Page 55

Chapter

Thirty-Six

ARA

I sit up on the roof, braiding my hair up and straightening myself out.

The city is a rug of glittering lights beneath me, and the wind cools my heated cheeks.

I send my thanks to Tempos, the god of weather and wind, that it isn’t raining.

I hightailed it out of Tate’s window as soon as he was through the door.

That was close, too close.

If I wait until Tate is alone, would he be interested in resuming where we left off? Or will he send me off like a lost puppy because his conscience got the better of him again? Does he even deem whatever this is between us worth the trouble?

I bite my lip. He affects me in ways no one ever has, and I’m not used to overthinking every little decision. It drives me nuts.

It’s only three days until Picking, and tomorrow will be rough. Maybe I should just…wait it out? Thinking of all the things I haven’t told Tate yet makes that option very appealing.

Coward.

I’ll concentrate on tomorrow first. My brother’s visit will make it an…interesting day. I make my way along the roof and down the path I have taken once before. My landing is more graceful this time, so I knock softly against Joel’s window minutes later.

“Again? Are you serious?” Joel scowls at me when he opens the window.

He hauls me in before I have the chance to move myself.

“Look at you.” He gestures at me, and I look down at myself.

My clothes are rumpled, my braid surely anything but neat, and I push a few loose strands behind my ears.

My lips still tingle and are surely swollen from Tate’s kisses.

“What did you do this time? Climb out of someone’s bed?” he asks in exasperation. He probably means it as a joke, but it’s too close for comfort, and I wince. His eyes widen.

“Are you serious?”

“I think you asked that question before, and we surely agree I’m the least serious person you know.

So thanks again.” I smile at him, turning to the door, but Joel is faster and steps in my way.

What is it with men and doors today? Images of Tate hovering over me flit through my mind, making my cheeks warm.

“Oh no, not so fast. Who is it?” Joel crosses his arms.

I look down at my feet. I'm hoping to avoid the conversation, especially since I don’t know exactly what Tate and I are.

“You sneaked out, so you couldn’t leave through the door.” He pauses. “Please tell me he’s not married?”

I glare at him. How can he even think I would go there? He raises his hands.

“Okay, not married, got it.” He considers me like the answer is written somewhere on my skin. “Why did you sneak out then? Unless…you were not supposed to be there.” He swears.

We are getting too close, too fast.

“Leave it, Joel,” I warn.“It’s not your business.”

“He’s a rider, isn’t he?” he asks.

Why can’t he leave it alone already?

I keep my face as blank as possible.

“Is it someone from my squadron? I’ll kick this guy’s ass for putting you in such a position.”

The corner of my mouth twitches at the thought of Joel trying to kick Tate’s ass and again Joel notices it.

“You think I can’t take him? Why would you think, unless…No!” His eyes get even bigger. “Tell me it’s not Kyronos.”

“It’s not Kyronos. There, I said it,” I deadpan.

“Motherfucker, I can’t believe…”

“Ah no, Joel, I’m not your mother. That would be really weird, don’t you think?” I can’t help it. Humor is my way of dealing with things, and angry people are simply hilarious.

He points his finger at me, trembling with anger. “Don’t you dare joke about this. Kyronos? Are you fucking kidding me?” he roars.

“How about you shout a little louder? I think there are still people left who didn’t hear you.” I pick some dirt from under my nails and give him my best bored expression.

“Didn’t I tell you to stay away from him?”

I nod, shrugging. “Not good at following orders, remember?”

“Then what are you doing in the fucking military?”

“At the moment, it seems like I’m snagging myself a beautiful…”

Joel throws his hands up. “I don’t want to hear it!”

“Sheesh, relax. I was going to say a beautiful, magical bird.” I wink at him. And I see one side of his mouth twitch.

There, we are getting somewhere.

He heaves out a breath. “He is going to hurt you, Ara, and then I will get in all kinds of trouble for beating up my centurion. Not to mention, he’s kind of intimidating. Couldn’t you choose someone less scary?”

I laugh at that. “He isn’t scary. He’s sweet and considerate and damn sexy.” Joel makes a face at that.

“Are you sure we’re speaking about the same guy? From what I know, he’s a cold, heartless bastard who fell in disgrace…”

I’m the one throwing up my hand this time.

“Don’t talk about him like that. I like him, so deal with it, and if I get hurt, it’s no one’s fault but my own.” I huff out a breath. “Also, while I love you like a brother, Joel, I do, you still don’t have the right to tell me how to live my life. So leave it. Okay?”

He huffs out a breath. “I still don’t like it,” he grumbles.

Tate

The moment I see the open window, I want to sag with relief.

She is fine.

Foley looks into my closet and even peers under my bed, visibly disappointed when he doesn’t find anyone. When he crosses to the window, I hold my breath, hoping Ara is already out of sight.

“Isn’t it a little early to sleep with an open window?” he asks.

“Is it? I think it’s perfectly fine, sir.”

“Remind me, where are you from again?” he asks, clearly fishing for information.

“North of here, sir.” He looks at me expectantly, but I’m not going to offer any more than that.

“Hmm, I see. Getting a lot of snow up there this time of the year, right?”

“Some areas do, sir.”

He grinds his teeth, inspecting the room like he could have missed something.

“Well, my information seems to have been wrong. I won’t keep you any longer. Tomorrow is a big day, after all.” He nods at me and strides to the door. He’s about to open it when he zeros in on the healing kit on my desk. I always keep an extra in my room in case Ara needs it.

It isn’t against the rules, but most keep their healing kits with their pack.

“Healing, hmm, such a precious gift. Where did you train?”

With the best fucking healers our country has to offer .

I spent a lot of time at the healing quarters of the palace after the attack, trying to work off some of my debt until my father had me banned.

“With the healer my family frequented, sir.”

“Hmm. Very well, maybe you should help out in the healing quarters now and then.”

“I will do that, sir.” I nod. “Good night, sir.”

“Good night, Centurion.” And then he’s gone.

Damn Foley to the mists and back.

Ara would still be in my bed if he hadn’t knocked.