“Not like that!” I practically screamed.
Oh gods. That’s the last thing I needed—the staff calling me the Bondsmith and thinking I was sleeping with Rohak.
The servant’s cheeks were still pink, and she giggled a bit uncomfortably. “Word is he didn’t return home last night, but you’re welcome to look for him in his office in the administration building. He generally has an early start to his day and sometimes even sleeps there.”
“Right. The administrative offices. Got it. Thank you . . .” I trailed off, searching for her name.
“Jen, Miss Fay. Just Jen.” I smiled and thanked her as she curtsied again and flew from the room.
What an odd duck.
As odd as she was, it was clear that word and gossip traveled fast amongst the servants, much like it did back in Isrun. I was certain tales of who I was and what I did would circulate quickly, but I could only hope that the Bondsmith rumor started and stopped here.
And what of the rumor of you and Rohak sharing a bed?
I shook my head to clear the thought before diving into the breakfast. I hungrily tore into the food and moaned obscenely at the taste of everything.
When was the last time I ate something that wasn’t vegetable stew or travel rations?
Weeks—before even the initial Mage occupation—since I’d eaten something this good. The bread practically melted in my mouth, the fruit was tart and burst on my tongue. I shoved it all in like a woman starved, and I poked at the orange meat with a fork I’d found on the ground.
I cut a small piece of it, it flaked off nicely, as I chewed the food already stuffed in my mouth. Completely oblivious to my surroundings, I nearly choked when I heard a deep voice from behind me.
“I’m fairly certain there’s enough in your mouth already, Faylinn.”
I screamed, but it sounded a bit more like “Mmgahm” with all of thefood in my mouth and I promptly dropped the fork with the weird orange meat on it. It clattered to the floor, and I heard Cotton pad over and snack on it with a soft “meow.”
If the cat likes that, I decidedlywon’tbe eating it.
I whirled around and faced General d’Alvey, my cheeks still puffed full of food, and smacked his chest.
“Dondodat,” I garbled, and he raised an eyebrow at me, his gaze flicking to where my hand hit his chest.
“Swallow. It’s not polite to speak with your mouth full, Faylinn.”
I gulped.
Why did that sound so sexual coming out of his mouth?
I swallowed a second time as I stared at him. His green eyes were trained on my face, and I saw them flick to my throat as it contracted around my breakfast.
Interesting.Perhaps the rock wasn’t as unaffected as I thought.
“You need to get dressed. I’ve brought some clothes for you to wear.” He thrust a linen bag into my arms. “You’ll be accompanying me to the administrative offices for the foreseeable future. You need to meet Lord d’Refan and I need to train you before you can officially start. I’m not entirely certain what your days will look like, but I’m sure a lot of reading will be involved.”
He gave me a small smile at my obvious look of excitement.
Books!
“Okay!” I practically vibrated with excitement as I ran to the bedroom, shucking my shirt as I went.
“Faylinn,” I heard Rohak practically growl.
“What?” I called as I finished stripping and pulled on the clothes from the bag. A breast band and underwear went on first, then the softest black pants and tunic I’d ever felt quickly followed. I exited the bedroom just as quickly as I entered and saw a flushed Rohak holding a pair of black leather boots.
I wrinkled my nose at him as I gathered my mess of curls into a haphazard knot at the back of my head.
“You can’t just strip in front of people.”
