“Wait—what?” Her eyes bulge with interest.
“One thing led to another…and we did some things…not everything?—”
Elena’s hand flies to her mouth; her eyes widen further.
“As soon as he was done, he left, and has hardly said a word to me since except to refuse to take me out looking for bugs.”
“Excuse me? But did you just say looking for bugs?”
“That doesn’t matter.”
Elena drags her fingers slowly through her raven-black hair. “I have to say, you were the very last person I expected to be embroiled in these antics.”
“You have to believe me—I never intended for anything like this to happen.”
“Oh, I know, which makes it all the more impressive.”
“Maybe he was practicing so he could properly court Amber—which is just weird. Or perhaps he was disgusted by me, which is why he stormed off afterward.”
“I’m inclined to think otherwise.” Elena giggles. “And…I’m not sure Amber was telling the truth.”
“Care to explain?”
“Amber was given the worst job of all the Penticari—tanning hides. It entails dipping skins in urine, and it’s hard to wash the scent off at the end of the day.”
My nose scrunches. “Ew.”
“After a day of it, she’s been more flirty around the men, and if I had to guess, she’s trying to get one of them to take her in.”
“Looks like Ramsey took the bait.”
“Or, he didn’t, and she’s playing one of her games.”
“Would she do that?”
“She wants a man with power, and Ramsey is on the council. I think in her own obnoxious way, she’s trying to show him she’s strong and worthy, not understanding it makes her look desperate.”
I mull over Elena’s theory, wondering if it could be true. Amber isn’t above lying to get what she wants. But would she want Ramsey?
If it meant she would no longer have to work with vats of urine, I’m sure she would.
“You may not realize this, but you’ve proven your strength,” Elena says without a hint of mockery.
“How?”
“You’ve enticed the most outspoken against us with your charms, which is no easy feat.”
“But he didn’t like it.”
“Did he tell you that?”
“No. He just left.”
“If he didn’t like it, he’d not hesitate to tell you, just as he didn’t hesitate to say you smelled. He left because he did like it, and he didn’t want to.”
I think over all the interactions I’ve had with Ramsey, and can’t help but feel she might be right.
Elena reaches over, folding her hand over mine. “I know I’m asking a lot of you, but your spice-covered flesh may have donemore to integrate our tribe than anything else we’ve done short of Grixis getting me pregnant.”
