I steal a peek at my quizzical handmaiden backed against the wall at the edge of the bare-bones dining hall, her auburn brow raised.
Tanith is all too used to the cuts and bruises and blisters I get from training.
To split the awkward tension, I set two more buns on my plate as if my appetite didn’t entirely dissolve the moment Rhordyn entered the room.
He knots his arms over his chest and spears that chilling gaze down the table. “Baze.”
The word lands like a boulder.
I repress a flinch, looking left, watching Baze’s throat work.
“She had a nightmare.”
Silence stretches between them, tension crackling. I sip my orange juice, marinating in the flow of soundless words that seem to have their own ill-tempered heartbeat.
“We’ll talk about this later,” Rhordyn rumbles, his voice a dark promise of something unpleasant.
A shiver scuttles up my spine.
“Of course,” Baze grates out before pushing his plate of eggs to the side.
Rhordyn has the power to do that—to pluck you out of your pleasant atmosphere and stuff you into his unforgiving aura.
I peel a mandarin I don’t intend to eat and pretend I don’t exist.
“Why were you out so late?” Baze watches Rhordyn with a steady gaze while rolling his sleeves.
“Received an urgent sprite. Scouting ship returned earlier than expected. I went to meet with them.”
Baze’s hands still. “And?”
Rhordyn offers Baze a small shake of his head.
Looking down at my fruit, I battle the stubborn rind, wearing a frown that feels like it’s going to leave a permanent indent between my brows.
Their silent conversations always grate me the wrong way.
“Orlaith?” I glance up, Baze’s voice cutting through my inner musings. “What are your plans today?”
“You’re paid to keep track of me. You probably know my routine better than I do ...”
He shrugs. “Your tasks don’t always fall in the same order. What’s up first?”
He’s right. My routine does hinge on the weather, how badly he’s whipped my ass during training, and whether or not people are visiting the estate.
But still ...
He’s making small talk, something heneverdoes, and that makes me uncomfortable. He’s either trying to divert my attention or he has other intentions.
“Well, I’ll probably visit Cook first ... check my nabber ... Oh!” I almost shout, bouncing a little. “I just remembered. I finished painting Kai’s gift yesterday. Hopefully it’s dry so I can gift it to him during my visit this afternoon.”
The room chills.
Baze takes a swig of his breakfast juice before dishing me a cloying smile. “Sorry I asked.”
Sorry he—
My attention pulls to Rhordyn, only to be assaulted by his stony glower.
