Chapter 8 #2
To him. In private. It wasn’t done publicly as her scolding had been. Yet he had accepted the apology because he had no other choice. Tanira’s family was too powerful to have them as enemies.
Tanira smiled and adjusted her shawl. “Why bring up the past? I came by to see for myself that you were well and in good spirits.”
“I am that.”
“Then why haven’t I seen you about?”
Varum glanced at the bedroom door. “I’ve been working some longer hours, and I wanted a few days off.”
“Oh, yes. The nasty business with the Masters. The rumors circulating that we Sea Elves are involved are getting out of hand. Have you found anything to support the gossip?”
“Not as of yet.”
Tanira rose and walked around the table to sit beside him. “A Wavecaller position is opening soon. You’ve more than proven yourself in your current role. It’s time for you to move up.”
“You think because my father and grandfather were on the Assembly that I, too, wish for a seat?”
“I know you do.”
It proved how little she knew of him. “There is power in the Assembly, but there are also limits. I can do more as a Currentspeaker.”
She said nothing for a long moment as she stared at him.
Then she grinned. “Right. You can’t go off investigating as easily as a Wavecaller.
I know if there is anything to discover, you’ll find it.
That will put you in the spotlight. No more will you be able to hide all that you do, and then you won’t be able to shy away from moving up politically. ”
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
“I can help you.”
Varum looked down to find her hand covering his. “You do help.”
“I mean, in your investigation. I believe you, even if the Assembly doesn’t.”
“If I need something, I’ll let you know.” There was no way he would bring her into this. Not just because he didn’t want to worry about her safety, but because he didn’t trust her.
She smiled and sighed. “I guess I’ll have to accept that. For the moment.”
“Was there anything else?” he asked as he stood.
“My worry has been appeased. I shall leave you to your solitude.”
Varum walked her to the door and held it open. She paused at the threshold and swung her silvery white eyes to him. Unease rippled through him at her determined look.
She picked something from his tunic before smoothing her hand along his chest. “My door is always open for you. Anytime.”
He dipped his head in response. Her hand lingered for another moment before it fell away, and she walked out.
Varum closed and locked the door before breathing a sigh of relief.
Then he spun around to look at his bedroom.
Thankfully, the woman hadn’t made a sound.
It was what he had demanded, but he hadn’t actually expected her to do it.
His strides quickly ate up the ground. He recalled the magic he’d set to lock his bedroom and threw open the door. There was a startled squeak followed by a thud. He hurriedly stepped inside to find Kalyani on her backside on the floor.
“You couldn’t have just told me to come out?” she asked sharply. “Did you have to open it with such force?”
He snorted as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I take it you were listening.”
“Of course, I was bloody listening,” she bit out angrily as she climbed to her feet. “You’d do the same in my place. And, by the way, I’m not hurt.”
“I know.”
That got him an icy look. “How could you possibly know that?”
“You had anger shooting from your eyes, not pain.”
She glanced away and dusted herself off. “Oh.”
“How much did you hear?”
“Enough to know that whoever that woman was, she wants you.”
Varum laughed. “That’s what you got out of the conversation?”
“Are all males as dumb and blind as you?”
“Excuse me?” She was forever surprising him.
Kalyani shook her head, her look saying he was slow. “How pretty is she?”
“Very. What does that matter?”
“Wow. So, a very beautiful woman comes to see if you’re all right, offers her help, and then tells you that her door is always open to you… That’s an invitation if I’ve ever heard one.”
Varum didn’t like his romantic life being discussed. “And you have a lot of such experience?”
“It’s okay if your interest is in males, but it would be good to tell her, so she doesn’t waste time with you.”
He was so shocked by her statement that he could only stare at her for a full minute. Even when he found his voice, his words sounded strangled to his ears. “My interests, as you put it, lie strictly with females.”
The corner of her mouth lifted in quiet triumph, betraying her amusement. He gaped at her, utterly taken aback by the barb he hadn’t seen coming.
“Rather proud of yourself for that one, aren’t you?” he asked.
If she heard the irritation in his words, she never let on. “I have no idea what you mean.”
“Two can play that game,” he challenged.
In an instant, the grin vanished. “Game? This isn’t a game. This is my bloody life!”
“It’s mine, too. It’s everyone in this city.”
“And what about my village? My family? My friends? Do none of them matter? I suppose not since we aren’t in your precious city!”
Her chest was heaving in outrage, her eyes ablaze with indignation.
The annoyance he’d felt at being the butt of her jest evaporated.
Whether he liked it or not, the human was right.
Few would dare to speak to him in such a way.
Yet this mere slip of a female stood with her shoulders back, giving as good as she got.
She was fervor and fury, blazing brighter than the sun.
A stark contrast to the emotional restraint, discipline, and propriety that were valued within Sea Elf culture.
She was fire.
He was ice.
A volatile combination in every regard. He thought she held clues to learning about the Masters and their plan, but she might very well be his end.
It would’ve been better had he left her on the ocean floor to bleed out or become a meal.
He’d been out of his mind to think he could bring her to Tarangarh.
But she was here. He had two choices. Kill her and dispose of her body. Or…continue with his plan.
He’d already broken their highest law by bringing her to the city. The only way to save himself now was to pry every bit of knowledge from her. It had worked earlier when he left the room and returned to start over. It wouldn’t hurt to try that again.