Page 25

“Don’t change the subject,” I warned him.

My gaze fell on his hand. He held a small wrapped package instead of a plate.

Raw meat again? Guilt gnawed at my insides.

“You don’t have to eat outside, you know.

I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable about the meat the other day…

I shouldn’t have commented. It surprised me is all; it’s not that weird. ”

Lu shrugged and set the package aside. “It’s all right. Even with magic, there are things we can’t change about the way we are. If I could digest grains, I’d happily be eating bread and paya with the rest of you. However, it gives me the runs like you would not believe.”

My nose wrinkled. “That’s way too much information, but okay. No worries.”

Chuckling to himself, Luthri relaxed against the fence, regarding me with something akin to fondness.

There was no wonder he had women—and others—falling over themselves to get into bed with him.

He’d perfected the sort of look that could convince a person to forget themselves and spread their legs.

“Anyway.” I studied the ground at my feet, ignoring the little voice that called me a coward as I did so. “Just because Vyrain has decided to seek out greener pastures doesn’t mean I’m about to make things easy for you.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Nothing’s changed from last night. Relationships can be messy—not that I’m entertaining a relationship, mind you.

” What was wrong with me? I’d never been flustered around a guy before.

“I’d rather focus on this. The job we’re doing.

That being said, if something happens…” I lifted one shoulder.

“We’re both adults. I expect we can come to an agreement. ”

When I glanced back to determine how Lu felt about that, there was pure, unadulterated pleasure written across his face.

“Mar,” he began. “You would make me the happiest man in the realm?—”

“Ah-bup-bup!” I silenced him with an outstretched finger.

“I don’t want flowery language. I don’t need it.

I don’t need gifts, either. We’re not dating, and I’d prefer not to flaunt anything in front of the others.

Oh, and the whole ‘wanting to fuck a human, any human’ thing…

Frankly, it’s a turn-off, but don’t mention it again, and we’ll be good. ”

Luthri waited to be sure I was done before replying.

“All right,” he conceded. “I agree to your terms, with a few addendums so that you know where I stand. First and foremost, being a hyumin aside, I find you incredibly attractive. Not just that”—his voice dropped to a purr—“but I think we would be very compatible in certain areas.”

I could only blink.

Returning to a normal tone, he continued. “But I don’t intend to push or rush you into anything, physical or otherwise. Like I said, friends. I’m having a blast either way. And if the door is open to more at some point, well… That’s good to know.”

“Okay. Great.” A weight lifted from my shoulders. I nodded once, content with the course of the conversation, and pushed away from the fence. “Glad we’re on the same page. Now, will you join us inside? Your dinner will—well, my dinner’s going cold, anyway.”

Lu snatched his bundle of meat and trailed behind me. “A pet name doesn’t count as flowery language, does it? What do you like to be called? Beautiful? Precious? Darling?”

“Are you trying to make me regret this already?”

He responded with a sheepish smile. “Oh, all right. Just once in a while. How did your day go? Did you have the chance to speak with Cantal about changing?”

“Yeah.” Cycling through what he’d told me, I breathed a sigh.

“Apparently, I’ve been using magic wrong all my life, so that’s fun.

I’m going to have to acquaint myself with mana properly and learn making in addition to changing.

I’m not sure when I’ll find the time, but there you have it.

It might need to wait until after all this. ”

“I’ll help you!” Lu’s gaze was earnest, but behind that was a familiar sparkle of mischief. I could almost have anticipated the next words out of his mouth. “The teacher/student scenario is every man’s fantasy. To enact it with you would be an honor.”

“Well, aren’t you generous?” I reached to slide open the door, and another hand shot out to plant itself beside mine.

Luthri stepped in closer. He was careful not to touch me, but I was all too aware of the heat of his body, the presence he exuded.

It was enough for my imagination to run wild.

Rogue images sprang to mind: naked bodies twisting together atop the sheets, teeth and tongues and fingernails battling for dominion over one another.

The plate I held bobbed, and my tongue darted out to moisten lips that suddenly felt parched.

“You smell lovely,” he murmured into my hair. A shiver threaded down my spine, sending a swarm of goosebumps to my arms. “How is the oil treating you?”

It took me a moment to find my voice. “My skin has never been softer,” I admitted. It wasn’t a lie—the oil was heavenly, from the warm, spicy scent to the way it melted on contact. It’s been hours since I used it during my shower. Can he really still smell it on me?

“Good.” Luthri pulled back, and my lungs drew in the fresh air left behind. It took a beat for my train of thought to resume, which made me realize that I’d been frozen in place with my hand on the door frame for the better part of a minute.

“Stop doing that,” I snapped, unnerved by how easily he threw me off.

“What?” Lu flashed a disarming smile as I wrenched the door aside.

The shouting was the first clue that I was stepping into a den of chaos.

Something large came flying out of nowhere, nearly clipping me in the nose before it hit the wall with a resounding clatter.

If not for Luthri behind me, I would have staggered backward and landed on my ass.

“The consort have mercy.” Cantal’s booming voice carried into the hall. “Out, out! Everybody out !”

I sought out the source of the trouble as the twins stumbled around the corner. The one in front spotted me, and his features crumpled in an unmistakable wince.

“We were only trying to help, I swear,” he proclaimed before I could comment.

Daethie whizzed into view, chortling with glee, a flushed Yrra hot on her heels. “How stupid do you have to be to set fire to a completely wooden structure without even trying?” she exclaimed between fits of laughter. “It’s a miracle you haven’t killed yourself by now!”

“We were going to heat water for the dishes!”

I had stopped listening after the operative word—fire—and my hand tightened on the door frame as I prepared to cast down my plate and leap into action.

Priorities, what were the priorities? Someone should grab the packs.

Do we need water? Maybe the shower had some left.

I could use the buckets from the garden to haul it?

“No, no. Cantal has things well in hand.” Hohem herded everyone outside with outstretched arms, forcing me out of the doorway. “Honestly, everyone is overreacting. It was a tiny fire. A few sparks, really.”

“A tiny—!” My throat closed around the words. “Porra-louca! Do you have any idea how dangerous that is? You could have killed somebody.”

“Technically, it was Vyrain.” Hohem jerked a thumb in his brother’s direction.

“I got a little distracted,” Vyrain grumbled, depositing himself on the stoop in a huff. “Normally, magic like that would be a cinch. But anyway, nobody got hurt, so I don’t see what the big deal is.”

“Don’t see?—!”

Luthri’s hand fell on my shoulder before I could tear into Vyrain for his flippant attitude. My head swiveled around to pin him with a glare, but he just smiled.

“It seems there was no lasting harm done,” Lu remarked, removing his hand. “We’ll call it a learning opportunity and move on, yes?”

Vyrain rolled his eyes. “You got it, dad.”

Luthri grimaced. “Ooh, not my favorite. Might I suggest ‘sir’ or ‘my lord’?”

“How about assface?” Vyrain countered, not one to let someone else have the final word.

“Keep talking. I’m not opposed to taming the occasional brat.”

It was Vyrain’s turn to pull a face.

No longer hungry, I dumped the rest of my ice-cold dinner and set the empty plate on the platform beside Vyrain. An outraged buzzing sound drew my attention to Daethie, sitting cross-legged on Yrra’s shoulder.

“What a waste,” she scolded, gesturing to the food on the ground. “Someone else could’ve eaten that. ”

A guilty lump formed in the pit of my stomach. “It was stone-cold,” I argued. “I’ve been hauling it around the past span. Besides, it was just a few mouthfuls.”

Before anyone else could chip in, the front door slammed open, making us all jump.

“You may come in now,” Cantal intoned, his expression carefully blank.

Vyrain hopped to his feet and bowed his head. “Sorry about all that,” he said as he straightened. “If you need help cleaning up, I’m happy to lend a?—”

“No,” Cantal cut him off. He didn’t appear angry; rather, he had the air of a disappointed father about him. I know the feeling. “Everything has been taken care of, thank you. Find something else to occupy your time. Mar, let’s resume your practice.”

I sprang to attention. “Yes, Opashi .”

As I followed him inside, I ran through the timeline once more in my head.

How much longer could we spend here before we had to move on?

We might have made good ground thus far, but we had weeks of travel left to go.

It wasn’t reasonable to take more than a couple of days on detours like these, no matter how rewarding they might be.

The thought hardened my resolve. I’ll throw myself into this and figure out how to draw mana properly, even if it takes me all night.