Despite my flaming blush, I said, “Oh, I’m quite hungry in the mornings. One can never be too careful or assume too much.”
Kaldur’s chuckle was low and gentle. My shoulders relaxed when I heard it, like the sound had the ability to unknot my tight muscles from my restless sleep.
“It would be rude of me not to feed my guest,” he said, gesturing forward, and my feet moved, as if solely controlled by him. His hand came to the small of my back, heat blooming from his touch. I was proud when I didn’t gasp, but I felt my knees shake when his head dipped low. He inhaled gently and then said, in a more intimate tone than I was prepared for, “You smell like Alara,zendra.”
I turned my head on impulse, surprised by the soft confession. Alara was the after realm to the Kylorr, their belief of heaven,where souls were at peace and reunited with their family. It was said to be a wondrous realm.
And he’d called mezendra. I’d only ever heard that sweet name murmured between couples in the villages as I passed them by. It meant “bloom,” and I’d always thought it romantic. And now it was directed atme, from Kaldur of all people, and I felt like quivering in sheer happiness.
I smiled, unable to keep it from sliding across my face. His eyes drifted over my lips, and I felt his hand slide, taking my wrist. He brought it up, and to my surprise, I watched him take a big bite from my bread, unexpected amusement bubbling up inside me.
“Syaanberries,” he told me, his strong jaw flexing as he chewed, and I was positively mesmerized by it. When he was done, he flashed me a small smirk and added, “My favorite.”
“Mine too,” I informed him.
“I have them imported from my brother’s territory in Erzos. Only the best of them grow in Stellara. And once you’ve had the best, you cannot go back to something lesser.”
“Stellara?” I asked as he pulled my chair out and maneuvered me to sit down. His movements were practiced and sure, as if he guided women into chairs all day.
“Stellara Forest,” he told me, taking the seat opposite of me. “I take it you haven’t traveled beyond Vyaan much?”
“Not at all,” I replied, feeling a little shy to admit that. To someone like him.
“Were you born in the territory?” he asked, those eyes pinned on me.
“As far I know, yes,” I said. But I didn’t want to talk about how I’d grown up or where. His eyes narrowed slightly at my answer. Quickly, I said, “Vyaan is home. Though I’ve always wanted to see Laras one day.”
Kaldur studied me but let my obvious attempt to change subjects slide. I was no master conversationalist. I’d never neededto be. It made my head hurt and spin hearing some of the nobles talk, like every conversation was a careful puzzle, an intricate dance. I wondered if Kaldur expected that.
There was a steaming cup of tea in front of me. “Is this mine?” I asked.
His gaze never left mine as he inclined his head. I took the cup gently and brought it up to my lips, feeling panic begin to rise as the silence stretched. Kaldur seemed comfortable in it. In fact, it almost seemed like a test, a game.
“You want my answer,” I said when I replaced the cup, seeing no use in drawing this out needlessly.
“I do,” he replied without hesitation. “Though I had hoped to charm you a little more over our breakfast before I asked for it.”
Oh, he was all charm already. So different from last night. There had been an urgency and wildness in his gaze then. Something untamed that had had me shivering in place. His expression struck me as careful, his small smile part of his natural mask. It might have fooled someone else, but I’d studied his expression often and I’d found him the subject of my sketches more times than I would ever admit.
Luc had always told me to be careful of nobles. He said they used people to get what they wanted and they didn’t look back to see how they fared. His mother had been a mistress to a Kylorr male of a noble House, after all. And after his rejection of her, she’d withered away, becoming a shell…until Luc had been left an orphan. He’d never trusted nobles…even though he himself aspired to be wealthy like one.
I understood why. His drive and determination, which had always bordered on obsession.
What would Luc think of this situation? I couldn’t help but wonder. I was doing what his mother had done, lured in by a handsome noble fromthegreatest House in all of the Kaalium. What would become of me when he was decided he was done?
I shook myself from the fearful thoughts, feeling foolish. Thiswas different, I reasoned. Just because Luc had warned me about situations like these, it didn’t mean mine would have the same outcome. It might have just the opposite one.
Kaldur wanted me. For reasons I might not have understood, but he did. My blood called to him, and I couldn’t ignore that. There wassomethinghere, something I needed to explore. An adventure of my own.
“My answer is yes,” I told him.
His pupils flared. He leaned forward slightly, the movement nearly imperceptible.
“Yes?” he asked.
With my heart beating up my throat, I affirmed, “Yes.”
CHAPTER 8
