CHAPTER FORTY
I blinked several times, making sure I wasn t imagining this. Had one of those drunken louts knocked me out and I was actually lying in the street dreaming of Jason?
Good evening, Lia. Have you tried to feed yourself to any dragons lately?
I pushed the tip of the blade a tiny bit into his skin. What are you doing here? How did you find me?
He smirked at me. I just followed the blood and screaming and it led me straight to you.
You re not funny.
Disagree.
His eyes glittered in the low light, full of intensity and heat and want. I felt sweat breaking out along my hairline, my lips tingling, my stomach throbbing. Seeing him again, it was like I was back in a dream, delirious from all the wicked things he did to me with his mouth and fingers.
This moment didn t feel real.
You seem stronger, he observed, echoing my own observations from a few moments ago.
Would you like to see how strong? I asked, letting the point of my sword further pierce his skin. He didn t even flinch when a tiny drop of blood appeared.
He took my measure and then leaned gently toward me. He was harming himself, the forward motion causing the point of my sword to dig deeper into his neck. He didn t seem to care, though. He kissed me, briefly, shockingly. My body turned liquid, loose.
As weak as any other woman when it comes to that, he murmured.
Angry, both with him and myself, I tightened my grip on his tunic and reminded him of my blade against his throat. The drop of the blood had turned into a tiny trickle. Never do that again.
Never? he repeated playfully, his eyebrows raised. Never is a long time, Lia. You might get lonely in your temple.
I ordered my lips to stop aching, but they did not obey.
Did you not want me to kiss you? he asked softly. I thought that you did.
It didn t matter whether I had wanted it. Yes, I had been desperate for his mouth on mine, more than anything, but there was no point.
He reached up and touched my hair. Did you do this?
My hair had grown half an inch in the last month, but I still felt extremely self-conscious about it. But he wasn t looking at me like he found my short hair unattractive. No, it was done to me.
Why?
To humiliate and degrade me. To make it so I wouldn t forget that I didn t belong.
Who did it? he demanded in a tone that implied he was going to hunt those people down and make them suffer.
A thrill rang through me at his unspoken threat.
It doesn t matter, I said.
He was still running his fingers along the edges of my hair when I heard a loud groan behind us. For a single moment I was afraid that I was the one who had made it because he was touching me.
We should get off the street before a patrol happens by or those men come to, he said. I don t imagine they re very pleased with you. And I would prefer you not slip and accidentally cut my throat.
I had forgotten I had my sword still pressed against his neck. I took a step back and released him.
There s somewhere I can go. I was planning on stopping by there, anyway. You should go back to your ship, I said. I don t need your help.
I can see that, he said. But if I get caught, I ll be accused of being your accomplice. We should stay together. Just in case.
That was a nonsensical reason, but I didn t actually want him to leave. Fine. I suppose you can tag along if you d like.
Thank you, he said gallantly while wiping his throat with the edge of his cloak. For a moment I was struck by the urge to apologize for doing anything to maim his perfect skin but brushed it off.
We walked away from the mess I d made, with him staying a step behind me. When we passed by the leader of the group who had attacked me, it took all my willpower not to kick him in the ribs.
Why are you in this neighborhood tonight? Were you hoping to get robbed and murdered? Jason asked in a conversational tone.
What are you doing here? I countered. He had to know as well as I did the kinds of services they offered in this area. Looking for the nearest warm body?
Are you offering?
I glared at him and he laughed.
Were you the one who was planning to rob or murder me? I asked.
If I was going to do either one, I would have done it already.
He was stronger than me. I knew that for a fact. I very clearly remembered how much I had struggled to get up when he had held me down in the courtyard in my palace-how had I been able to pin him against the wall?
Had he just allowed me to do it?
So, have you missed me? he asked.
There was no chance I was going to tell him the truth. I knew what he would do if I told him I dreamed of him every night, in very explicit ways. It s been a month. I forgot you existed.
He placed both of his hands over his chest. You wound me!
I peered over my shoulder at him. I can, if you d like.
That wicked, delicious glint in his eye nearly made me trip over my own feet. Fortunately, we had arrived at the building I d been searching for. It was a bit different locating it at night.
I raised my hand to knock and Jason unnecessarily announced, This is a brothel.
I know.
What business do you have at a brothel? He sounded both intrigued and confused.
It is none of your concern. I knocked and a younger hetaera answered the door.
I m here to see Mahtab, I told her.
Give me a moment, she said, closing the door.
Are you really not going to tell me? he asked and I ignored him.
The front door opened again. The hetaera s gaze darted over to Jason s face and a smile lit up her features. Come right in.
Stay here, I told him as we entered the house. I didn t want Jason to know what I was up to.
Mahtab is upstairs, the young woman told me. The first room on your right.
I thanked her and pulled the edges of my cloak down to shield my face. I couldn t risk anyone being able to identify me later. Seeing a temple acolyte in a hetaera house would be gossip too good not to share.
When I reached the room, I knocked on the door.
Enter.
Mahtab was sitting in a chair near the window. Her eyebrows shot up. It s you.
Yes. I wanted to make sure that you and your house weren t affected by what I did the night of the race. If they had suffered in some way, I would have to make reparations. This was the last place I d spent time with Quynh and I wanted to honor that.
We weren t affected in any way, she said gently. She walked across the room. How is your friend?
Her words were like an arrow straight to my gut. She didn t make it.
That was the rumor we d heard, but I d hoped it was wrong. I am so sorry for your loss.
Thank you.
And please know that the very generous gift you left has made it possible for me to help many of the women here. So thank you for that.
I nodded. When I thought of that night, losing Quynh was the thing that stood out, but the idea that I might have put the women in this house in danger had always bothered me.
I m glad, I said.
If you should ever need anything in the future, please don t hesitate to call on me, she said.
While I couldn t imagine a situation in which I would need her assistance, I thanked her. It was a kind gesture.
And the same for me. Again, there didn t seem to be any scenario where Mahtab might need my help, but it seemed right to offer after what she d done. She had given me precious hours with my sister that I wouldn t have had otherwise.
The hetaera came over and took both of my hands in hers, squeezing. I wish you the best of luck. You are a very brave young woman.
I briefly considered asking to see the storage room where Quynh and I had hidden, but it felt like too much. Maybe there would be a day in the future when I could sit in there and think of my last moments with my sister without wanting to double over from the pain.
My sorrow was steadily increasing and I worried that if I stayed here it might engulf me entirely.
I said my goodbyes to Mahtab and went back downstairs. Jason was in the main room and the hetaerae were draping themselves all over him. He seemed to be greatly enjoying himself.
He had just kissed me a few minutes ago and now he was entertaining the advances of so many different women. I knew what he was. Why was I surprised? Swallowing the disgust I felt, I said, Time to go.
I thought we were staying off the street, he said, and the woman on his right let out a giggle as he squeezed her shoulders.
I haven t heard an alarm being raised or patrols calling out, I countered. I m going to leave.
It wasn t as if a gambling sailor could afford their rates. But given how attractive he was . . . it wouldn t have surprised me if someone here would have been willing to offer him a steep discount.
Perhaps I ll stay, he said as the hetaera to his left snuggled in closer to him.
Do as you wish, I said, jealousy roaring inside me like a dragon. Why was I envious? I couldn t have him. I didn t even want him.
That s a lie.
Yes, that was a lie. It didn t matter, though. He was free to consort with whomever he wished, as often as he wished. I opened the front door and let myself out and back onto the street.
I heard him rushing to catch up. What did you do upstairs?
As I said, it s none of your concern.
You do realize that by being mysterious, it only makes you more intriguing? I m curious as to what a temple priestess, sworn to safeguard her virginity, would be doing at a hetaera house.
I came to a sudden halt, spinning on my heels. He towered over me, nearly crashing into me. Speaking of intrigue, how did you find me?
He gave me a half smile. I told you, I only had to follow-
No. I held my hand up. I remember what you said. But I don t believe in coincidences.
Jason folded his arms across his broad chest. They do happen.
In a city this size, you didn t stumble across me by accident.
Perhaps I sensed that you needed me.
We both know that didn t happen, either. Maybe I shouldn t have been so quick to dismiss the connection he was hinting at. I d certainly felt it when I was dreaming.
If he were in trouble, would I know it?
A mischievous grin lit up his face. What if I said a little bird told me?