“If I need you, I’ll find you,” he rasped, pausing at the threshold. The words pinched, but I tried to ignore it. He stayed at the doorway and then added, “Remember what I said, Erina. This is an arrangement. One that benefits both of us.”
His tone shifted. It became a little gentler when he turned to regard me still sitting in the bed. His eyes were watchful, careful.
“There will be no ridiculous fantasies of a courtship or of love, do you understand?” he asked. I nearly flinched. “You’re young, but you’re not that young. Don’t romanticize this—or me. Certainly not me. I’ll only disappoint you.”
And before I could say anything, he turned down the hallway and disappeared. I heard the heavy thump of his stride as I stared at my open door. I still felt the heat of lingering, unsated desire threading through my body, holding me together.
I sighed and then got out of bed, his parting words like boulders sitting on my chest.
I needed to find Velle.
When I pokedmy head into the kitchen, my gut churning at what I might encounter, I knew I was too late. The sudden hush and the weight of a dozen pairs of eyes on me was palpably tangible. Even Maudoric turned to regard me, the spoon of porridge poised just before her lips when I stepped inside.
Damn,I thought, feeling my cheeks burn as I adjusted andplucked at my dress—not my keeper uniform, and I’d left my apron hung on the back of my door. Instead, I had an old satchel looped over my shoulder, holding my notebook and my longest pencils.
“Good morning,” I greeted, trying to keep my tone upbeat, only it came out like a strangled plea. I nearly sighed in defeat, my eyes seeking out Velle. Sitting right in the middle of the table, her stare was stony. “Can I speak with you a moment?”
She took her time getting up from the table, the screech of the bench over stone jarring.
A piece of jammed bread was pressed into my hands, along with a satchel of dried nuts, marinatedlaakeggs,and crumbly cheese, which I slipped into my apron. When I looked over at Saira, she gave me a gentle smile. “Here, lovely. Baked fresh this morning.”
“Thank you, Saira,” I said, the small gesture of kindness against the quiet kitchens breaking the spell. People began to talk again, though lowly. Maudoric continued eating her porridge. I munched on the bread in the corner, my cheeks hot with the scrutiny, until it was gone. Only then did Velle stride toward me.
There was a small grief in realizing that I wasn’t considered one ofthemanymore. I’d spent nearly two years with all these people. I’d been part of something, part of a group with similar complaints and worries and dreams of bigger things. And in the span of two days, it was clear I was being iced out.
I’d known it would happen though, hadn’t I?
“You summoned me?” Velle asked.
“Velle, stop,” I pleaded quietly. Sometimes I couldn’t help but draw a comparison to Velle and some of the children I’d grown up with. But if there was one thing living at Wrezaan’s had taught me, it was how to deal with all kinds of tantrums. “Can we talk in private?”
She sighed. “Fine.”
We went out to the hallway, away from pressing ears.
“I’m sorry about what happened this morning,” I told her, taking her hands in mine. She pulled them from my grip, and my shoulders dropped. “I didn’t want you to find out about…about it that way.”
“And what exactly isit?” she asked. “Are yousleepingwith theKyzaire? If I didn’t know you, Erina, I might even be a little impressed.”
“No!” I said quickly. “Of course not.”
“Then what is going on? He’s calling you to his office at late hours, you disappearall dayyesterday and Maudoric’s lips are sealed, only saying it’s not our business. And then I walk in onthat.”
“TheKyzaireasked me to be his blood giver,” I said, licking my dry lips and watching how she would react to the announcement. “I accepted. I’ll no longer be working as a keeper.”
“What?” Velle breathed. She was smiling, but when she realized I wasn’t joking, that smile slowly died. She looked like she’d just been struck. “You’re his blood giver?”
“Yes,” I said. “As of last night, officially.”
“What do you meanofficially?”
“We signed a blood contract,” I told her. “The terms are very clear. It’s all very…um, official.”
She shot me an exasperated look. “For a storyteller, you sure do have a way with words.”
I frowned. “Why are you upset? I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I was going to talk to you today, but Kal—theKyzairecame to my room this morning when I was still sleeping. It all happened really fast.”
“Oh, it’s Kaldur now, is it?” Velle asked. She smirked. “Wow. I really misjudged you.”
