She must have felt Tamira's eyes on her and turned to look at her. She smiled, revealing a pair of small fangs.
What was she?
Tamira cast a sidelong glance at Eluheed. "Have you ever seen anyone like her?"
He rarely spoke of his home world, and he'd never mentioned anyone who didn't look human.
Eluheed shook his head. "I haven't."
The dining hall was blessedly cool, with ceiling fans spinning overhead and windows that actually opened to let in the tropical breeze. Long tables were set with platters of fresh fruit, bread still warm from the oven, eggs, rice, vegetables, and Indian dishes that she was familiar with because they had been frequently served in the harem.
"Please," Jade gestured to the tables. "Sit and eat."
Tamira sat between Eluheed and Tula and piled her plate high with a little bit from everything but barely touched anything. She was still trying to absorb what was happening.
She was free.
No fences, no guards, no monitored conversations, and no constant awareness of being property. Just...freedom.
The thought made her dizzy.
But what if this was an illusion? What if this place was just as bad as the one they had come from? Or worse?
Supposedly, these people belonged to Annani's clan, and they were the good guys, but how could she be sure of that?
"You okay?" Eluheed asked quietly.
Tamira looked at the man who'd appeared in her life like a mirage or an answer to a prayer and had captured her heart. "Ikeep waiting to wake up," she admitted. "And when I actually believe that we've been saved, I wonder if this is a change for the better. What do we even know about these people?"
"It's all good." He took her hand and brought it up to his lips for a kiss. "We're free, and we are among friends."
"How do you know?" she whispered. "Did you touch any of them?"
"Several." He winked at her.
"Thank the merciful Fates." She let out a breath. "I can look for Darien now." The words came out choked. "We can go to New York and look for him."
Times Square in New York was where Eluheed had seen her walking with Darien. That was where they needed to start their search.
A grimace twisted Eluheed's handsome face. "We will need money. I hope these people will be kind enough to loan us some."
She hoped so, too. "And you can search for your sacred charges," she said. "After we find Darien, we will go to Mount Ararat."
"That's another thing I will need help with." Eluheed turned to look at Yamanu, who was talking with Jade and Phinas. "I don't know who's in charge, though. Should I talk to Yamanu or Jade?"
She didn't know either and turned to Tula, who seemed to know more than any of them, but Tula was busy stuffing her mouth and avoiding Tony's eyes.
Something was going on between those two, and Tamira could guess what. Tula had planned to leave with Yamanu without even telling Tony that she was never going to see him again. That's why she'd been acting so strangely lately.
It hadn't been just the pregnancy.
Tamira wasn't angry at Tula. She understood. It hadn't been up to Tula. If she could, Tula would have saved all of them, and she had. The proof was that they were all here, sitting at a table on an island called Safe Harbor that belonged to Annani's clan.
22
ELUHEED
Eluheed had exceeded his capacity for food a plateful or two ago, but Tamira was pensive and had barely touched hers.
