Kai hadn’t heard that cold tone since the ceremony, and her heart tripped. “Fala?—”
“You should hurry.”
Atsadi released Fala’s hand and put a half step between them. “I should go and let you two?—”
“You’re fine where you are,” Fala said. “Right, Kai?”
A knottightened and twisted in her gut. Ever since this business with the ceremony started, Fala had lost all patience with Kai. As she should—Kai could, and should, do better. Shewoulddo better. She wished Fala would give her some grace until then, though. Kai had a lot to work through.
“Fala—” She led her wife away from Atsadi. “I’m trying. Please. You can’t get angry with me every time I go into shock.”
“He’s our husband.”
“I’m more than aware of that. But until we know more about him or his family?—”
“How can we when you never want to spend time with him? We have to lead here—we’ve been through this before, he hasn’t. We need to do all the same things you and I did when we chose to marry. Starting with inviting his kin for supper.”
Behind Fala, Atsadi kept his attention diverted.
Fala was right, and Kai knew Atsadi’s mind already. Had known it since their brief meeting in the healing pool. He’d been as nervous for this union as she, and still, knowing that, she couldn’t crawl out of this need to remain disconnected.
“I don’t want to live with him,” Kai muttered. “Not yet.”
“He knows,” Fala said. “And he’s in no rush.” She looked very pointedly into Kai’s eyes and lowered her voice. “I’m not either.”
“You’re not?”
“No.” Fala laughed. “I’m comfortable with him; that doesn’t mean I’m ready to jump into his bed. As you said, we don’t know him.”
“That’s good to know.” Kai quirked a smile and swept her fingers across Fala’s soft cheek. “I’m not ready to share you yet.”
“But, Kai, my love.” Fala’s expression turned hopeful. “He is kind. I swear to you, he is. You’ll see.”
“Sweet wife, you can find kindness in a rock.” At Fala’s gaping mouth, Kai laughed. “But this is why I love you.”
Fala gave her a gentle kiss, then left their foreheads pressed together. “We’ll be here when you finish with your mother. And then we go for a walk. We have a mundane conversation. Maybe we sit with him tonight during the meeting of the clans.”
Unlike most meetings, this one had been unplanned, and the matter tobe discussed had Kai on edge. Unrest was building, and the matriarchs agreed to hold a public gathering to discuss concerns.
“Little steps,” Fala said.
“Little steps,” Kai agreed.
A murmur rolled through the gallery like a coming storm—sharp, rising, uncontainable. Names became accusations. Questions turned to demands.
“Stones and stars,” Kai cursed. “Otekah announced the names. I have to find my mother.”
“Go,” Fala said. “Good luck.”
Kai turned?—
A small mob descended.
She took to her back foot and reached inside for the words to calm the throng before they grew.
None came.
Fala clung to Kai’s arm, pressed tight to her side. If she got hurt in the fallout of this?—
