As they headed away, Cameron caught a brief unguarded expression on Kalder’s face before he shielded it.
Concerned about what was causing it, she went to him.
“What’s wrong?”
At first, he smiled and started to discount it, then he grimaced and decided to confide in her. “I have a feeling of disquiet.”
“About?”
His countenance said “everything,” but his lips contradicted what her instinct was telling her about his mood. “Not sure.”
Belle came up to stand beside Cameron, and passed a knowing glance to each of them. “So, Miss Jack, did you find the—” She cleared her throat meaningfully. “—fruitto be suited to your tastes, after all?”
Kalder scowled at the veiled question that Cameron more than understood, as it pertained to an earlier discussion she’d had with Belle and the other ladies upon her first arrival to their ship. One that stemmed from their initial discovery of her most virginal state.
This time, Cameron felt the heat of embarrassment scalding her cheeks, as she knew that Belle’s powers allowed her to know well enough what had transpired between them. There was never any hiding from the Lady Belle.
“It was most succulent, indeed, Miss Morte. And yes, definitely to me tastes. Thank you very much for asking.”
“Lucky you, me lady. For there are many who’d give much to sample a bite of it. ’Specially here in this land. Guard yourself, asthey’ll be most unhappy should they learn that you were the fortunate one who plucked it for her own.”
Kalder scowled. “What are you two talking about?”
Belle patted him on the cheek. “Pretty sure you know, love. As I’ve never seen you more tranquil than what you are right now.”
Kalder snorted before he cornered one of the watchmen who was trying to slink past them. “You there! See to the Lady Cameron’s needs, posthaste. She needs dry clothing and something suitable for whatever event my brother has seen fit to put together for our guests.”
“I’ll have to—”
“Am I not still a prince of this empire?”
That ferocious tone of power even managed to send a wave of apprehension, and a tremor of fear, down Cameron’s spine.
The watchman’s eyes bulged. “Aye, Highness.”
“Then you will do as I command and see to the lady’s needs. Avast!”
Cameron’s eyes widened at a tone she’d never heard Kalder use before. He sounded more akin to the captain than her tender mermaid.
Kalder turned toward the shimmering wall. “Chthamalus?”
The Barnak demon appeared instantly in the glassy depths, where he stared out at them with a blank, curious expression. Then he blinked at Kalder before his eyes widened and he leapt from the wall to stand by Kalder’s side. “You summoned me, my lord?”
“Make sure he”—Kalder jerked his chin toward the watchman—“sees that me orders are carried out and that the lady is attended to in chambers worthy of a royal consort and that she isn’t shunted off to a closet fit only for a scullery maid.”
“Aye, my lord.”
“Good demon, Tally. Thank you.”
Cameron hesitated. While she was grateful for his concern and courtesy, she wasn’t quite so sure about the thought of being alone in this place. Kalder’s orders made her a bit uncomfortable since she barely knew his demon. Not that she didn’t trust Chthamalus per se, she just had a bad feeling in general.
“Want me to come with you?”
More than the Caribbean sorceress could imagine. Grateful beyond measure, Cameron hugged Belle for her perceptive powers, and kindness. Every day she loved her dear friend more. “Aye! Thank you!”
Kalder didn’t move until the ladies, with Chthamalus in tow, were completely out of sight. And still that feeling that something was amiss persisted deep in his gullet.
Trying not to think about it, he took a few minutes to tend to other pressing matters with another servant, before he started on his way.
