Then he turns toward me, one last bit of hope in his eyes, and I step in and let him wrap his giant arms around me. I wrap my own around his large torso. He has the same smoky scent as Daegan, mixed with something different. Something a little sweeter.
“Even though I was the last choice,” I mumble into his chest.
“Never. That would’ve been the Dothronite, probably.”
We all laugh as I pull back, and Daegan watches me with a grin. The pink wine has done its job.
“Thanks, Sand,” Raef says with a wink.
I tilt my head in confusion. “Sand?”
“Yeah. Some people call you Elle, so I called you Sand. Like Elysande.”
I dip my head and laugh, shaking my head. “I like it,” I tell him as I look up again, smiling.
Daegan gives him a funny look and Meela looks at him like he has three heads.
A few more giggles slip out before I compose myself again.
The mention of Gaethri reminded me—we have something very important to discuss.
I glance at Daegan. “Want to take a little walk?”
He meets my gaze and nods, understanding.
Meela watches us with a barely contained, mischievous smirk. If I have to make people think there’s something going on between us to throw off their suspicions, then I will. Spending time alone together is the only way we can really talk and plan at this point. I know that Daegan will pass along whatever we discuss to Raef, and we’ll all be on the same page.
We leave the other two behind and walk side-by-side in silence for a while before we say anything. Until there are no more bodies passing us.
“She thinks there’s something happening here,” Daegan notes, looking ahead.
“That’s fine. It’s getting harder to talk about things. At least this way we distract from any real suspicions.”
“True,” he nods.
“If that… doesn’t bother you?”
He side-eyes me, studying me for a moment. “No.” He clears his throat, facing forward again. “So if two people wanted some… privacy. Where would we go around here?”
My stomach flutters. Yes this is all a ruse we’ve suddenly stumbled into, but I can’t help feeling like I’m going to float away at the thought of being alone with him. I need to calm myself.
“Well, you know I like the gardens at night…” I think out loud. “But then… so do other people. It’s not always so private. I suppose the best option is… my quarters?”
He glances thoughtfully at me for a moment, then finally nods.
He already knows the way.
We don’t say much on the walk there, but once I open my door and let him inside, it seems like we have twenty different things to discuss, and I’m not sure where to start.
He glances around, taking it all in, and I direct him on where to sit. I offer him a cup of tea, then sit across from him with my own cup.
I think the small sips of pink wine we’ve both had have worn off, because it’s all business now. His smile has faded, his expression becoming more neutral.
Or maybe it never was enough to affect him, and the brief smiles I saw were just him.
He leans forward, his elbows resting on his spread thighs. “We’re going to Dothron.”
“Who iswe?” I ask.
