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“Maybe because they don’t know you, yet.”

God, he was annoying. “No one knows me.” She bit off. “Certainly not you.” Randa had spent her entire life alone, in all ways that mattered.

“I know that you lived in the Air Palace and I know that the Air Phases murdered my whole fucking family!” Kahn roared. “What else is there to know? Tell me. I sincerely want to hear it.”

Rye rolled his eyes and moved to intervene before Kahn’s volume shattered the windows. Julius grabbed hold of his arm, stopping him. He leaned closer to Rye and whispered something that Randa couldn’t hear. Whatever it was, it seemed to startle Rye. Something like astonishment flashed over his expression, and he stopped trying to interfere in the argument.

Kahn didn’t appear to notice, all his attention on Randa. “Well?”

“I had nothing to do with the Fall.” Randa told him quietly. “I’m sorry about your sisters, though. I didn’t know them, but I’m sure they were lovely and deserved far better.”

“No shit they deserved better.” Kahn snapped, shoving away from the bookcase with restless energy. “Maybe you didn’t start the Fall, but you sided with the man who did. That’s close enough.”

Randa smiled without humor and determinedly changed the subject. “Are you sure I can’t get you some tea? Or coffee? It’s no trouble.”

“I don’t want any fucking coffee.” He paced around, not giving up on his insults and prying. “Your Match also died in the Fall, didn’t he? How the hell could you shack up with the man who killed him? What would your Match say, if he were here?”

“If he were here, Hekktor would tell me he’d like some coffee.”

Kahn wasn’t satisfied with that truthful answer. “Most Phases who lost their Match die, too. They can’t go on alone.” He shrugged expansively. “But you seem just fine with Hekktor being gone. That says a lot about your relationship.”

“Does it?”

“Do you even care that your Match is dead?”

“I miss him.”

Kahn studied her, trying to read her face. “Maybe people don’t know you, because there’s nothing to know.” He finally speculated. “Maybe you’re just a pretty shell with nothing inside.”

He wasn’t the first person to suggest that. Sometimes Randa wished it was true.

“Maybe.” She kept her expression blank, even as her anger threatened to boil over. “Or maybe my insides are just solid… fucking… stone.”

That claim seemed to catch his interest. It was probably the cursing. He used more vulgarities than anyone she’d ever known, so it made sense that he responded to them quicker than normal words. “Stone?”

“I don’t break. I endure. Like granite. Nothing shatters me. I get up and I keep going. I’ve survived things you would never have survived. I’ll survive Saxon, too. And I’ll survive you. I get beaten, but I’m never beat. I’m indestructible.”

Kahn blinked.

So did the rest of the Light Phases.

Randa took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. No one else made her as angry as Kahn. In some bizarre way, she liked the rush of emotions that came from sniping at him. Liked releasing all of the feelings she usually repressed. Liked saying exactly what she felt like saying and watching him react.

But that wasn’t smart. Sooner or later, his reaction was going to be violent. Engaging with Kahn was a mistake. Part of surviving was picking your battles. Life had taught Randa that at an early age.

No good could come from talking to these men. They were simply here to do a job for her. They were tools. Nothing more. She needed to keep them occupied and under control until Saxon was dead. Everything else was just asking for trouble.

“Would you care for some dinner?” She tried in a milder tone, hoping to get things back on track. Eating would keep them busy for a while. They were so massive that dinner was probably a time-consuming affair for them. Usually featuring some poor creature cooked on a spit and eaten whole, no doubt.

That actually worked to distract them. The Light Phases all glanced at each other and then back at her. “We have our own supplies.” Julius finally said.

And that’s when Randa remembered that their House didn’t eat food made by outsiders and they didn’t share meals with people they didn’t trust. That’s why they had refused the coffee, too.

She wasn’t worthy.

Chapter Three

The society of women is the element of good manners.