She rolled her eyes.“Mara, you think you are subtle and unreadable, but I’ve been out on patrol with the two of you.Your eyes follow him all around camp.I doubt he wasn’t aware of it, but he did nothing.”
“He almost kissed me the night of the banquet,” I said.“And he did kiss me before I left for the arena.”
“Hewhat?”she whispered.“And you didn’t tell me?”
“I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
“Did he say anything?Why did he kiss you now?”
“He said he had wanted me for a long time but didn’t think he was good enough.He said...a lot of things.”
Finnrey narrowed her eyes.“Not good enough?That doesn’t sound like Gaz.He doesn’t lack from self-pride.”She chewed her lip.“I wish the timing were different.If he had said something months ago, perhaps he could have been promoted and you could be promised to him and safe from the Zulenii prince.”
That future had never occurred to me.
“Wouldn’t you rather be married to Gaz than a Zulenii?”
I opened my mouth to say absolutely, but the words didn’t come out.I had enjoyed Gaz’s attention and kisses, even the one that had been a bit too aggressive.But as much as I liked him, he’d never made me feel the way I’d felt last night in Taio’s arms.
“I don’t want to dwell on a future that can never be,” I said.“Right now I’m more concerned about Gaz’s behavior.He seems angry and threatening.”
Her mahogany-colored eyes met mine.“He’s jealous.”
“What should I do?I don’t want any bloodshed.”
She put an arm around me.“Don’t worry about it.I’ll talk to Gaz and tell him he’s being a dusthead.In a few days, you won’t see him any longer.Problem solved.”
I put my head on her shoulder.“I won’t see you any longer either.”
She squeezed my shoulders.“You promised you’d come back.”
“I will, but—”
A grunt caused us both to drop into defensive stances.I immediately moved to Finnrey’s back and we circled, looking for the source of the disturbance.I sniffed the air.Was it my imagination or did I smell something rotten?
“Over there,” Finnrey hissed.“Oh, gods help us.”
I pivoted and followed Finnrey as she raced toward the two men now tumbling out of the third quadrant.Gaz and Taio were wrestling on the ground, Taio holding Gaz’s wrist and Gaz trying to free his hand so he might plunge the dagger he gripped into Taio.“Stop!”I yelled.
Omira was yelling something in Zulenii.Nize had her arms behind her back, and she was kicking and fighting to free herself and aid her brother.
“Nize!”I cried.“What is happening?”
“Stay out of it, Mara.You too, Finnrey,” Nize said.
Finnrey glared at him.“You don’t tell me what to do, Nize.”
Yung and Kintle crashed through the clearing.Taio was on his feet now and circling Gaz, who was making jabs at him.Taio called out a word that stopped his men.I was dimly aware we were making too much noise.We were all shouting, and Gaz and Taio emitted war cries every time they collided.Now that Taio was off the ground, he had his weapon in hand.It was heavy and harder to wield than Gaz’s small dagger, but it had a farther reach.He swung it at Gaz, and I gasped.Gaz ducked and jabbed at Taio as he moved forward with the momentum of his swing.But Taio pivoted at the last moment, and moved away from Gaz.
Finnrey lunged then.She dove for Gaz and grabbed his arm.“Stop this now!”
Gaz pushed her off, ready for Taio’s next attack.But Taio moved back, his gaze going to Omira and then to me, making certain we were safe.As long as his bride and his sister were not in danger, he was willing to let Finnrey mediate.His pause told me everything.Taio hadn’t been the one to start this.Gaz had gone after him.
I met Taio’s eyes as cold fear spread through my body.The look on Taio’s face was full of concern for me.But once he saw I was unharmed, he looked back at Gaz.His expression then could only be described as rage.
“Get out of the way,” Gaz ordered Finnrey.
“Put your weapon away,” she ordered him back.“Do it now or my father will hear of this, and I’ll make sure you are punished.”
