I inclined my head and admitted, “I…I hadn’t been taking the best care of myself.”
There had simply been too much to do, and I’d been worried about stretching my credits.
“That ends now,” he said. “For both of us. I had Saira make a batch of your favorite bread. She’s prepared a full course, and I won’t let you leave the table until you’ve had nearly all of it.”
“You’re extremely high-handed, do you know that?” I grumbled, simply because I didn’t know what else to say. No one hadever cared if I’d taken my meals or not. The sudden attention was…odd. Nice, but odd.
Kaldur threw me a small grin over his shoulder as the keep grew closer and closer. The grin made my heart stop clean in my chest, small and secretive and meant just for me.
Stop,I ordered myself.Never again will I risk my heart with him.
“You have no idea how high-handed I can be. But you’ll learn soon enough.”
I didn’t know whether to be scared or intrigued.
CHAPTER 35
KALDUR
The two sharp raps sounded on my study door.
“Come in.”
Maudoric appeared. She held the door open for the keeper I’d been waiting for, who appeared hesitant as she stepped into the room.
“You wished to see me,Kyzaire?” came Velle’s voice after she cleared her throat.
“Yes,” I said, though I stayed seated at my desk.
The silence stretched out as I regarded her, and eventually she approached the curved edge of my desk after casting an uncertain look at Maudoric, lingering near the door.
My gaze went to my Head Keeper, who inclined her head briefly.
So she had it,I thought, my lips pressing tight, trying to keep the anger locked away. It had been pushing itself to the surface much too easily and readily this last month. I had to relearn keeping it controlled, though I would admit Erina’s presence certainly helped. Simply knowing she was in Vyaan, in my keep helped tremendously.
“You used to work for House Azola, did you not?” I asked.
Velle’s lips parted and said slowly, “Yes, a long time ago.”
“How long ago?” I asked, sliding my elbows across my desk, pinning her with a piercing look to keep her in place. “Humor me.”
“I…I would say four years ago now.”
“And how long did you work there?”
“Briefly,” she said.
“How long?” I asked, my tone clipped.
“Five months,Kyzaire.”
“So how is it that you work in House Azola for a mere five months, a handful of years ago, and yet you have more loyalty to that House than you do to mine, where you have worked for years and been treated well?”
Velle’s expression looked stricken. I thought she might’ve finally realized what this meeting was about.
I stood from my desk then. My wings threatened to flare, but I kept them tightly tucked, though they twitched with the effort as I rounded my desk to stand in front of her.
She stumbled back a few steps. “I am loyal to your House,Kyzaire.”
