I didn’t like that he announced it to the entirety of his group. Then again, I’d always known House Arada were more lax about their private affairs, especially if it involved members of other noble Houses. A flaw. A large one. One I would speak with them about once the union was announced.
I said nothing. Merely inclined my head, holding Hanno’s gaze, then I left. Outside in the courtyard, I told my brothers, “I need to speak with Lesana. You go on ahead.”
Thaine’s knowing gaze felt smug, but I turned my back on my brothers as they departed, letting the wind catch the whistling whip of their wings, flying back toward my keep, beyond Stellara’s borders.
Lesana was still lingering on the front steps of herdyaan, and her slippered feet were nothing more than a whisper as they padded down the smooth gray stone.
We were alone. The night was beautifully quiet. I deliberated over my next words as she stopped in front of me.
Her yellow eyes glowed, her beautiful features carefully sculpted into an expression of gentle patience. I wondered what expression her husband saw most nights. If it was this one, or if it was her true one. I knew how tiring it was to put on a carefully filtered mask. Every single day. Every single moment, except for the ones when you were alone.
“The human female,” I finally rasped.
For a brief moment, I saw her hand laid bare. Her mask slipped. Nerves sparked beneath it.
“Millicent,” she said softly. “Yes?”
“She said she’s not a blood giver,” I said. “But would she consider being one for me?”
I was playing a dangerous, dangerous game. Toeing a line I wasn’t sure Icoulduncross.
Her smile widened. Her tone was too high pitched when she said, “I can ask her for you,Kyzaire. Certainly. But like all of our blood givers, it is their choice if they wish to serve—”
“Of course,” I bit out harshly. “I wasn’t suggesting otherwise.”
Her eyes widened, perhaps finally realizing that her words could be considered insulting. Her head ducked. “My apologies. I did not wish to offend you. They were careless words on my part.”
I let it slide, though my mood had darkened at her implication.
“How long has she worked here?” I asked after a tense silence.
“Two months now,” she told me.
“Do you know how she came to be on Krynn?”
Lesana shook her head. Residency contracts were rare to come by in the Kaalium for outsiders. Though more and more were becoming available every year, we were still incredibly selective on who we allowed onto our planet. She must’ve had connections in high places…or perhaps her family did. Or maybe she’d just gotten lucky, in the right place at the right time.
“Ask her,” I said, making an effort to gentle my voice. “Ask her what it will take. Send her answer to my keep tomorrow.”
“I will,Kyzaire.”
As I flew over Stellara that night, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d just made the second-biggest mistake of my life.
CHAPTER5
MILLIE
“He…what?” I asked, breathless, shaken.
Lesana was watching me carefully. I was in my dressing gown, had just been about to crawl into my bed when I’d heard a knock on the door.
Downstairs, RaanaDyaanwas quieting. Guests were trickling out, judging by the flaps of wings I caught every now and again and their traveling shadows in the moonlight that shone across my floor.
“He requested you as a blood giver,” Lesana repeated. Her hands were folded in front of her, but I caught the way her gray skin lightened around her knuckles as she twisted them.
I sank down onto the edge of my bed.
The wages for a blood giver were nearly twice what I made now. But I would have to eat what was required of me, drinkbaanyemultiple times throughout the day to help with the blood loss, and mentally prepare myself to befedfrom multiple times a night. Was I ready for that?
