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Thinking aboutyet.

Kellyn’s fingers draw pictures on the back of my hands, and I imagine those fingers trailing to other places. I blush furiously, but it’s not like anyone knows what I’m thinking. They’ll probably think I’m overheated. There’s a lot of people in the room. Anyone who knows me will think that’s the cause.

And damn my mind, but since we talked about it, aboutyet, now I’m fixating. And of course it’s all I can think about. Because that is how my brain works.

Naked bodies.

I, Ziva Tellion, am thinking about naked bodies and bedrooms and sweat and heavy breathing and—

“We are adjourned until Ashper returns with news. In the meantime, we need to prepare for war.”

I startle as I realize the meeting has ended, and I zoned out for the whole thing. Bodies shuffle for the door, and I spot Temra trying to sneak out the back.

I turn to Kellyn. “I’ll see you later. I need to have words with my sister.”

“Try not to mortify her too much.”

“I will mortify her as much as I see fit.”

He grins, and I grin, and then I depart.

Petrik is only a few steps behind her in the hall, as though they’re trying to leave the finished meeting separately and failing miserably at it.

Temra lets herself into her room, and Petrik reaches the door a few steps later.

“Wait,” I call out.

Petrik’s back goes rigid. When he turns to face me, he has the look of a man caught in the act of some heinous crime.

“Petrik, I value you as a friend,” I say.

At that, his face relaxes somewhat. “I value our friendship as well.”

“Good, then don’t do anything stupid to ruin it.”

“Ruin it?”

“If you hurt my sister, I will personally come after you and remove your favorite limb with the bluntest tool from my forge.”

He swallows. “I understand, and I willneverhurt her again. She’s more precious to me than anything.”

“Good. Now leave. I need to talk with her.”

He purses his lips. Thinks a moment.

“I will tell her you stopped by.”

“Okay,” he says finally.

He looks back over his shoulder when he leaves, as though maybe he can see my sister through the door.

“It’s only a few hours, stupid man,” I say under my breath.

Then I let myself into her room.

Temra stands as though she’d been expecting me, her arms crossed, her face defiant.

“Ziva, I’m a grown woman. And if I’m old enough to be fighting in battles, then I’m old enough to—”