I blurt sarcastic laughter before I can rein it in. “Yes, I’ve had all of that.Whoam I again?Wheredid I come from?” My pulse is pounding between my legs, and I hate her a little bit because of it. “Don’t get mestartedon the nausea.”
She sighs. “I’m worried you might have a mild concussion.”
“Oh, so you mean worse than normal, then.”
“Head injuries are serious, Tiss.” She pins me with that glare again—the one that cleaves me to the core and leaves me defenseless.
Gods help me, the tiniest thrill runs through me at the pique my impertinence has caused. “Isaidmy head is fine.”
“At least tell someone if you experience any dizziness or blurred vision. That you suspectisn’trelated to the elevation,” she tacks on hastily.
“A sister is the absolute last person I’d tell about anything.”
“Tell me, then.”
Frustration floods me, searing hot and ticking in time with the orrery. “Why? I thought we weren’t friends. Why on earth you’re fretting over me is a mystery. But sure. If you say so.” Gods only know what possessed me to speak to her like this.Why not, though? Because she thinks she’s better than me?
To her, I’m just another new initiate grunt. I suppose I’m meant to tolerate her mood swings on any given day, no matter what.
She folds her hands in her lap. “I happen to be a proficient forager, since you’re so curious. I’m more than capable of mixing simple medicines. And we don’t need to befriendsfor me to help when you’re hurt. Most folks call that having compassion.” She answers with more restraint than I deserve, and I resent the shit out of her for it.
There’s an acid retort sitting on the tip of my tongue, but I swallow it, hitting her with an overly saccharine smile instead. “I was wondering about something, priestess. Call it intuition.”
“Mm-hmm?”
“You and Ghisele. There seems to be chemistry there. You two don’t have ahistorytogether, do you?” Something inside of me erupts in devious mirth as soon as I say it. I hold my breath, expecting shock, or defensiveness, or at the very least to be told to leave.
But she merely inclines her head, her gaze like ice water sluicing through my veins. “Would that bother you?” she asks, an infuriating lilt lacing her tone. “If we did?”
The fact that the cagey priestess won’t just give me a simple “no” when it’s the easiest answer—not to mention what I’m brazenly implying isforbidden—has me burning with jealousy. “No. Why would I be bothered?”
The corners of her mouth twitch, as if she expected me to say exactly that. “It’s just, you seem bothered. Is all.”
Gods, she’s insufferable.
Light pours through the window in our nook, bringing out the glowing warm undertones of her bronze complexion. Darker green rings circle her caramel irises, the contrast striking in this light.
Her stillness is exasperating. Blood surging in my ears, I gaze outside, utterly blind to whatever lies beyond the glass.
I’ve finally decided to get up and find Sadrie when she murmurs, “What had you so captivated?”
Perplexed, I stare until she motions to the book in my hand.Oh.“Myths.”
“What sort of myths?”
Standing on inexplicably shaky knees, I close the distance between us and hold out the volume in offering. She reaches to take it.
Looking her dead in her lovely, liquid-agate eyes, I let it go before she can grab it, before I can think my actions through. My stomach flips as it lands on the floor at her feet with an echoingclap.
Wow. I’m a passive-aggressive shrew when I want to be.
I stand by it, though. Like a gyroscope set into motion, my own axis is now consumed in a momentum that will resist attempts to change its course.
A muscle spasms in her jaw, and I await her counterattack with bated breath. But instead of getting upset, she casually bends down to pick it up.
Leafing through the pages, mask still firmly in place, she says, “It’s in Aritertan.”
Not. Fair.I glower until it’s apparent I won’t get a further reaction. “Apparently I’m multilingual.”
