“What’s wrong now?” Noelle was in the doorframe. She’d dressed for practicality today, too—leathers over gems.
“She gets like this when she hasn’t had enough books.”
“Not just books.Lovestories,” Alyss objected groggily.
“I thought you didn’t enjoy…” Noelle trailed off in thought. She found her phrasing after a minute. “The physical union of two people?”
“I have no pull toward the carnal acts. But there’s more to love than that.” Alyss yawned. “I like the rest of it quite a lot.”
“Perhaps one of the perks we can ask the royals for if we win the tournament is a lifetime supply of books from your favorite store back in Solarin.” Eira smiled.
“You’re lying.”
“You never know.” Eira shrugged.
“All right, you’ve motivated me, I’m up.” Alyss was on her feet in a blink, covers half-pooled on the floor where Eira knew they would stay. “It is time to conquer day two of the Tournament of Five Kingdoms.”
“In your nightgown?” Noelle arched her eyebrows.
“It’s not like I couldn’t.” Alyss grinned. “But you’re right, I should probably get dressed.”
“Otherwise Yemir might have a conniption in the stands seeing us walk out in our nightgowns.” Noelle grinned and her attention shifted to Eira. “It’s not a bad idea to get him back for all the horrible clothes he’s made us wear.”
“I’m not going to war with Yemir. We have bigger, more important, battles to fight.” Worrying about Cullen’s father was just as much of a waste of energy as worrying about Cullen himself. “Ulvarth might make his move and we need to be ready.”
“He could also not,” Noelle said optimistically. “He could know better than to strike so publicly.”
“You really think that after the ball?” Eira knew Noelle was smarter than that.
“I try not to get too far into the mind of a madman, neither should you.” Noelle pushed away from the wall and started back down the central hall. “I’m going to finish getting ready. I’ll see you both downstairs.”
“She’s right, you know,” Alyss said softly. Eira gave her friend a pointed look. She knew they both were on her side, but sometimes it felt like even they didn’t believe her about thesimmering danger. “You don’tknowwhat Ulvarth is going to do until you have proof of it.”
“I’ve seen him, Alyss. I’ve looked in his eyes. His supplicants have beaten me within a breath of death.” And she could still feel their phantom blows if she wasn’t careful about not letting her mind wander. “I know the type of man he is.”
“We’ll be careful.” Alyss squeezed her forearm. “Now, I’m going to get dressed, too. I’ll see you downstairs.”
Eira excused herself and started downstairs. Each step was harder than the last knowing that she was going to face Cullen again. Assuming he had come back to the house at all yesterday. She hadn’t seen him since their discussion. Last she’d seen him he’d ended up with Lavette, after all. Maybe he’d gone back and… She pushed the thoughts from her mind.
He was by himself, sitting on one of the new chairs around the table, knees slightly parted, slouching back as if the whole house was his. Easily arrogant. Frustratingly attractive for it.
“Good morning.” He ran a hand through his hair; it was still a bit of a mess from bed, as though he couldn’t be bothered to put too much effort into it.
“Good morning,” she replied and searched for a normal, safe topic to discuss rather than focusing on how his hair fell just in the same way it did when he supported himself over her, their bodies moving together. “How did you sleep?”
“Well, and you?”
“Well enough.”
“Good.”
They stared at each other awkwardly a moment. Eira was reminded of just how alone they were. She swallowed and forced herself to sit opposite him.
“You have a good night yesterday?” She clasped and unclasped her hands.
“Yes.”
“Good…good.” Was there another word? They had all vanished.Don’t ask about Lavette, Eira repeated in her head.
