. I had also done an exceptionally good job of not looking his way again. Which had proven hard, since he was leaning against the barracks across from me, which put him in my direct line of sight.
“You want him,” persisted Khalida. “Admit it.”
I inwardly snorted. Not likely.
“He looks at you a lot, you know. Minos told him to keep a close eye on you, sure, but still.”
I sighed. “Let it go.”
“Never.”
“Why?”
“Like I said before, you need some additional stress relief. He likely wouldn’t ever cross sexual lines with a candidate. But soon, you’ll be an officiate. Then what are you going to do?”
“Sag in relief.”
She rolled her eyes. “About Talon.”
Absolutely nothing. “Are you forgetting that he doesn’t do exclusive arrangements? No woman other than Eva will get that from him.”
Khalida fell quiet for a long moment, and then her shoulders sagged. “Why did you have to go and make a good point?” she griped.
A short chuckle bubbled up, but my amusement died as an itch raced across my scalp. It kept happening as my cells continued trying to bond with the ichor.
She lifted her index finger. “I’m going to say one last thing about this Talon business. There are plenty of women here who are extraordinarily beautiful. Me, for example.”
“I wish you weren’t so insecure,” I deadpanned, setting my tankard on the ground and then nudging it beneath my chair with my foot.
“He has dallied with some of them, but he’s never shown interest in them. You, though? He might watch you because he was told to, but he looks intrigued at times. Seems reluctantly impressed by how you don’t hesitate when it comes to Xalbia. Then he starts scowling, seeming unhappy with himself for feeling that way. You have his attention, whether either of you like it or not; whether you’re willing to act on it or not.”
Maybe. But it didn’t matter, did it? Because, as I’d already pointed out, he would only ever commit to Eva. I didn’t say as much, though, because we were right then joined by the rest of our group.
More drinking, talking, and laughing went on. I enjoyed every moment, but my lethargy eventually got the better of me. I stood and said, “Right, I’m done for the night.”
Jelani’s brow pinched. “You’re leaving already?”
“I need sleep in a major way.” I exchanged goodbyes with everyone, weakly waving.