I didn’t like how distant she seemed.
She was quiet during the walk to the small restaurant a fantastic chef, Lyhyle, ran on the far end of the city. It had a fewseats inside and a small balcony with beautiful views, and was one of my favorite places to sit quietly and think.
We were the only ones on the balcony, and I paid Lyhyle to keep it that way before settling at a small raised table. Jacqueline’s eyes flicked from the horizon to me and back.
“What’s bothering you?” I shifted, wanting to fix whatever had her so uncomfortable.
“Nothing, it’s just been a long few days.” She tried to offer me another smile.
I looked out over the vast canyon toward a group of vorilh flying about. “I’m sorry for taking advantage of you.”
“What do you mean?” Her brows furrowed delicately.
“I shouldn’t have kissed you when you were so vulnerable.”
“Is that why you’ve acted aloof since then?” She stared at me, then laughed. It was beautiful, if not bordering on hysterical. “I thought you were angry with me.”
I leaned forward, placing a hand over her small one and rubbing my thumb over her soft skin. “Not at all. Rather, I was angry with myself for going too far with you when you were in such a state.” My grip tightened on her hand and I held her gaze. “None of you will ever have any action taken against you if you reject an advance. Never think telling me no or pushing me away if you find my advances to be too much will get you or the others in trouble. That I promise you.”
Her face softened at my words and she leaned forward, reaching up with the hand I wasn’t holding to trail the backs of her fingers over my cheek. I closed my eyes, reveling in her tender touch.
“Thank you.” I snapped my eyes open at the break in her voice.
Standing abruptly, I went to her, kneeling beside her chair so we were face to face. “Don’t cry.” I murmured, brushing her tears away. A strange ache in my chest made it difficult not to take her into my arms and tell her it would all be ok, that I was here.
“Does that mean there will be more advances?” she asked through her tears with a tilt of her lips to show me she was teasing.
She might have been teasing, but I was serious about her. And I didn’t know what to do about it. A different species, an enemy to all vorpyrren. How had such affection for her taken root?
Chapter 22
After a surprising and wonderful breakfast with Arrazyl, which left me thoroughly confused about my own feelings, Thyra dragged all three of us with her to organize the final setup for the festivities. Already the city was transforming.
“Aren’t you exhausted?” Tatiana leaned against a wall in the shade. She’d been the most drained by the events of the last few days, and despite the advanced tech that helped even her deepest wounds heal up within a couple of days, she was still weak from the attack.
“Let’s find someone to take you back to the house.” There were guards with us as usual, but a familiar male landed close by. “Or I’m sure Kyvar would take you.”
Tatiana frowned. Even though Arrazyl had told us all that the captain acted without orders, Tatiana had avoided Kyvar when he came to see her.
“You don’t have to go anywhere with him if you don’t want to.” I said softly.
“I know that logically it’s not his fault, but I still feel cautious.”
“Given how much we’ve been through since starting the trip here, cautious is a very natural feeling.”
She nodded, but looked miserable. Kyvar spotted her and immediately made his way over. His expression was concerned. “Are you ok?” he reached out but stopped when Tatiana looked away, awkwardly letting his hand fall to his side. “Tatiana?” his voice was soft, careful. When she looked up at him, he glanced over at me and back to her. “Could we talk?”
When Tatiana hesitated, I parted my lips to tell him she would like some space, but she got there first. “Ok. Will you take me back to the house?”
“Of course.” He scooped her up in his arms and was in the air before she could protest.
Well, then…
“I can’t believe it’s almost here. I still have so many things to do.” Thyra fretted.
Jaron smirked, “don’t you do this every year?”
“You hush. There always seems to be more each year.”
