Strolling toward the spot where our friends sat, I inwardly sighed. I knew that Khalida was latching on to a light subject to distract her from thinking of recent deaths. I felt for her, but I didn’t really want to discuss this particular matter with anyone until I knew for certain that Talon wasn’t going to repeat his past behavior. If I was to mention what happened only to have him act as though it never occurred, it would be seriously embarrassing.
“Only so I could use his shower,” I told her. “The Sovereigns had made it clear that I wasn’t to keep them waiting, and the lines for the bathhouses were pretty long.”
“And that was all you did? Shower?”
“Yup.”
She shot me an impatient look. “Did we not cover that you can’t fool the Master of Deceit? What is it about this concept that you don’t grasp?”
“Everything.”
She snickered. “I thought you weren’t going to fuck him again. Don’t deny that you did—it will be pointless.”
As we were nearly at our destination and I didn’t want the others to overhear, I quickly admitted in a fast mumble, “Okay, between you and me, yes he and I had sex again. But only because he indicated that he wouldn’t repeat the whole pretending it didn’t happen.”
“And will it happen again?”
“I don’t know. Here’s what I do know: there’s nothing for you to get excited about, because I’m not going to get any kind of exclusive arrangement from a man who is emotionally bonded to the soul of another woman.”
She groaned. “I hate when you hit me with facts that ruin my dreams and ideas.”
Finally, we reached the spot our friends had claimed on one of the long benches. Both Quillen and Soule scooched over to give us space to sit.
Quillen frowned at her. “Why are you pulling that face?”
“She wants me to be realistic about something,” Khalida grumbled. “It spoils my fun.”
“Realistic about what?” asked Nakoa, spreading honey on a slice of bread. “Something to do with the Sovereigns?”
Loading my pewter with lamb and vegetables, I said, “They only wanted to know more about my power; they weren’t expecting it to surface.” As I ate, I gave them a rundown of the conversation. I also mentioned the crack that I’d spotted in the platform.
“There’s another fine fissure in the foundation of the fortress as well,” Quillen told us. “I saw it yesterday. I mentioned it to Talon—he didn’t react other than to grunt and walk away. He’s not the most forthcoming of people.”
Nakoa looked at Khalida. “On the subject of him, did you ask Anara why she headed to the private barracks with Talon?”
I exhaled heavily. “I showered, that’s all.” I slid my gaze to Soule. “Have you ever used a shower?”
His eyes lit with interest. “No, I haven’t. What are they like?”
“Life changers,” I told him, cutting into the last of my meat. “Talon has his own bathtub, too. The showerhead—”
“You’re doing that thing where you change the subject,” Nakoa cut in, “which means there’s more to know.”
“I think there is more to know,” Quillen stated, eyeing me. “There’s a weird vibe between you and Talon. Sometimes, he looks at you like he wants to tear your heart from your chestand bury it. Other times, he looks at you like a dehydrated man would stare at a glass of water.”
Even as the latter sentence made my belly flutter, I felt my nose wrinkle. “Why do you think he would bury only my heart?”
Quillen pointed an accusatory finger at me. “You’re doing it again. Or trying to. It won’t work.”
I stabbed my fork into my lamb. “Khalida used to have a crush on Keyes.”
Khalida spluttered and stared into her tankard.
Quillen narrowed his eyes at me. “We’re not talking about her, we’re staying on topic. You’re going to—” He turned to her. “Is she messing with me or what?”
Soule chuckled beside me and raised his drink. “I salute you.”
Chewing my food, I only smiled.
