Page 6 of Kingdom of Spirits

“A square of fluff made from sap and honey and, well, it’s a piece of the dessert afterlife if there is such a place. But you must burn the marshmallow to a crisp. Only way to eat them,” she said.

“I feel like I’ve had ten meads rather than one. What are you talking about?”

Tahlia waved off his confusion like one does a cloud of gnats. “What I meant is that I am fine with my past as is. How about you?”

She must have had an easy life before coming to the mountain.

“I can tell from your expression that you think I’m naive. Let me assure you that I’m not. My family life growing up was not pretty. At all.”

Pain tightened the edges of her eyes and her hands had balled on the table. He wanted to cover her fingers with his and comfort her, but was that too much?

Needing something to do with his hands, he tapped his cup in a steady rhythm. “I do believe you’re right about difficulties in life, but I couldn’t give up the chance to have my sister back.”

Her open look said she was listening, patiently waiting for him to speak. His chest tightened and he cleared his throat.

“Pirates ravaged our home and killed her,” he said. “Bellona was her name. She is the reason I am here. She gave up her place at a healing arts academy to fund my training with the money we inherited when my parents died.”

“I’m so sorry you lost her. It’s all the more impressive that you managed to rise to the rank of captain after suffering that loss.”

“Thank you.” It hadn’t been difficult telling her about Bellona. Was the only difference that he was confiding in her instead of trying to pluck information from her? He had to laugh silently at himself. He had been treating her like someone he had to question for order business.

“What else do you want to learn about me?” she asked.

“I’ll stop questioning you. I didn’t intend for this to be some sort of strange interrogation. I’m just, well, I’m not the best at intimate relationships.”

She grinned. “No surprise there, big fella.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re not the cozy up-and-chat type.”

He wished he was.

“But I like you just how you are, Marius. So ask me whatever you had planned.”

His heart did a quick triple beat. “You knew I was mapping out our conversation?”

“I guessed.” She jerked her chin and eyed the vest pocket that held his notebook.

It was a relief that she was fine with the way he operated. “All right, then, little salty, where would you travel if you had free time to do so? Or are you more of the type who wants to read by the hearth at home?”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Salty?”

“There is a plant that thrives in the harsh, salt-dense soil of the flats outside my hometown. Its true name is theschrenkiella parvula, but we always call itsalty. You enjoy flourishing in difficult scenarios, so the nickname fits in my mind.”

Tahlia laughed, and it was the loveliest sound in all the realms. “Fine. I’m salty, but if you’re going to nickname me, I get to do the same to you.”

“I already have too many ridiculous monikers,” he said.

“None from the one you are considering to be your mate.”

He stared.

“Don’t look so shocked. Why else would you be giving me a rundown like this? It’s so you. You like order. Control. You make weighed decisions. Never reckless. It only makes sense that you would want to find out more about me if you plan a repeat of our night together.”

“But it was only one night of passion.” How would she react to such a pointed statement?

“Oh, no, it wasn’t. I felt a connection with you and you felt it too.”

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