Tavak leveled Dravka a strange look, stopping near his outstretched legs. Tavak said something to him in Keriv’i, a long phrase that blurred off his tongue, that even Valerie could not understand.
Dravka’s response?
“Vaukoff.”
Tavak’s gaze connected with Valerie’s. She swore the other male looked slightly amused, though there was something strained in his gaze as well. He took her in, looking at her dirty, dusty clothes and frizzed hair.
Valerie rounded the desk to peer down at Dravka once more. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
Dravka began to laugh, the sound echoing around the foyer. The corner of Tavak’s mouth lifted, though Valerie didn’t know what was so funny.
“Pax,” Dravka rasped, “let’s go to bed, Val.”
She swallowed thickly, her mouth suddenly very, very dry.
When she threw a look of exasperation at Tavak, he leaned down and pulled Dravka up, getting him onto his feet. He might not think he was drunk but he swayed on his feet, leaning on the other Keriv’i male.
“I didn’t actually think it was possible,” Tavak remarked, guiding Dravka to the stairs. The elevator would be easier—but Valerie knew it wasn’t designed to bear the weight oftwoKeriv’i males.
“What?” Valerie asked, walking next to them. Dravka reached out to snag her hand, keeping her close, and she…didn’t know how to feel about it. He’d touched her more in the past two days than he had in the last three months.
“That a Keriv’icouldget drunk on weak human liquor,” Tavak replied, grunting a little with Dravka’s heavy weight.
“He claims he’s not,” Valerie told him.
Tavak leveled her a look over Dravka’s head, a look that saidyeah right.
They said nothing more as they went up flights of stairs before turning down the hallway that led to the Cluster.
Ravu’s door was closed when they entered but he poked his head out when he heard the commotion. Tavak steered Dravka towards his room but Valerie pulled her hand away.
Dravka’s head swiveled and he rasped, “Stay with me.”
He would never know how her heart stopped at those words. How terrible and sweet the longing was that went through her.
“Please,” he added.
“I’ll be in in a second,” she found herself saying before she could think better of it. After the words left her, she wanted to snatch them back. She was supposed to be keeping her distance.
Valerie heard Tavak help him into the room. She heard a thud against the wall. A moment later, Tavak appeared, closing the door partially behind him. A flickering glow from inside Dravka’s room appeared. One of the sconces on the wall that resembled a candle had been flipped on.
Her eyes returned to Tavak and to Ravu, who had stepped out of his room.
“Is he drunk?” Ravu asked, bewilderment in his tone. “How?”
“He drank about five full bottles of brandy, from what I can tell,” Valerie said, sighing. Looking at them, she asked, keeping her voice low, “Did—did anything happen? Why was he drinking? I’ve never evenseenhim drink before.”
Ravu exchanged a glance with Tavak.
“What is it?” Valerie asked again, worry like a stone in her belly.
“Your engagement announcement was in the Everton Gazette this morning,” Tavak finally said, his tone gruff. “I came across it on the Nu.”
Valerie could feel the color leaching from her face. She remembered Madame Allegria mentioning something about it, but she hadn’t thought…she thought she might have more time.
“Oh god,” she whispered, bringing a hand to her forehead.
The announcement made everything seem so real.
