“You reek of deception.”
“And here I thought it was just me smelling that.” Bane retook his chair that Acheron had vacated. “’Course I also thought it could just be Bart, as he hasn’t bathed in a few weeks.”
“Hey now! ’Tis true, but still! No need getting personal.”
Savitar ignored him as he rose to approach Nibo. His lavender gaze narrowed dangerously. “What are you not telling us?”
“I think you know.”
“Do I?”
“Don’t you?”
Thorn snorted. “So, this is what it’s like to witness my conversations withyou. Fascinating.”
Savitar blasted him without taking his gaze from Nibo.
Luckily, Thorn ducked the blast, which made a large black stain in the side of the ship.
“Hey now, watch it! That be me lady you’re striking,” Bane growled. “Careful with your tempers.”
“Forgive me.” Yet Savitar’s tone was anything other than apologetic.
“Help us bind Adarian.”
Savitar shook his head. “I’m not involving myself in the politics of this world. Not anymore. Been there and failed that. My days of being a world protector are over.”
“Why is that?” Nibo arched a brow.
“It cost me too much in the past.”
“Yet you never elaborate beyond pithy little hints.”
Savitar gave him a cruel smile. “And neither do you, Xuri. We all have our secrets.” His gaze went meaningfully to Valynda.
Nibo didn’t understand where he was going with that. Sometimes trying to follow his line of thought was like watching the flight of a bumblebee, confusing, erratic, and the stuff of nightmares. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Why do you think you’re so drawn to her?”
“She’s wonderful,” he said without hesitation.
Savitar rolled his eyes. “Think about it, old man. You’re notthatstupid. You’ve only felt this way about two women in your life. …” He glanced to Thorn before he returned his gaze to Nibo. “Or have you?”
A chill went down his spine as he finally caught on. “Aclima?”
Valynda felt a rush of cold go through her at the way he whispered that name. With a loving reverence unlike anything she’d ever heard from anyone before. It stung her with a jealousy so profound that it burned her raw and left her aching. While he’d never mentioned that name to her, it was obvious he had a great deal of affection for this other woman.
Biting her lip, she saw the look on Cameron’s face as she stepped toward Kalder and took his hand without speaking.
Savitar nodded. “You felt it the moment you first met. It’s why Qeenan tried to keep you two divided. Why he’s an even bigger threat to you than you know.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Now, knowing that, do you still want to take on the Malachai?”
Nibo moved to stand behind Valynda so that he could place his hands on her shoulders protectively. “Knowing that, it’s imperative that I take him on, and stop him.”
And with that, he used his powers to take her from the room and into hers below the deck so that he could speak to her alone.
Valynda’s stomach ached in fear of what he had to say. Although she already knew. Aclima was obviously someone important. Someone she couldn’t hold a candle to.
“You don’t have to say anything, Xuri.”
