Chapter 21 #2
Antas didn’t even try to gloss over his theft. “Yes. But no one will know for the next few days and weeks, I am sure of it. Once they realize they’re missing, we’ll be long gone too.”
“You can’t really ask for such plans, Jama. The end justifies—”
“The means. I know, I know.” Another discussion about morals was the last thing any of us needed.
“Before we’ll discuss strategy, I’d like to raise another issue.” Thain had risen to his feet, and his hands were on his hips as he demanded attention once more.
After taking a deep breath, Fig nodded to him while Dion’s chest rumbled against my back. Growling without sound, that was new.
“During our stay in Kalcas, I should act as Nayana’s husband, given she’s my Amplifier. Taking over is the smartest move.”
Sometimes, I wondered if Thain loved to create chaos when things calmed down too much for his taste—or if he had a death wish.
Dion turned unnaturally still in his own unique way—even the vibrations stopped. Heavy silence dominated the clearing, and as I observed the other men’s faces, I could see they were just as mortified as me.
Taking a deep breath, I willed myself to put all my weight onto Dion’s legs in an attempt to keep him down.
Well, in theory, it could have been a valiant effort, but of course, he was stronger than I was heavy.
Simply grabbing my waist, he gently lifted me off his lap and placed my feet on the ground before letting go.
Afterward, he raised himself.
Antas shot up as well, faster than he usually moved, and he was readying himself to intervene, but Dion raised his hand to stop him. Without looking over at his uncle, he growled, “Don’t.”
His eyes never strayed away from Thain, who grinned languidly, unimpressed by Dion prowling toward him with the lithe movements of a predator completely fixated on its prey. I allowed my gaze to shift to the others for just a moment.
Ireas’ unease was palpable, and he had both of his eyebrows pulled up high, giving the impression he’d prefer the ground to open up and swallow him whole.
On the other side, Fig monitored the interaction like a hawk.
Like Antas, he didn’t intervene just yet—he only stashed the floor plans where they would be safely out of reach. But I could tell by the way the muscles in his arms rippled that he was ready to react in an instant should this male pissing contest escalate for the worse.
Intuition told me it’d be the wise thing to stay put next to the log where Dion was storing me, and my heart pounded so hard and loud that I was sure everyone was able to hear it beating.
I turned my attention back to Dion, who’d intruded on Thain’s personal space and was staring him down through his eyebrows. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
Dion stood with the predatory stillness he displayed so often—although the current potential crisis was more intense than any I’d witnessed before—as if his temper didn’t affect him at all.
But I knew better. He was like the calm before the storm, one that was always brewing deep within him, finally sensing its chance to be unleashed.
And that he did, even though I wasn’t the only one baffled by how it went down.
“No,” Dion said with such authority and warning that even I wanted to cower.
Thain, though, bravely held his gaze for what felt like an eternity before shrugging and mumbling something that sounded suspiciously like whatever.
Dion offered no further explanation beyond his simple one-word declaration.
Dion turned around and strolled back to me, his face a carefully crafted, neutral mask. If I hadn’t known him, I would have thought he was relaxed, but he wasn’t able to fool me. It was an act, and I could see right through it.
As if he wasn’t aware of everyone’s eyes on him, he sat down on the log again, reached out for me, and tugged me back onto his lap as if he had no care in the worlds.
The spell was broken, and I wasn’t the only one exhaling with relief.
Antas nodded to Dion once more, and I drummed my fingers on my chin as I mulled over all this.
Had there been a recent conversation about his temper and the absolute necessity to rein it in?
It would be an explanation, at least, but it’d still surprise me to see him sticking to a hypothetical concession.
As Fig pulled out the floor plans of the library again, I focused my attention on Dion. “You’ve forgotten again that it’s still my decision with whom I spend my time. I’m not fine with these male pissing contests you’re hosting because of me.”
“Stop pushing his luck.”
“Territorial bastard.”
“Shush now.”
“One of these days, Dion—”
The only answer I got was an amused chuckle.
We spent the next two hours studying the blueprints and discussing the best strategies for sneaking into the restricted section of the library unnoticed.
Nayana had eventually left my lap after some back and forth, and soon, the aromatic scent of some kind of stew wafted over the camp.
I would have preferred it if she’d stayed closer to me, especially considering how Thain was more eager for trouble than usual today. Still, she’d insisted on preparing dinner, and even if her absence didn’t make me happy, it was only reasonable.
I hated that Antas had forced me a few nights earlier to promise to keep my temper in check, and that particular conversation hadn’t been pretty. If anyone else had spoken to me the way he’d done, they wouldn’t have survived the night.
My uncle hadn’t hesitated to use blackmail when I’d refused to swear to stay away from Thain, ignore his provocations, and maintain my composure.
When I’d told him in no uncertain terms where he could stick his request, he’d confronted me with certain truths I was reluctant to acknowledge on the best of days—some of them involving drapes—and despite my efforts to correct some of his misguided notions, he’d eventually worn me down.
As a result, he’d pressured me into this promise while assuring me not to intervene further with my personal matters.
Situations like that showed me Antas was indeed a part of this fucked-up family of ours, even though he was hiding it better than everyone else most of the time.
I shot him another dirty look and turned my attention back to the discussion.
In the end, we had a solid plan, and I was confident we’d pull this off undetected. My back cracked as I got up, and I stretched before stalking across the camp to the fire—and to Nayana.
When she spotted me, she smiled. Pushing down the urge to preen—after all, I’d made her smile!—I canted my head at her. “This smells delicious.”
“Done with planning?”
“Yes, we’re going to use a secret tunnel behind the library.”
“That sounds too easy.”
“Ah, make no mistake, this passageway is guarded from the outside, and there’s a high chance we’ll encounter traps.”
“Isn’t there a safer way?”
“Stop worrying, we’ve got it all covered. You’ll see.”
Nayana handed me a bowl filled with enticing smelling game stew. I looked down at the food and then smiled at her. “Thanks for the meal.”
Something I’d said must have confused her because she blinked in surprise, and a thoughtful frown creased her forehead.
“What’s up? Did anyone bother you?” I struggled to suppress a growl as I considered the possibility that someone had done something to upset her.
“No, no one did. But you thanked me. I never knew that this particular word was even an active part of your vocabulary.”
“So you want to tell me I have no manners?”
“Well, that’s what I’ve thought. But maybe they’re just buried deep under all that growling, intimidating, murderous behavior.”
“Point taken.”
“Huh. You giving in like that is also new. Consider me surprised.” Nayana’s grin was contagious. Seeing her face light up because of me was surely one of my favorite views.
Somehow, the thought sobered me, cold dread tightened my throat, and I reminded myself of all the reasons I had to overcome these emotions. “I’d better go eat before the stew gets cold.”
Without waiting for a reply, I left her standing at the kettle, but her confused gaze burned on my back until I was out of sight.