“What have you done?”
Vann stands up abruptly.
“Nothing recently,” he says with a smirk. “Now, I’m off to work on the hunting schedule with Lothar.”
“Vann—” I start, but he brushes out of the library.
I let out a frustrated sigh, only to see Arlet standing in the doorway.
She looks at me with wide eyes.
I push out of my seat.
“Arlet. Hello. Is everything all right?”
She blinks.
“Why were you speaking about me?” she demands.
My tail swishes behind me.
“I—You’d have to ask Vann,” I say.
Her mouth tightens. “No, I don’t think I will. He wouldn’t tell me even if I did.”
“How much did you hear?”
“I heard you say that he has been denying his feelings for me,” she grits out, her red hair stark against her pale, freckled face.
I press my lips together. “I’m really not the one to speak about this with.”
She takes a deep breath and steps further into the light, revealing her intricately woven outfit. One she made, no doubt.
“I came to tell you that Estela was looking for you. But then I heard… Vann.” She wrings her hands. “Vann hates me.”
I give her a sad smile. “Vann hates many things, but you are not one of them.”
Her eyes grow wider, then she turns on her heel and rushes away.
I sit there for a minute, hoping that Vann won’t come to pound in my skull.
Chapter 31
Boleite
TEO
Estela collapses on the bed next to me.
“Fine, I forgive you for not telling me about Melisa sooner,” she pants.
The evidence of our lovemaking fills me with pride.
I stroke her cheek. “I’m a simple man. I see my mate sweating with a blade in her hands, and it’s time to steal her away.Again.”
She lays on her back, her cheeks flushed and her chest heaving, and casts me a long, appreciative glance.
“I was trying to train.”
