“Telaana,” I said, my eyes nervously watching it dart near her tunic. She’d already set her pants on fire earlier in the week. “The burner—”
“But after his aunt’s murder, his mother’s death, and his father shoving all the responsibilities onto his sons andleaving, I wouldn’t want a singletunof that family’s problems. No matter how noble or wealthy they are.”
“Telaana,” I said softly, quietly processing her words. “Maybe we shouldn’t be discussing these things.”
It struck me as improper, gossiping about theKyzairebehind his back, as I reeled over what she’d revealed. I’d known none of that. Kythel had mentioned his aunt but not that she’d been murdered. He rarely spoke of his mother or his father—only brief mentions in passing.
“All I’m saying is that he actually seems happy.Relaxed,” Telaana continued, her expression fixing into a serious expression. “I’ve known him long enough to know that I’ve never seen him like this before. And I think—no, Iknowit’s because of you.”
My heart softened at her intent. “Thank you for saying that,” I said. “He’s a good friend to me. I hope he’s happy.”
She nodded, studying me carefully, opening her mouth as if to say more.
But just then I saw a bright spark, and I watched as her tunic caught fire. My muscles tensed, preparing to dart over to her, but she laughed, slapping at the flame, extinguishing it completely with her wide palm. The only evidence that it had ever been was a small burn mark on her tunic, and I wondered how in the world this clumsy culinarian who set herself on fire on a regular basis had started working at Kythel’s keep.
“Oh!” Telaana said, turning back to the stove. “Do you mind picking up a bunch of cower’s roots when you’re at the market? I need them for the evening meal tonight.”
I shook my head, my heart still going after the fire. But for Telaana, that was likely a normal occurrence.
“I will,” I said, turning back toward the door to the gardens. “And Telaana?”
“Hmm?” she asked, already absentminded, stirring the soup.
“Thank you. For what you said.”
She nodded but said nothing in reply.
CHAPTER32
KYTHEL
“Couldn’t stay away, could you?” Millie singsonged, flashing me a smug, maddening, but genuinely pleased grin when she saw me land in the clearing.
My wings flared, itching from the uncommonly warm weather this afternoon. A beautiful day. Clear skies, gentle winds, and the perfume of ripeningsyaanberries in the air. There must’ve been bushes of them nearby.
“Where are you going?” I asked, eyeing the brown leather pouch she had looped with a frayed, braided cord around her shoulder. I glared. “I know you’re not going out into the forest.”
“Well, I am,” she said, pausing at the threshold of the clearing, her path set southeast. “Now that you’re here, would you care to join me? Protect me from all the scarylyvinsthat will be sleeping right now, far from here?”
I stalked toward her, grumbling. When I reached her, her smile changed. Morphing from teasing to soft. I felt a wave of affection roll through me. That was the thing about Millie. I always knew what she was thinking, what she was feeling. She was open and vulnerable with her emotions—the complete opposite of me.
It was so damn easy being with her. Even when her temper reared its head—which, admittedly, wasn’t often enough for my liking. I liked when her claws came out. I liked when she nicked me with them.
Maybe I’m more like Azur than I thought,I mused, watching Millie’s hand reach for mine. A gentle squeeze came as her soft palm wrapped in mine, fingers entwining. A strictly human form of physical affection, but one I found I didn’t mind.
“Hello,” she said quietly, rising onto her tiptoes to press a kiss to the underside of my jaw. My spine tingled. “I really didn’t expect to see you here this afternoon. I thought you had a long line of meetings today.”
I had. Meetings I had pushed off so I could be here, but I didn’t tell Millie that, knowing she’d be displeased. But I’d felt like I was going insane. If I went a few hours without seeing her, I needed her scent, her smile, her touch to ground me again.
Was this how Azur felt with Gemma? I hadn’t told him about Millie during our Com call because, truthfully, I hadn’t known how to admit the truth. That I’d found mykyrana, a rare feat in itself, that the eldest twins of the Kaalium had both found their mates in the form of human women.
I didn’t know how to tell him that I would still choose the Kaalium over Millie if it came down to it.
Because he would try to dissuade me. He’d found happiness and peace with Gemma. He would want me to have the same. And with my twin’s influence, it would only be too easy to forget my duty.
“One meeting fell through,” I lied. “I was just heading back to the keep when I thought I’d check on you. And good thing I did. How long have these trips into Stellara been happening?”
She rolled her eyes, pulling away. I followed when she began walking into the forest, guided by our clasped hands. “You act like I do this all the time. I’m searching fordavrinroots. Telaana said they grow in Stellara but only near water. I thought I heard a running stream the other day, so I thought I’d check.”
