Renny shook his head. “I’m scared. You know that, but I can’t fight my feelings for you. In fact, what do you think of hosting another formal event that might do better at making your people enthusiastic about v’airsell niolls than the last one?”
“I do not know what you mean.”
“Will you have a siramen v’airsell nioll with me?”
“No, Ren. I will not.” Unsure of what to feel or how to deal with the crushing disappointment, Renny stared at Rorie and searched for something to say that would somehow disguise the fact that his heart was breaking.
Chapter 25
The only thing Rorie had studied more fully than the tomes and scrolls in the library was Renny, and he’d erred in the bluntness of his response.
“Allow me to explain?” Rorie asked.
Rorie was unceremoniously dumped to the side as Renny shot up into a sitting position and hopped to his feet. “No need. It’s cool. I’m going inside to see what Dra’Kaedan’s up to.”
A string of curse words fell from Rorie’s lips as Renny shimmered away. “The fool fails to believe I am reckless, but have I not just proved it?” Rorie shouted. Orlami filled the sky with fire, and Rorie nearly did the same. “Good night, friends. I must go find my v’airsell nioll and soothe the hurt I have caused.”
With no intention of landing on anyone inside, Rorie transported himself to his bedroom and put his hand on the wall of the castle. Although he should’ve immediately been able to locate Renny with a minimal amount of seeking magic, his was tarnished by the slow slip of the Fae to the darkness. Foulness slipped from his tongue, and he shoved his power into the stones. It took a few minutes and several bursts of sorcery, but Rorie’s senses finally located Renny in a spot Drekkoril had converted into the grand meeting space where they convened each afternoon.
Rorie traveled to just outside the doors and stomped through them seconds later. Renny was sitting in a chair, speaking quietly with Dra’Kaedan and Saura.
“Ren,” he yelled, strolling over to his v’airsell nioll.
When Renny glanced at him, his expression was carefully guarded. While the familiar might not believe he had the impulses and temper of Dra’Kaedan, it was impossible for him to not have shared in such dominant components of his warlock. “Yes?”
“I must have speech with you,” Rorie demanded, slapping his hands on his hips.
“It can wait; I’m talking to Saura and Dra’Kaedan.”
“You found them minutes ago. You were with me and did not speak of any plans except to be joined with me fully later.”
Renny’s face grew red. “I know that, but I want to discuss some stuff with them now.”
With a stomp of his foot, Rorie narrowed his gaze. “I know what you must be telling them, and I would have you listen to my explanation.”
“Can you please give me a few minutes to fucking deal with it before you tell me why you don’t want to have a siramen v’airsell nioll?”
“No, I will not, and you are being most foolish right now.”
“I’m being foolish?” Renny demanded, his voice rising. “From the moment we met, you’ve been after me to be with you. Now that we agree, you are refusing to bind our souls.”
“Are we on the same page?” Rorie asked.
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“You love me. I trust in that, but you also fear the future.”
“So do you, and this fucking realm of yours is a mess.”
“I am most aware of how the Fae are suffering.”
“A lot of the suffering is of their own making.”
“Do not change the subject to that of my people instead of the original topic, which is you and me,” Rorie ordered.
“Look, you might get to boss me around in bed, but I will not deal with it during the day. I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
“Don’t you dare,” Saura said, putting a hand on Renny’s arm. “I know you want to teleport away, but you need to let your mate tell you why he hurt you.”
