“Tomorrow, I believe. After shecordaes.”
“How romantic,” he mused. “A night of undiscovered lovemaking then back to conspiracy.” He sent a small smile to the drones surrounding us. “How predictable you are, Cebrinne. How easy it is to use your hatred against you. Did you wait the first fortnight to turn on me, or was it within the hour?”
“Minutes.”
I don’t think he meant for me to answer, but my mouth obeyed his order. Humor stirred in the depths of his cold eyes. “Await my word,” he said to the drones. “Come, Cebrinne.”
Like I was a dog.
I suppose I was, trailing his steps like something loyal and dutiful, offering the ballroom a wide berth as we ascended the closest tower and took the sky bridge back to my apartment in the Westward Sea Wing. Thaan pointed at the couch across from him as he sat. I lowered myself into the cushions, clamping down on my tongue as though it would protect me from his prying demands.
“Tell me about Aegir,” Thaan said.
“He’s theVidereof the Venusian Sea. He’s tall. He has tattoos. He—”
“Tell me about his personality.” Thaan’s voice softened, but my small act of rebellion thickened the air with molten iron. “What kind of leader is he? Is he as impulsive as we thought?”
“No. He’s a planner. He’s meticulous. He keeps his colony safe.”
Thaan tapped his mouth with a long finger. “He would not be likely to stage an attack.”
His voice lilted with inquisition, but it wasn’t a question. I simply stared at him.
“Confirm or deny,” he snapped.
“He would not be likely to stage an attack.”
“Very well.” He leaned back in his seat. “Does he have feelings for you?”
“I think so.”
“Do you care for him?”
“Yes.”
Thaan waved his hand impatiently. “Not what I meant. Do you haveromanticfeelings for him?”
My mouth opened. Nothing came out. The flame in my mind blew out, and all my thoughts went with it.
Did I?
You’ll leave Calder to take a human husband in Leihani.
Theia’s prophecy flashed in my head without warning. For some reason, I latched onto it. I didn’t sayyes.
But I didn’t sayno, either.
Thaan’s fingertip slowed. “Your feelings are…complicated.”
Why should I tell you?I asked inside my mind.So you can use it against me? Control me with it?
“Are your feelings complicated?” he leveled flatly.
“Yes.” More than complicated. Draped in doubt and indecision, left to hang over my head while I wavered under it. But I suppose any chance of my falling for Aegir had ended the moment Theia had spoken through the whispered flames of silver fire.
Hide in Leihani. Find a human husband. Give birth to a child of the moon.
“Yes?” Thaan’s brows twinged. Something like surprise flickered in his eyes. His tapping finger resumed. “Tell me why.”
