Page 206 of Phoenix's Fire

He hadn't seemed angry about it, so I hadn't pressed. I should have, but I'd been distracted. Okay, I'd been daydreaming about Qavan. I couldn't help it! He was charming, powerful, and not at all intimidated by me. Over the last couple of weeks, while the guys had been teaching Ayla how to use her dog, how to use her bow, and everything else, I'd gone from a few casual drinks with a nice-looking man to an actual date.

And what a date it had been! Dinner had turned into a long walk which had become coffee at his place - then breakfast. Even better, he'd said we needed to do it again. But I was going to take it slow this time. There was no reason we couldn't have fun, take our time getting to know each other, and see if things actually worked out for once.

However, I had to deal with Jerlis's mess right now. When I'd told Ayla he wanted to have a meeting with her during business hours, she'd had a million questions, and I couldn't answer any of them. Instead, I stood there like an idiot because I'd forgotten she might even be worried about this.

Thankfully, Zasen had a pretty good idea what Jerlis wanted. "You've made it known you're trying to find the names of the missing women," he explained to her. "That's something Jerlis has been concerned with too."

"And Drozel came in yesterday, after the militia training," I said, hoping like hell this wouldn't be bad. "I'm just not sure if he's pissedabout it."

Damn, I should've asked, but my thoughts kept going back to Qavan. It had been so long since I'd met anyone who seemed to care about me and what I liked. Someone who wanted to hear my thoughts, spend time with me while we still had our clothes on, and actually have a relationship. So far, it seemed the people I liked spending time around were the ones who wanted to keep it very platonic.

Kanik had no interest in men. I could spend hours with him, being as stupid or as serious as I wanted, and it never got old, but that was as far as it would ever get. Zasen? He was like a brother to me. I hadn't been able to think of him as anything but a friend since we'd been in school. And Ayla? She couldn't consent. She didn't even understand saying no was an option - let alone what having a relationship meant.

But Qavan could. I liked the way he looked me right in the eyes as we talked. He listened! Our discussions had swung from my job, his job, and then to the best side of town to live on. He thought I was crazy for keeping the house on the south side, and I couldn't disagree. He'd also agreed the prices were tempting, but he liked keeping his scales a bit too much.

"Rymar?" Zasen asked, his tone just a little too stern.

"Sorry," I said, pulling my focus back to the here and now. "My mind wandered."

"Uh-huh," Zasen said, smirking at me like he knew exactly what I was thinking. "When do you want to go do this? Today, tomorrow?"

"Now?" I suggested. "I told him we'd stop by this afternoon. I figured Ayla wouldn't have anything else pressing."

"Sounds good," Zasen said. "Ayla, put on something pretty. I'll let Saveah know she's needed as well, and I'll look after the kids." He gave me a pointed look. "You're going with them?"

"I should."

"Going to be able to handle it?" His mouth was struggling not to curl. The asshole.

I reached up to scrub at my face with both hands. "Zasen, I can handle Jerlis without paying attention. We're fine."

"Okay," he relented. "How long do you think you three will be out? Do I need to leave a note for Kanik so he isn't worried when he comes home and the house is empty?"

I could only shrug. "I doubt it. We should be back before he's out of school."

Zasen nodded. "And do not let that man intimidate our ladies. That means paying attention, Rymar."

Yeah, he did have a point. Jerlis was a surly and reactive man. He was huge. Those two things combined tended to intimidate a lot of people. As a mayor, he'd done wonders for Lorsa, but as a person, he was impressively abrasive.

"Then I need to get dressed as well," I said, gesturing for Ayla to precede me upstairs. "Zasen, tell Saveah she has half an hour?"

"On it!" he said as he turned for the door, clearly heading there now. "Take Holly!"

It took Ayla less time to get ready than I needed. When I came downstairs, I found her in that pretty green dress with the sweetheart neckline. Her golden hair was put up loosely at the back of her head, leaving a few loose tendrils she hadn't been able to tame. The girl probably didn't realize it, but she'd somehow managed to make "presentable" into classically beautiful.

The two of us picked up Saveah, leaving her kids with Zasen for a bit, and headed into town. The whole way there, we speculated whether Jerlis would be upset or not, but Ayla had good reasons for what she was doing. The only thing that truly surprised me was she hadn't asked everyone for help with it.

And that actually made me proud of her.

Slowly but surely, our little Phoenix was spreading her wings. She was finally realizing she really could do anything she wanted, and we would always have her back. Considering she'd only been here a few months, it was a shocking amount of progression for someone who'd been as sheltered and abused as those Mole women.

But when we entered City Hall, I realized Ayla had never been here before. Her eyes went wide as she looked around - and then up. Holly stuck to her side. I casually rested a hand against her back, directing her where we needed to go, and Saveah followed behind. When we got to Jerlis's office, I rapped on the door and then stepped in.

"I have your afternoon appointment," I told him, guiding in Ayla and Holly first, then Saveah.

"Ladies?" Jerlis said, gesturing to the chairs before his desk. Then he paused. "A dog?"

"Her dog," I clarified. "Get used to it."