Casteel held my gaze for a moment longer and then pressed his lips to my forehead. “Your heart is too good.”
My brows knitted. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“I would.”
I smiled, but I honestly didn’t understand why he—or the Arae—spoke of me as if I were the…Chosen. Pure of heart and body. Neither was true. Sure, I didn’t want to burn cities, but that alone didn’t make me good.
“Did you get the instructions out?” Kieran asked, changing the subject.
“The meeting with the generals will happen tomorrow afternoon.”
I still thought the meeting could happen now.
“I’m going to clean up.” His gaze shifted to mine. “Kieran will keep you out of trouble while I do.”
“Well, that should be easy,” I said as he stepped back and walked around Kieran and me. “I often stay out of trouble.”
“Really,” Kieran drawled.
My nostrils flaring, I spun on the wolven. “Shut up,” I said and heard Casteel’s snort from the other chamber float out to us. “That also means you,” I yelled.
The echo of his taunting laugh was irritating. And, unfortunately for me, a very attractive sound.
One side of Kieran’s lips tipped up as I looked at him.
“Right now,” I muttered, stepping around him, “I dislike both of you.”
“You, Cas, and I all know that’s not even remotely true,” he replied.
I tripped.
“You okay?” Humor filled his voice.
Swallowing a mouthful of curses, I bit out, “I’m fine.”
His low laugh ended when I sent him a glare over my shoulder, but a faint smile remained. Entering the sitting chamber, I grabbed my glass and took a gulp while eyeing the drink Casteel must’ve placed on the table on his way to the bathing chamber.
Kieran arched a brow at me as he went to the credenza and poured another glass. “So, you like what Naill did with this tunic?”
I nodded, sitting on the settee. I thought about the garments I’d seen earlier.
Leaning back, I looked over the embroidered detailing. “I wonder where he got the idea for the design? It’s very similar to what I saw on the Ancients—including the Arae.”
He tilted his head. “What do you mean?”
I explained the marks that looked like ink. “I think it’s the eather. I don’t know why it appears that way, though.”
“Yourvadentiareally is faulty.”
“Yeah.” I sighed and tucked my hair back from my face. “It is.”
A ghost of a smile appeared. “Do all Primal gods have the foresight?”
I shook my head. “Only the true Primal of Life and the true Primal of Death do.” I paused. “And me. I think it’s meant to help us…make wise choices.”
Kieran opened his mouth.
“You don’t need to say whatever is about to come out of your mouth,” I said.
