He didn’t believe two supernatural beings who lived in the sky shot lightning bolts at each other. He’d been trying to find a safe topic of conversation. Apparently, even the weather was a hot-button topic.
He didn’t understand how a card or the movement of celestial bodies could predict the future. According to Kismet, tarot and astrology were entertaining games—okay to have fun with, but one shouldn’t put any stock in the predicted outcomes.But Karma believed it, and that made him curious. Could there be something to it?
A flash of light lit up the night. The thunderstorm seemed an apt metaphor. He and Karma were not unlike the mythological Gods of Kaldor.
He approached her door; it didn’t open, so that meant she’d secured it. He rapped on the panel. “Karma? Can you hear me?”
No answer. He pressed his ear to the door. He didn’t hear rustling or other movement.
“I’m sorry if I said something I shouldn’t. If I hurt your feelings.” He waited to see if she’d open the door. “Good night. I’ll, uh, see you in the morning.” He retreated to his own room.
* * * *
Karma stood in the shower, letting the spray wash away the tears. She knew people considered her a little kooky. It hadn’t bothered her before. If someone couldn’t accept her weirdness and all, then screw him.
Was she too weird to be loved? Was that why she’d never found a man willing to commit? Why she got dumped all the time?
After drying off, she wrapped herself in the voluminous robe and crawled into bed.
Chapter Four
“You crossed the line this time,” his father bellowed. His mother’s brow furrowed with worry.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Falkor resisted the urge to scratch and shifted his gaze from his parents to Karma. He could see her legs shaking. He inched closer, putting a buffer between her and his father. Facing an angry king caused nobles to quake; to a human outsider, it must be terrifying indeed. He wouldn’t wish this on anyone—not even his nemesis.
Yesterday, after retrieving her luggage and arranging for the removal of her disabled vehicle, they had traveled to the palace in the royal hoverlimo. Arriving at the palace by late afternoon, they’d separated, eager to be rid of the other.
This morning, he’d received a summons to appear before the king. When he got to his parents’ library, he found Karma there.
“You got summoned?”
She nodded. “What is it about?”
“No idea,” he said, neck starting to itch. Getting called to account for his actions ranked right up there with public speaking. He wished he could put her mind at ease, but he’d never been called before the king to receive an atta-boy. But Karma hadn’t committed any misdeeds. She was a pebble inhisshoe, but she comported herself well enough with everyone else.
“Sleep well?” He attempted to make small talk.
“Fine. You?”
“Like a baby.”
Awkward silence ensued.
“The storm blew over,” he said.
“Yes.”
He’d almost been relieved when the tall, gilded doors peeled open, and the king and queen marched in, except his father’s scowl was darker than a storm cloud.
“I warned I would not tolerate another scandal,” his father said now.
Scandal? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Nothing recent, anyway.
In the past, a few romantic dalliances had gone public; he’d unintentionally broken a few hearts and once been caught in a rather compromising position with a nobleman’s wife. In his youth, he’d sometimes partied through the night. He admitted he could be more discerning about the company he kept, but it wasn’t like anything he didmattered. Jaryk would be king, but Falkor had no purpose.
Except he hadn’t done anything to embarrass the king and queenlately. He had opened a Cosmic Mates account for Jaryk without his brother’s consent. But that had ended well—his brother met the love of his life. And—he snuck a glance at his mother’s face—the queen had been in on it. It had beenheridea. So, he couldn’t be blamed for that.
No, he was pretty sure he was innocent of any wrongdoing this time.
