“Looks like Bismyth won,” I said.
“Of course.” Kiegan sounded dour about it, but perhaps he just always sounded that way.
“I think he’s watching us. No matter what he pretends.” I waved up at Fieran.
Fieran’s intense gaze swept over me, then over Kiegan. I rolled my eyes as I turned back to my table-mate, just as Kiegan winked at him.
I let out a surprised huff of a laugh as I glanced back up to read Fieran’s reaction.
To my amusement, he must have stepped back from the mezzanine, because I couldn’t see him.
I could definitely bear Kiegan’s table manners in thanks for both his kindness and for provoking Fieran.
Kiegan turned to me. “Why is he flirting with me?”
He was so deadpan that I wasn’t sureif he meant it.
“I don’t know,” I said, unable to suppress my smile at the question. “You are handsome.”
It wasn’t a lie. Despite eating as if he had a personal vendetta against the dignity of the dining room, he was handsome, but in a square-jawed way that felt unfamiliar after being surrounded by the sharp beauty of the shifters. His broad forehead wrinkled almost comically thanks to Fieran’s attention; his features were heavy and symmetrical, with thick brows over mesmerizing green eyes, the color of trees in summer.
“He was staring at us like he was hungry.” Kiegan stood, still looking perplexed. “Orcs attract fear. That’s not normal.”
“Fieran usually isn’t.” I stood, too, ready to head back to the barracks and seek out Ander.
Two mortal girls, around my age, came past our table. One knelt to pick up the plate that had been thrown to the ground. The other set down a mop and bucket, and hastily fell to her knees and began to scrub the icing smear.
All my humor died away.
I wanted to talk to them, but I didn’t know where to begin, and both of them seemed to be studiously avoiding my gaze.
When Kiegan let out another cough—a heavily theatrical one—I realized we were being watched by a room of shifters curious how I’d interact with other mortals.
“Walk with me.” Kiegan picked up my plate and put it on top of his. One of the mortal girls reached to take it from him, and when he frowned at her, she shrank back, her eyes widening. He carried it to the bins at the end of the room.
I smiled at the mortal girl, but she averted her gaze, kneeling to help her friend with the mopping. Feeling stung, I moved to join Kiegan, who seemed to be waiting for me. I wasn’t sure why.
“Make him jealous,” Kiegan suggested.
I had no idea how seriously to take Kiegan. “Why? Do you want me to protect you from his terrible flirting?”
I reached out to take his arm, tucking my hand over his corded forearm. His arm was so thick that I was suddenly reminded of climbing trees as a child.
He froze for a second, his body tense. Had I misunderstood hisinvitation? Then he relaxed, squeezing my hand between his hard body and arm. The contact felt like being handled with surprising gentleness by a sentient rock. “That will definitely do the trick.”
Maybe he hadn’t expected me to touch him. He didn’t seem to mind, though, and I was relieved I hadn’t offended him. I liked him already.
Worrying about Kiegan had distracted me from Fieran. When I glanced up, Fieran was back at the mezzanine, his hands tight on the rail. I had the distinct impression of white knuckles and a livid face as I waved before we moved on.
Did Fieran want me out of a habitual need to be adored, as he was by his clan?
Or because he needed me to fall for him for his plans?
Twenty-Eight
After Kiegan had headed off to the unclaimed recruits’ barracks, I continued upstairs. I glanced toward the open door to Clan Amber’s barracks, but it looked empty except for two mortals, a man and woman around my age, coming out carrying bags of laundry.
“Good evening,” I said, but maybe they didn’t hear me, because they clattered down the stairs past me, their shoulders dropped low under the weight of the laundry. Their faces looked harried, and sudden worry cramped in my gut.
