“Fair enough.” Tairna rests her chin on her hand. “I’ll tell you what I’ve observed so far. You don’t have to respond or even react.” She tucks a lock of snow-streaked hair behind her ear. “There’s tension between you. Mountains of it. Perhaps trust that has been broken? You’re afraid of being hurt. So is he. There’s also a lot of anger in him. At me. At you.” My lips part in surprise, and she gives me a knowing smile. “But there’s also the good kind of tension. Flames, I thought we’d have to pry his hand off your arm with a metal bar back in the woods. Vayru isfiercelyprotective of you. And you let him be. You don’t strike me as someone who allows others to stand in front of her. He’s been watching you since he arrived tonight, and I justknowhe’s only here because you are.”
“How can you possibly know that?” I whisper.
“Call it mother’s intuition,” Tairna says with a watery smile. “I haven’t seen him in years—but I know his heart, Mayah.” She swishes the ale in her mug. “He’s done horrible things. Committed atrocities. But haven’t we all? Sometimes we’re forced to do terrible things—relish them, even—because of lies we’ve been told. Out of a twisted sense of duty. I know my Vayru took no pleasure in what he’s been made to do.”
She’s right. I can barely stomach what I’ve done out of a misplaced desire for revenge over my mother’s death, when the culprit had called me daughter all along.
Tairna squeezes my hand. “Now,please, by the Flames, ask my Vayru to dance before he gives himself a stroke.”
I wipe my tears and manage a weak smile. My chair scrapes against the floor as I rise, though the sound is muffled by the loud music. Tairna was right—Zev is watching me. I almost buckle beneath his fierce gaze. He tracks the moisture on mycheeks, hand flexing at his side, before his stony gaze flits to his mother and morphs into an accusatory glare.
I take a deep breath.
With sure steps, I stride across the hall.
Zev’s eyes never leave me.
I can do this.
He’s only cold and cruel because he’s hurt.
Tides, I hope Tairna is right.
A muscular arm drops over my shoulders, halting my steps.
“Mayah!”
Tumaas spins me around, then locks me against his body with a hand splayed over my lower back. He brings my hand to his shoulder, rocking me in time with the upbeat music.
“Dance with me.” He smiles wide, until his dimple winks at me. I stumble, stepping on his foot, but he only laughs. Tumaas twirls me, my dress flaring out, before spinning me back into his arms.
I peer over his shoulder and find Zev. He’s still at the bar, face pinched and dark. His glass hits the counter with a dull thud, stormy gaze locked on the space where Tumaas’s hand rests on my lower back.
I wish he’d come storming across the floor, rip me from Tumaas’s arms, and claim me.
But he doesn’t.
Then, Tumaas spins me again, whirling me around the dance floor, and I lose sight of him. Tumaas dips his head, his lips close to my ear as he asks, “Are you all right?”
His touch is familiar, but I tense. Not because it’s unwelcome—but because someone else is watching.
“It’s just a lot to take in.”
Tumaas hums, twirling me away, then pulling me back. I try to mimic the carefree sway of the others, but my limbs feel too stiff, too heavy—like I wasn’t made for this kind of joy. I stumbleagain, and he chuckles. “Sura mentioned you wanted to dance but were nervous. You’re doing great.”
My brow furrows. Scheming Sura. The years have passed, but here she is, still hoping I’ll end up with her brother.
Apparently, even my marriage isn’t going to stop her.
When the song ends, I twist in Tumaas’s arms, searching.
But he’s gone.
Chapter Seventy-Four
Mybootsthudagainstthe floor as I careen around the narrow corner, torchlight flickering in my tailwind. The door announces my tardiness with a loud creak. Four pairs of eyes swing to me.
I’m late for another council meeting—except instead of ice walls and icy glares, I’m met with Tairna’s dimly lit office and her warm smile. Huddled around her large table are Zev and her advisers, Rycken and Lyzza.
