Page 25 of Winds of Destiny

“No one knows exactly what happened to Inarime,” I say. “People agree that the city collapsed into the sea, but the reason is still undetermined. Perhaps they angered their god by doing magic they shouldn’t have, or maybe their god was killed. Some even wonder if the people grew so ambitious that they sacrificed their god to gain access to all of its power. Whatever it was, when Inarime fell, that’s when the everwinds began.”

Jeric’s eyes are large and wondering. “So the everwinds were a curse?”

I shrug. “That’s probably how people looked at them at first. They adapted, of course, and learned to use them to protect caravans. Some merchants even invented special types of wagons with narrow sails that used the everwinds for propulsion—we have drawings of them in our library. The everwinds continued, with very few stops, for a thousand years. Scholars argue over whether—”

“Wait, no.” Rusen is shaking his head now. “This still sounds like a load of sheep dip to me. Somebody came up with this fairy tale to explain the everwinds, that’s all. No need for a special city, or a three-headed monster god, or—”

I interrupt him again. “Zephyth has trading logs that date back to before Inarime fell. Our city was much smaller then, but itexisted, and it did business with Inarime. Those documents are some of our most treasured histories, verified again and again over the centuries, so don’ttest my patience by saying they’re false.”

Don’t you fucking dare.

Rusen glances at Turo, of all people, before looking down at his plate. Turo hasn’t even looked at him once tonight. Hmm. I wonder what’s gone on to make Rusen wary of him.

“It makes you wonder if the Kamorans know something the rest of us don’t,” Kai says, taking over the conversation as easily as breathing. “Their king might be a bastard, but he’s cunning, and I know he’s always been interested in magic.” Kai shakes his head. “He even came to Huridell to talk to the king about our abilities.”

Turo perks up all of a sudden. “When was that?”

“Months ago now. Why?”

“Before or after his attack on Antasa?”

“Ah…” Kai thinks about it for a moment. “Before. By perhaps a month, maybe two. Why does that matter?”

“It might not,” is all Turo says before falling silent again.

The conversation eases, and for the next while it’s just my escort swapping stories and making jokes. I’ve decided I like them, barring Rusen right now. They’re not refined, but they’re fun. If this is what I can expect in Huridell, then perhaps I really will be able to be happy there.

As long as my husbandis bearable, of course.

Eventually, the dark takes over, and as stars appear across the sky unobscured by the mist that always seems to bathe the coast by Zephyth, I know it’s time to sleep. I’ve got to be ready for another day of this tomorrow, then another after that, then another after that. I prepare in privacy, then go to get my bedroll from my supplies—only to find that it’s already been laid out next to one a whole head longer than mine.

“Forgive me for taking such a liberty,” Kai says as I turn toward him with an arched brow. “But itismy sworn duty to protect you. I’ll feel a lot better knowing that my husband is within arm’s reach.”

My husband. A shiver of possibility goes down my spine. I wonder just how far I can persuade Kai that his marital responsibilities need to be fulfilled. Not tonight—I’m too damn tired tonight. But there are many more nights on the road in our future.

“I suppose I’ll allow it,” I say, lying down and pulling only the thinnest layer of blankets over my body. Once Kai joins me, I lean toward him and wrap an arm around his waist. I mean it as a goad—to him, to Turo, even to myself—but once I’m holding him, I’m loath to let go. “Ooh, it’s like lying next to a furnace,” I say with a grin. “Excellent. I hate being cold at night.”

“I’m more than happy to keep you warm,” Kai promises. He leans his head close to mine, so close that if he turned just a little bit, he would be kissing me. My breath catches in my throat. I want that.

“Your man looks ready to run me through with that wicked blade of his,” Kai whispers in my ear.

Hmph.“Let him look,” I reply, not quite as quietly and not really caring.

Let him look all night long.

Chapter Fifteen

Kai

This trip has turned out far differently than I thought it would in the beginning. I didn’t have the highest hopes for it back in Huridell. My greatest wish at that point was that Prince Camrael would be a person I could live with, ideally someone to help when it came to advancing my city’s ability to innovate and change. I didn’t see myself falling in love—didn’t see any need for it. Why bother, when I could get physical affection anywhere? What I needed from my husband was an ally, for both my city and, ideally, for my goals.

On our fourth day out from Huridell, I realize just how far my perspective has changed since then.

Camrael sits on his jaka easily now, with no edge of uncertainty like he showed the first few days. He knows each of my men’s names and feels free to laugh and joke with them, and they’ve warmed up to him as well. He’s beautiful in the sunshine. He would be beautiful anywhere, but seeing him riding beside me, with the sunlight bringing out the rich brown highlights in his hair and making his eyes gleam, he’s less “prince” and more “husband” than ever, nearly impossible to resist. It doesn’t hurt that he’s spent the last three nights cozied up in my arms.

I could fall for him. I feel the shift in my heart like a rockslide about to happen, tiny pebbles sounding the alarm before the whole mountain shifts, forever changed. I even have some hope, not entirely wishful thinking on my part, that Camrael is coming to feel the same way. That’s good—it will make revealing my identity to him once we’re past the Gate that much easier.

Unfortunately, the one place where things aren’t getting easier is with Lord Turo.

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