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“Just as you are making assumptions about me, I imagine.”
“What do you know of the emrys?”
“I’m sure just as much as you know about humans,” Caedryn said.
“You are coy.”
“Is that what you sensed in me?” He laughed. “I’m so much more.”
A breadcrumb caught in my throat, and I choked. “I wouldn’t doubt.”
“You find my meekness alluring?”
Oh, Deian. “No, not coy in that sense. You’re vague. Reluctant to reveal much.”
“Would you rather I bared my soul… as you did last night?”
Seren! What did I say?
You rambled mostly about your father and how you were a black sheep. A rebel. A delinquent. I willed you to stop, but I think you gave him a good impression that you don’t follow the rules.
Why don’t I remember?
You were inconsolable. The sleeping draught was much needed.
I swallowed and took a deep breath. “Lord Caedryn—”
“Caedryn—”
“Okay. Caedryn, forgive me. I don’t know how to describe—”
“Niawen, you don’t have to.” His pupils moved as he took me in. Strangely, the brown in his eyes drew me. A vague, yellow light shone from the depths of his soul, and for one second—gone in a flash—the light revealed sorrow.
That’s it. That’s all I saw. I believed the glimpse was unintentional because he blinked and relaxed into his chair.
“I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to have another emrys with the same skills,” he said. “I’ve been around mortals for far too long. It has its disadvantages. Without sensing my emotions, no one sees behind the face. No one has reason to console. Or reason to rejoice.” His voice lowered. “Or reason to fear.”
“You’re saying you’re fearsome?”
His expression darkened. One vein throbbed at his temple as animosity edged his voice. “Those who have faced my wrath would dare say so.”
I snickered at his theatrics. A solid laugh escaped my throat, rolling across the room. Caedryn joined in.
When we settled, both picking up our goblets as if the strange laughter had never happened, I said, “I grew tired of emrys sensing my emotions in Gorlassar. I prefer to keep things private. It’s refreshing being around humans.”
“Really?” Astonishment covered his face. “Yet the first thing you do is probe with your light. You’re a walking contradiction.”
The sausages on my plate were as dried out and as mortified as I felt. I tucked my hands into my lap. “Sensing emotions is so commonplace in Gorlassar. It’s a habit. It’s normal.”
“I see. So it’s perfectly acceptable to sense what I’m feeling, to violate my privacy?”
“It’s not like that. Most of the time, emotions reached me; it’s usually not necessary to discern deeper. Nothing is secret in Gorlassar. With emotions on display, I didn’t have to play immature guessing games.” Unless someone chose to block certain emotions.
His chuckle shook his chest. “Immature guessing games? Am I playing immature guessing games with you?”
“I won’t look again.”
“Relax, Niawen.” His voice lowered as he enunciated his words. “I haven’t even begun playing games.”
