I’ve spoken to Alora, and I’ve taken blame for our guns. It’s my fault for not checking my clan and securing the weapons beforehand, though I never would’ve let them go out without at least one. It’s my fault nine men are dead in Vanora, but to be fair, all but one of them are Rippies, so I’m not feeling too sympathetic about that.
Still, this has caused a bit of an uproar, and instead of resting, Alora has had to meet with her team to come up with a speech for the Vanorians about the violent acts from last night, which stemmed from my people. Everyone who attended the party was seen by a Vanorian Mythic and has had Juniper’s face erased from their memories, as well as mine, Killian, and even Willow’s. Many people saw us and if word gets out that we killed those Rippies, our feud will only get worse.
Alora will cover me, she always does, but I’ll owe her—especially now that she has her treaty with the Rippies—and she’ll make sure I don’t ever forget it. I know if it weren’t for me offering double the rubies in the next shipment, she’d have thrown me to the wolves.
When I leave Alora’s office, I walk down the staircase to one of the palace’s balconies, needing another smoke. I light my bloom as soon as I step foot outside, then walk along the marble balcony until I reach a dark corner. I pull from my bloom, my focus ahead, on the sea.
As I take another pull, I notice a shadow in my periphery and glance over my shoulder. Willow is seated on a bench behind the shadow of a pillar. She’s changed into a white night gown, much more suitable than what she was wearing to go out with Juniper.
Honestly, I’m not surprised there was trouble tonight with how she and Juniper went out. They weren’t dressed the classy way. It was clear they were looking for a good time, which was an invitation to let anyone in. What she’s wearing now isn’t so subtle either, the gown sheer and her nipples slightly pebbled beneath, but at least she’s here, where I can keep an eye on her.
“I can hear you,” I mutter, facing forward again. I can’t look at her breasts again. I’m almost positive she saw me eyeing them earlier.
“I know you can.”
“No one’s being mean to Juniper.”
“You kind of are.” She stands and walks next to me. She’s showered. I smell the soap on her skin, oat and honey with a splash of vanilla. Without asking, she plucks my bloom from my fingers and brings it to her mouth, taking a pull from it. Then she says, “Hmm. My stuff is stronger. Yours tastes like reggie.” She keeps smoking it and I stare at her, confused by what she just said. “Never mind.” She waves it off.
I watch her a moment before pulling out another bloom for myself and sparking it.
“How did you know where we were?” she asks after a stretch of silence.
“I didn’t at first, until I heard you panicking. Felt your fear.” I take another pull. “It’s almost like my mind knew exactly where to find you.”
“Hmm. Interesting.” She leans forward, resting her elbows on the marble railing.
“Juniper knew better than to take you to that party.”
“I wanted to go with her.”
“Yes, courtesy of that rebellious streak inside you. What is it about women that makes them not listen?”
“What is it about men always wanting things to go their way and mansplaining?”
“Mansplaining?” I frown. “What the hell does that mean?”
“It’s when a man feels the need to explain something to a woman in a condescending way. Maybe if you didn’t do that, Juniper would listen to you more.”
“Oh, please. Juniper listens to no one. She does what she wants.”
“Seems all of you do.”
I say nothing to that, only because it’s true. I take a harder pull from my bloom. “Do you not think about what could happen if you die in Vakeeli?”
Her head turns, her eyes latching on mine. Her brown irises are bright beneath the moonlight, her skin satiny smooth, warm. I haven’t seen skin like hers in ages. Natural light seems to favor her complexion, especially the glow of the sun and moon. I haven’t seen anyone with skin like hers since my mother. “It’s not like there’s much to live for in my world.”
Confused, I say, “I thought you wanted to go back.”
“I do…but there’s not much to go back to, other than work.”
“Do you not have any friends?”
“I do…like, two.” She shrugs.
“Family?”
“My father, but he doesn’t keep in touch much. My mother and brother are dead.” There’s a sharpness in my chest when she says that. It’s mildly painful. Is it her heartache?
I drop my gaze. I’m sorry to hear that. I can’t say it out loud. I don’t know why. Saying it out loud will make this thing—whatever the hell this Tether is—feel concrete.
I don’t have to look at her to know her eyes are on me. I fight the urge to look at her too, because I know, one look into them, and I’m done. I’ll cave to something I’m not even sure about.
I don’t know what it is about her, but I can’t get her out of my head. Sure, all these feelings could be because of the Tether, but I won’t give in to it. Even if I wanted to—which I don’t—there’s no way she can stay here. If I give her even an inkling of hope that she can, she probably will. Then it becomes a liability for me and everyone I love. I can’t have that.
I stab out the lit end of my bloom, stand tall, and move back. “Anyway, there will be no more one-on-one time with Juniper while you’re here. We go to Beatrix tomorrow and get you back to your world, so there’ll be no point in getting chummy with her or anyone else. Do you understand?”
She eyes me, her brown irises sparkling in the moonlight. Her jaw drops just a bit, her eyes hardening, and there’s an ache in my chest again—sawing at my heart like the dull blade of a knife.
I ignore it, walking around her and making my way inside the palace without looking back.
