We settled at one of the wire tea tables in the garden, a tea set between us with a teapot of piping hot ginseng tea and wyne for Iliya. I munched on a pastry as Iliya animatedly recounted her relationship with Codran.
“—but that’s my story! I was living out east while he was on a mission, and we fell in love! Then he scooped me up and brought me back here.”
The sun dipped into the west, deep golden rays casting striking angles throughout the garden as day turned to evening. Still, no sign of Roman. Guilt and worry twisted in my gut.
“Are you sure everything’s alright, darling? You seem down.” Iliya set her wyne glass down. “Trouble in paradise?”
I looked into the eyes of the vampiress across from me, her happy demeanor so similar to my sister’s. “Roman told me he has feelings for me.”
Iliya’s eyes widened in surprise, quickly replaced by a huge grin. “Well, that’s great news! We need to celebrate. Maybe a night on the town? I’m sure we could put that together!”
My fingers twisted in my dress. “I didn’t return the sentiment.”
Silence followed, broken only by the singing of sparrows. “You don’t love him?”
“I’m starting this business to gain my freedom. Whether I love him or not is irrelevant.”
She burst into laughter, a sound that matched the chirping sparrows. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Love isn’t the opposite of freedom. I didn’t experience true freedom until I met Codran. He showed me the world and gave me the tools to find and be myself. So I ask you again: Do you love him?”
I studied the little filigree detail on my teacup. What she said made it sound so simple, but it didn’t feel that way. “I don’t know.”
She sipped her tea, steam barely visible in the crisp spring air. “I think you do know.”
Ididknow. I had known for a while, and yet somehow, Roman had come to accept it before I had. His pained face flashed through my mind as vividly as any nightmare. “What if I ruined things?”
“I doubt it. I think that man would turn this world inside out for you,” she said with a wink.
“I bet Codran would do the same for you.”
She grinned mischievously. “He better if he knows what’s good for him!”
I allowed a small, shy smile in return. Her energy was contagious. I wondered if this was what sisterhood was meant to feel like. Solaris and I had never shared lighthearted conversations like this. Perhaps it was my fault; I had always been so miserable. I wondered where my sister was now and what she would think about the fact that she had turned out to be right.
The dining room buzzed with chatter when we entered. Though Razvan was still up north, the rest of the generals had returned. The empty chair at the head of the table served as a cruel reminder of Roman’s absence.
“Everyone, this is Iliya. She will be staying with us for a while.”
I sat before the only plate as the others raised their wyne glasses. The generals took turns introducing themselves, and Iliya graciously curtsied in return. She quickly found herself caught up in conversation with Sorin.
“How serious is this relationship with the Bursuc guy?” Sorin asked.
“You mean the Count of the Bursuc House?” Enso muttered under his breath.
Iliya didn’t miss a beat. “Well, he hasn’t put a ring on it yet. Are you offering, General? I like to look at all my options.”
I had never seen Sorin caught off guard, but for a fraction of a second, his smooth talking faltered. That arrogant swagger returned in an instant, though. “You’re a serious relationship kind of girl? That’s alright; I’m not afraid of commitment.”
Catina burst into laughter. “That’s literally all you’re afraid of.”
Sorin shot her a faux-hurt look. “Maybe that’s because I haven’t met a real lady yet.”
Catina looked like she was about to rip his throat out. I couldn’t resist the chance to dig in. “Hey, that’s not fair. Isabella is definitely a lady.”
The four generals, including Bells, looked at me as if I had grown a third eye, but Iliya burst into laughter. Sorin grinned. “Good to see you lightening up, sweetheart. Guess it just took Roman leaving for you to come out of your shell.”
“Shut your mouth, Sorin,” Isabella snapped. I hadn’t had the chance to ask, but I suspected she knew why Roman was gone. She seemed to know everything, after all.
“My apologies.” There was a glint in Sorin’s eyes as he stared across the table at me. As quickly as it appeared, it was gone. That cockiness masked something.
