Chapter 15
All day. That’s how long Kalyani had been on her own. At least she thought it was day.
“Bloody hell,” she ground out as she tried to move the lattice over the windows.
She needed to see the sky. It didn’t matter if it was the moons or the sun that cast her in light. No amount of pulling, yanking, or pushing moved the lattice even a little, though. Kalyani balled her hand into a fist and slammed it against the covering.
“Problems?”
Her entire body went still at the sound of that deep, rich voice.
To her surprise, a flicker of exhilaration sparked, but thankfully, it was extinguished quickly as irritation flared as bright as a raging fire.
She spun around and found Varum standing in the living area just outside the bedroom door.
“You could say that,” she retorted.
One dark blue brow arched on his forehead. “And why is that? You had the entire area to yourself, and I left plenty of food.”
“Am I some kind of pet to you?”
He released a long sigh. “Perhaps if you told me what the problem is.”
“I don’t know what time it is. I can’t see the sky!”
Varum’s brows drew together as he stared at her after her outburst. Even she was shaken at the emotion cracking in her voice. She had yearned to encounter the Sea Elves and see their realm. Now, all she wanted was to return to Rohan and see the sky.
“It’s evening,” Varum said into the silence.
He held her gaze for another heartbeat before shifting to the side.
Kalyani’s gaze landed on an older Sea Elf about four inches shorter than Varum.
He had a muscular frame with wide shoulders that filled out his pale aqua tunic.
The newcomer’s greenish-black hair was short, emphasizing his handsome face and startling silvery white eyes—that were locked on her.
Kalyani took a step back before she realized it. Varum had told her that no one could know of her existence, or they would both perish. Had it all been a lie?
“There’s no need to fear me,” the Sea Elf said.
She eyed his warm smile, unsure of what she should believe. Waking up alone had frightened her, and the more hours she spent on her own, the more time she had to think about what Rohan was going through.
“It has been many years since I last laid eyes on a human.” He cleared his throat and swung his head to Varum. “Did you leave her all alone?”
Varum’s lips flattened as he met the man’s gaze. “Kalyani, this is Nirav. My friend, mentor, and family. Nirav, this is Kalyani.”
Nirav bowed in her direction. “It is a pleasure to see you awake. I was here while you were recovering. May we talk?”
His manners were impeccable, but how would he react if she refused?
“You can trust him,” Varum stated after another loud sigh. “I wouldn’t have brought him otherwise.”
Kalyani shot a longing look through the lattice as she made her way to the men. Nirav motioned to one of the sofas. She found herself sitting on the couch she had claimed earlier while Nirav took the other, and Varum sat in the chair.
“I know how disorienting all of this must be,” Nirav said. “I remember the first time I walked the streets of Rannora. Everything was loud, the colors wrong. The people strange. The difference is, I went there willingly.”
She cut her eyes to Varum to find him watching her. Kalyani returned her attention to Nirav. “I’m guessing you got to leave when you wanted, too.”
“Actually, I didn’t. I was forced to remain for a period of time.” Nirav frowned as if searching for a word. “Call it a request by our ruling body.”
Well, now she was curious. “Why?”
“That is the nature of politics, isn’t it? One side giving something for the other. I was sent to spend some time with the Conclave.”
The Conclave was Shecrish’s ruling body, and they were known to be vipers. Kalyani didn’t want to feel sorry for him being sent into the viper’s nest, but she did. “How did that turn out?”
“I survived,” Nirav said with a shrug.
“Are you saying I’ll survive this?”
“Do you want to?”
Kalyani felt Varum’s gaze on her, but she kept her eyes locked with Nirav’s. “I must return to my brother. He shouldn’t be suffering the disappearance of another sister.”
“Varum relayed your stories to me. I agree that his anguish shouldn’t be drawn out. I intend to help find a safe way to get you out of the city, but I requested to meet you first.”
She scooted closer to the edge of the cushion as hope blossomed. “Will you really help?”
“Of course. I will always protect Varum.”
Right. Varum was why Nirav was here, not her. Kalyani needed to keep that in mind. She had no allies in the city. It was her against everyone. The only way she would continue living was by the benevolence of the two males in the room with her now.
Her stomach chose that moment to growl. She tensed, but neither of the elves said anything.
“Would you mind if I asked some questions?” Nirav requested.
Kalyani had been expecting this. It wasn’t enough that Varum had grilled her incessantly the night before.
He had brought someone else to continue the interrogation.
If she angered them, would they slide back the lattice and toss her out to be crushed by the force of the water?
Would her death be over quickly, or would she linger as her bones were slowly pulverized to dust?
Her stomach growled again.
Varum surged to his feet and looked down at her with annoyance. “Did you not eat the food I left?”
“I ate some,” she answered and cast him a quick look.
He said nothing more as he stalked into the kitchen and checked the sealed compartments. Kalyani swallowed and looked up to see Nirav watching her with a peculiar expression.
“You hardly touched any of it,” Varum stated as he returned to stand beside her. “Is it your intention to starve yourself?”
“It is not,” she fired back, her anger getting the best of her.
Nirav’s voice was soft as he said, “Perhaps you should ask her why she hasn’t eaten.”
Varum looked away. When his iridescent blue eyes landed on her again, his emotions were once more in check. “Why haven’t you eaten?”
“What little I attempted to eat refused to stay down,” Kalyani grudgingly admitted. She hated being ill. It made her look weak, and she had already been injured. It was embarrassing.
“The food yesterday settled fine,” Varum said.
She shrugged, wishing she could disappear between the cushions. “I know.”
“What did you use to treat her injuries?” Nirav asked. “That could be causing the issue.”
Varum sank back into the chair. “Serynth leaf to bind the wound, thalorine for the pain, and morasyl to keep her sedated during the initial healing.”
“None of those have ever been used on a human before,” Nirav replied.
Kalyani itched her side where the leaf was still stuck to her. “Speaking of the leaf thing, can I remove it?”
“I’ll do it,” Varum said, leaning toward her.
She jumped up and to the side, out of his reach. “I can handle it.”
“Actu—” Nirav began.
“What’s wrong?” Varum demanded, his jaw set as he stared at her.
Kalyani took a step back. “Nothing. I can take care of it.”
“Well, it mi—” Nirav tried again.
Varum snorted. “Is it difficult for you to ask for help?”
She gaped at him. “I have no problems asking for help.”
“Then ask now,” he pressed.
Those uncanny eyes swirled dangerously, as if a great beast were waking. Then he blinked, and the anger was banked. Or maybe she had just imagined it. “I don’t need to.”
“Come here and lift your tunic. I’ll remove it,” Varum directed.
But she didn’t budge. She couldn’t. The thought of baring her skin to him made her heart race uncontrollably.
“Kalyani.”
The sound of her name in his accent actually sent chills racing over her skin.
Varum released yet another loud sigh, his disdain clear. “Are you afraid I’m going to see something?”
“I’m sure you’ll just rip another hole in these clothes to tend to me,” she fired back. “You left me in bloodied garments.”
“Would you rather I have stripped you?”
He didn’t raise his voice, but contempt laced every syllable. Yet it was an image of her naked in his bed that lodged words in her throat.
Nirav cleared his throat to get their attention.
Then, in a soft but firm voice, he said, “If I may. Kalyani, removing a serynth leaf needs to be done carefully so as not to reverse the healing that has taken place. If a female was present, she would tend to you. I know we just met, but I promise to remove it quickly.”
She was mortified that her temper had shown itself so dramatically.
Her mouth had run away with itself, making it impossible for her to meet either of the elves’ eyes now.
She might not have been raised among the elite, but she knew how to act properly.
For some reason, she let Varum rile her at every turn.
Both males were staring, and she was getting nauseous again. Maybe it would stop once the leaf was removed. She started in Nirav’s direction.
“I’ll do it,” Varum said.
He didn’t give her time to decide, just dropped down on one knee before her.
She found her eyes moving to his, but he wasn’t looking at her face.
His attention was on her left side. Kalyani swallowed anxiously as she gathered the hem of her tunic, then lifted the fabric enough to reveal her side and the leaf.
The first brush of his fingers against her skin made her suck in a breath.
He jerked his gaze to her, but she quickly looked away.
Gently, he pulled back the edge of the leaf.
She felt the tug of the adhesive as it slowly peeled free.
A tremor went through her when she felt Varum’s warm breath flowing over her skin.
She closed her eyes and turned her head away, but she felt the pad of each of his fingers and the warmth of his palm. Little by little, he detached the leaf until it was gone. Her breath caught in her chest when he smoothed a finger along her skin.
“The leaf worked well. You’ll have a scar, but it’ll be minimal,” Varum said.
She wanted to back away. Yet she also wanted to stay as they were. Her mixed feelings were confusing.
Suddenly, he stood, towering over her. “You can breathe now. I’m finished.”
Kalyani’s fingers loosened their hold on her tunic as she drew air into her starved lungs. She felt flushed, her heart raced, and her legs were wobbly. Somehow, she made it the couple of steps to the sofa and plopped down right as her knees gave way.
Varum and Nirav started talking, but she couldn’t make out their words with her side still tingling from Varum’s touch.
That couldn’t possibly be the reason, though.
It had to be the removal of the leaf. That was it.
Her body was still absorbing the residue.
Magic was long-reaching. It made sense that it would continue to work, even after the leaf’s removal.
She found her gaze on Varum as he listened to something Nirav said. He didn’t make her skin tingle. He was too rigid and aloof for her to feel anything. It was definitely the magic.
As for Varum, she still hadn’t decided if he was friend or foe.
He should’ve been firmly slotted in one column or the other by now.
Every time she thought he might be a friend, he did something reprehensible.
Same as when she was sure he was a foe—he’d be kind out of nowhere.
How was she to figure anything out when he kept doing that? It was infuriating.