I’d seen how grueling courting had been for the males of my clan so far, but for some reason I’d thought that mine would be different. Dreams from what felt like a lifetime ago had been at the forefront of my mind, but I truly hadn’t considered that I’d find her so quickly. While I’dhoped, there’d been a part of mewho’d thought that I’d have more time to get used to this plane. To feel moresettled.
I didn’t want the time now that she was here. I just wanted to learn the skills I needed to court her. Anddamn itI didn’t have them. ButSavla. If my brother could help, I’d be set. After all, courting as a clan didn’t mean the whole clan had to beactively involved. Savla was enough for now and I’d go to the others if and when I needed them.
“How long will it take?” I asked again in the same low voice, praying that Rudgar, who was next to him, didn’t hear and try to help.
“A day,” he said with a shrug. “Or a night, I suppose, if I start as soon as we get home.”
“Could you?” I asked, not wanting to give him too much to do, but still hoping he would.
“Of course,” he agreed, nodding. “I know you’d do the same for me.”
“Yes, I would,” I told him, searching his face again, but it was carefully blank. As carefully blank as his expressions always were.
This was the brother I worried about. Not outgoing Enka, who might be the youngest, but was the most untouched by our past. Savla. The middle brother who had taken on burdens with me to make sure we were cared for. Who’d faced every obstacle with me and hadn’t batted an eyelash. Whose heart was bigger than anyone else’s that I’d ever met, but who kept it guarded deep inside himself.
“You know that, don’t you?” I asked in a lower voice, earnest in my words. “That I’d help you withanythingthat you need? Is there—”
He shook his head, cutting me off, as he always did when he felt like I was prying at him. “No, I’m good, and I’m more than willing to help you with this.”
I studied him for a bit, but his face gave no hint aboutanything. With a deep sigh, I clapped him on his shoulder, wishing—not for the first time—that I could read his mind.
When the scent of my mate filled the air, my head whipped in her direction, completely focused. She was walking over to me—well,our table—that forced smile on her face. I hated it. It didn’t look anything like the real smile she’d had on her sweet lips earlier.
Savla’s low chuckle next to me was quiet. “I’ll do the research tonight. You might need all the help you can get.”
I grunted my agreement, dropping my hand from his shoulder and turning my body so I was following her every move—tracking her across the room. I cleared my throat as she got nearer.
“Hello, Zemar,” I murmured, studying her expression, which was a mix of reluctant politeness and annoyance. “Thank you for everything. It’s been such a pleasure dining here.”
The annoyance in her eyes was replaced by amusement for a moment before it was masked. “Even though there was no meat on the menu?” she asked, a true smile crossing her face again for a short second.
“Even then,” I whispered, grinning at her.
Gods, to get her to smile like that at me all the time. It’d be a gift without comparison.
She placed the bill folder with my card in it in front of me, giving me another smile. This one smaller, shyer and it made my blood heat. “Thanks for dining with us,” she told me before her eyes widened and she looked at everyone else sitting at the table—damn them for being here— and saying. “To all of you. Thank you for dining with us. I hope you enjoy the rest of your night.”
She glanced at me one more time before turning and returning to the kitchen. I watched her go, even as something tapped on my hand with insistence. When she’d disappeared behind thedoors again, I looked down to see that Savla had tapped a pen on my hand.
“What?” I asked him, glancing from him to the pen.
“The tip,” he told me, gesturing toward the bill folder. “You have to add it on.”
I nodded, struggling to gather my thoughts when I could still smell her luscious scent. My female was going to be adeliciousmouthful when she granted me the blessing of devouring her, I could already tell.
I just doubled the amount of the bill and added it on as a tip before glancing at Rudgar, who was smiling at me. “Do we have to leave?” I asked, and he gave me a sad nod before tilting his head toward the kitchen where my mate had disappeared.
“If we stay any longer, she’ll be uncomfortable. We don’t want that,” he explained. “You can come back at another time. If you’re by yourself, she might be more open to talking to you.”
I nodded, already knowing I would be back the next day. Lin hadn’t given meallthe information I needed, because she wasn’t clear on her shifts, but I had enough that I could work with until Savla was able to get more information.
I had hope now that I knew some basics about her and her schedule. I could visit her at the Bureau—I’d find any excuse in the book—and then I’d just have to become a frequent customer of the restaurant. I grimaced, knowing that I’d have to stock pile on steaks if I had to eat here for dinner every night. But it would all be worth it. Even eating the tiny foods that could barely sustain an elf.
CHAPTER 8
Emma
Istared down at the bill in front of me, unable to comprehend what was written there.
