Chapter 41 Vera #2
I buck at the command, but force myself to sit without argument. I’m supposed to be groveling; apparently, I’m not very good at it.
She takes a seat behind her desk, her gown artfully settling around her, and then she waits.
I swallow, not sure how to begin. “I came to pay the dues… I know they’re late.” I pull the broken bracelet from my pocket and set it on the desk. “But I have the money, and I’m hoping you can help me get my bracelet replaced.”
Her eyes catch on the bracelet with stark disappointment that causes a spike of shame to knife through my chest. “You’ve endangered not only yourself, but your sisters with your rash actions. What is your excuse for choosing not to pay the dues?”
I curse inwardly. How do I explain a choice that even to me sounds blazing idiotic?
I clear my throat. “I gave Renna the money she needed to secure her safety and took a job that paid well enough I can now pay mine.” It’s the truth… without the part where I decided I didn’t want it anymore.
I’m pretty impressed with myself for wording it so well—makes it sound not quite so bad.
Tatania’s expression is stony. “It seems to me you decided you no longer needed the protection of the Tulips. What changed your mind? Why do you find you now need us?”
It sounds horrible when she puts it that way. I see the trap set but can do nothing to avoid it.
“I may have…” Don’t lie. I swallow. “I did come in contact with the high king.”
Tatania’s eyes widen in alarm.
I rush to spit out the rest. “He doesn’t know who I am, but I realize the danger now.”
“Hmm.” Her displeasure is almost palpable as she leans forward and adjusts the already perfect placement of parchments on her desk.
“Though I’m tempted to leave you to your own devices for the danger you put your sisters in, it would leave the rest of us at further risk.
I will send a message to the bracelet charmer, but it may be days, or even weeks, before we get it back. ”
So, no warm welcome back, but she’ll get me another bracelet. I should be fine for a few days or weeks, right?
She sits back stiffly, and I cringe at the disapproval in her gaze. “I’ll send a message to Mama Tina once it’s ready. After hearing of the mercenaries in search of us, I’ve sent the other Tulips into hiding. I expect the same of you.”
Another command that riles me. I sift through my pack and pull out the hefty amount of money needed to pay the dues from my pack, sliding it across the desk with a stiff nod.
I take her extended silence to mean she’s done with me, and I’m halfway to standing, but I abruptly sit when she speaks again.
“The king,” Tatania says, and my eyes jerk to meet hers. “What did you think of him?” Curiosity flashes in her eyes, though she tries to hide it.
I decide to be honest. “He’s a good one, from what I know.” I hesitate to share the rest, but I figure I should come clean. “He searches for a Black Tulip to bridge with and has the black tulip flower in his possession. It sounds as if he needs one of us to restore lucent for the kingdom.”
Her brows raise and eyes widen simultaneously. “He has a black tulip, you say?” Concern knits a fine line between her brows.
I offer a simple nod, because I’m for sure not admitting that I was part of the team to help find it.
“I’m proud that this knowledge didn’t sway you, however you came about it, and that you returned for safety. I’ll send a message to our fellow Tulips with further warning.” She looks at me with an eyebrow quirked. “Though I believe you’re the only one who needs it.”
I press my lips together to keep the saucy words in my mouth from escaping in response to that. But I can’t resist asking, “If one of us doesn’t bridge with him, what will happen to lucent… and gloam?”
Tatania waves a dismissive hand. “The kings made their choice when they killed our sisters and chose to elevate originators.”
I sit up straighter. “It’s just, it seems a little harsh to hold that over this king and watch gloam slowly eat away our kingdom and—”
Tatania scoffs. “It seems you didn’t escape quite as unaffected as I’d thought. Beware the lies of the kings of Moneyre. I thought I’d warned you enough. You sound as if you spoke with him personally.”
She laughs, but when I don’t answer, she stops abruptly and narrows her eyes.
No need for her to know the depths I fell to with my wrong choices, but she’s right.
I’m different because of it, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.
At one time, I would’ve tried to mold myself back into the person the Tulips wanted me to be, but something about that feels wrong now.
I’ve always trusted Tatania, and I believe she truly cares for us.
Their protection is all I’ve wanted these past weeks… and I still want it.
Don’t I?
I eye the stack of money on her desk. Money I risked my life for.
“I was only curious,” I say, dodging her correct assumption with the most innocent smile I can conjure.
She nods as she slides the money toward her. “As I will inform the other Tulips, take further measures to hide until this settles down. I assume you’ll stay under the protection of Mama Tina?”
I nod.
For now.