“What does that mean?”
“It’s their word for ‘sweetheart.’”
Calyn gasped with excitement. “You speak their language?”
“Bits,” Thom admitted. “I’m not fluent by any means, but I’m learning.”
“For Brea?” she asked.
Thom frowned at her. They were near enough to Cris now that he didn’t care to discuss the topic, so he simply said, “No, for myself.” Then he turned to Cris with a smile. “I heard that my sister rejected your dance on a misunderstanding,” he began.
Cris gave a kind, if abashed, smile. “It was of no consequence,” he said.
“It was,” Calyn said. “I was misinformed and thought it inappropriate. However,” she smiled up at Thom, “mybrotherhas cleared it up for me.”
Watching them uncertainly, Cris chuckled. He brushed a hand through his thick curls. The hair brushed the collar of his moss-green coat. “If you’re sure,” he said, then faced Calyn wholly, “I would be honored to share a dance with you, Miss Glaas.”
Calyn beamed at him, and Thom all but shoved her into the young man’s arms. “Dance the night away,” he said.
Thom watched while the pair returned to the twirling couples on the floor. There was an awkwardness in their shy glances and longing looks. The attraction was clear, but there was a regard in Cris’s eyes that Thom recognized. It was the same look he’d seen Deckard and Evylin share in Whickam Village all those months ago. He liked her because he saw something in her. A part of her soul spoke to his. Neither of them was magical, yet they shared a sudden, certain bond.
It wasn’t love at first sight. It was hope. It was a sense that there was someone who could make your life a little more whole than it’d been before.
Thom smiled sadly. He’d never experienced that feeling. No one had looked at him with that same knowing. And he envied it.
Suddenly, a woman slid her arm through Thom’s. He looked down to find fire-bright red hair flashing in the light of the party.
“Ah,” he greeted snidely, “if it isn’t my least favorite person.”
“You love me, and you know it,” Ilain replied. She followed his gaze to the dancing couple. “Lost another one, eh?”
“I’m destined for celibacy.”
“As someone who waited forty-three years to find her husband, let me tell you—” She gave him a twinkle-eyed smile. “It’s bloody worth it.”
Though Thom wasn’t as undefiled as she presumed, he chuckled. “I’m afraid Bonding isn’t in my future.”
“Perhaps not.” Ilain pulled him to walk alongside her. “We have another meeting to attend.”
Thom furrowed his brow. “With whom?”
“Each other.”
“You and I?” He scoffed. “Shall we solve Terraeus’ problems together? Or do you need marital advice?”
“I’d go to literally everyone but you for that.”
“I’m the one who got Ethenn to kiss you if you’ll remember.”
“After doing expressly what I asked you not to do.”
“It worked, didn’t it?”
They made their way to the back corner of the ballroom, where the lights were softer and the music quieter. Though partygoers still mingled, the atmosphere was much more tranquil. Small tables aimed at fostering relaxed, intimate conversations were thoughtfully arranged in the corner. Seated at one of these tables were Ethenn, Vayden, and Brea, the trio evidently waiting for them.
Thom smiled. “Thisis the ‘each other’ you meant,” he realized.
“Yes,” Ilain said, breaking off from him. “Now, sit down. We have much to discuss.”
