Page 9

Chapter Nine

T he Crestek city's stone walls loomed against the blue sky, the weathered stone casting shadows across the market square. Linnea stood at her balcony, the morning air already thick with heat despite the early hour. The walls that had once made her feel safe now seemed to press in around her like a cage.

Below, cloaked figures hurried through the market stalls, their heavy garments concealing the revealing dresses beneath. Linnea touched her own cloak, remembering how freely she'd shed it at the wedding celebration. How different things were here, where every gesture was watched and judged.

"The tea you requested, Chancellor."

Linnea turned to find Zelina entering her chambers, a tray in her hands. The attendant’s dark hair was elegantly arranged, and her cloak was perfectly draped, but Linnea knew that underneath she wore one of the thin dresses popular among Crestek females, even those who worked for her.

Linnea moved from the balcony to her desk. “How is the mood in the city?”

“Since your brother was overthrown, you took his position, and then you attended the wedding of your other brother who decided to become a Dothvek and marry a human?” Zelina set down the tray that held an earthenware cup of the tea Linnea preferred.

Linnea choked back a half-laugh half-groan. “Yes, since all that.”

Zelina smiled and handed the tea to her. “Some grumblings, though not as much as we feared. Many support your leadership, especially since they prefer your style to your brother’s.”

“You mean they prefer leadership to cruel authoritarianism?”

Zelina glanced toward the window. “Riz was not popular with the people, but he did have his followers, especially those who despise the Dothveks and hate the idea of peace with them.”

Linnea curled her fingers around the warm cup. “And are there many of those?”

“There are always those who need to focus their hate on others and blame them for their own unhappiness. The Dothveks filled that role for many Cresteks for a long time. Long held prejudices are not released so quickly.”

Linnea nodded as she sipped the tea and let the warm liquid slide down her throat. “If only every Crestek had the chance to spend time with the Dothveks like I have. Then they would not be so quick to judge.”

Zelina perched on the edge of the desk. “Your opinion changed even more after you returned from the wedding. Do you wish every Crestek experience what you did on the sands?”

Heat crawled up Linnea's neck. The female who served in the city couldn’t know what happened in the oasis village, could she? She straightened and schooled her expression. “Maybe I do. The wedding celebration taught me a lot about our former enemies.”

Zelina eyed her. “Did it now?”

The knowing look made Linnea want to squirm. “I told you that I had productive conversations with the Dothvek leader.”

“You did. Are those conversations why you've been different since you came back?”

“Different?” Linnea’s voice was a croak.

“Restless. Like you're looking for something that isn't here."

This was one problem that came from becoming friends with your attendants. Zelina knew her too well.

Linnea pushed the thought of what she might be looking for aside. "I'm fine."

"You're many things, Madame Chancellor, but fine isn't one of them." Zelina's voice softened. "Did something happen at the oasis?"

Images of golden skin and heated looks flashed through Linnea's mind. The feel of Zexx's hands on her body, his mouth on hers… She shoved the memories away. "Nothing that matters now."

"Clearly it matters if it's affecting you this much."

"The only thing affecting me is the challenge of keeping this peace alive." Linnea put down her tea and shuffled through the documents she’d been reviewing earlier, needing something to do with her hands. "The treaty is still new. Fragile."

"Then maybe we need something to strengthen it." Zelina's eyes lit up. "Or someone."

"What do you mean?"

“If we’re fighting to keep the peace treaty between the Cresteks and Dothveks, maybe our people need to see firsthand that the barbarians aren’t the enemy. Isn’t that what you said? The Cresteks need to know the Dothveks.”

Linnea drummed her fingers on her desk as she considered this. “How? We can’t tramp the city across the sands. I do not think the Dothveks would wish even small groups of Cresteks descending upon them.”

Zelina bobbled her head back and forth as she thought. Then her face broke into a smile. “We don’t need to go to them. Can’t they come to us?”

Linnea gave Zelina a confused look. “You wish to bring the Dothveks here?”

“Not all of them. Perhaps only one or two. We need a Dothvek ambassador. Someone to be the face of our former enemies.”

Linnea's heart stuttered. An image of Zexx striding through the market in his leather pants, tribal marks on display, made her pulse quicken. Was this the way she could be with him again? He would certainly be a handsome face to represent the Dothveks.

But no. He would hate it here, confined by walls and politics. And she would hate seeing him every day, knowing she couldn't have him.

"The Dothveks aren't exactly diplomatic," she said carefully.

"Neither were we until recently." Zelina raised an eyebrow. "Things change."

"Some things shouldn't." Linnea turned back to the window, unable to meet her friend's shrewd gaze. "Some lines shouldn't be crossed."

"What lines?" Zelina came to stand beside her. "The ones between our peoples? I thought those lines are what we’re fighting to bridge.”

Linnea watched a group of females hurry past below, their cloaks swishing around their feet. "I'm chancellor. I can't afford to be..."

“Revolutionary? Experimental? Daring? If you can’t, who can?”

Linnea thought of Zexx's smile, rare but radiant. The way he'd looked at her like she was something precious instead of something to fear or use. The safety she'd felt in his arms.

But she also thought of the whispers that would follow if anyone found out about them. The damage it could do to everything she'd worked for. The danger it would pose for him.

Of course, she didn’t have to choose Zexx as the Dothvek ambassador. There were other Dothveks who could serve. But her pulse quickened as she realized that this would be her chance to see him again, to discover if what she’d felt that night was real.

It was a huge risk to bring him to the city. Not only could it risk her position as chancellor, but it would be a huge risk to her heart if she was wrong. Did she really want to bring him to her only to be rejected? Then she’d have to work with him every day, and his presence would be a reminder that the feelings she’d been so sure were real had all been a mirage.

But what if she was wrong? What if he missed her as much as she did him? What if he thought about little else but that night? What if she would be giving him the thing he desired most by summoning him to the Crestek city?

“Maybe you’re right,” she told Zelina. “Maybe a Dothvek ambassador would help.”

Zelina beamed. “I’ll send word to the leader of the Dothveks and ask them to send their most diplomatic—”

“No, I know who should be our diplomat. Ask Kyrana to send me her security chief.” She allowed herself to smile as she warmed up to the idea even more. “Have them send me Zexx.”