Page 86 of A Forgery of Fate

I felt my cheeks flame with indignation. So much for the strongest bridge being made of truth. I retracted my hand. “Why even bother pretending if it’s all a lie?” I said. “The soup, the dinners—”

“There will be no dinner until you resume your duties,” he spoke over me. He sounded actually cross. “You forget, Lady Saigas, that you are only here because by someforgeryof fate, you seem to be capable of the impossible.” He drew out his words. “The fall of the Dragon King.”

The water felt suddenly cold.

“In the future, should you choose to disregard my warnings and put our mission at risk, your family will pay the consequences.” His gaze narrowed. “Now, I advise you get back to work.”

Leaving me utterly speechless, he left the room.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Insufferable, intolerable, absolutely fickleandunpleasant.Those were the nicer words that came to mind when I thought of Elang the abominable half dragon.

What had possessed me to court his friendship? To tell him my stupid little moss story? I should’ve poked him in the eyes with my brush. That smug yellow one first.

I snatched a sheaf of parchment from under one of Elang’s stacks of books, recorded every detail I could remember of Nazayun, practically ruining the brush with my livid strokes. In my head, I was warring with myself, griping at how callously Elang had rebuffed me—at how embarrassingly close I’d come to thinking he was…he was…

Nothing,I snapped, shutting off the thought. There was no way I’d harbor even aninklingof feeling toward him.

Just why did he have to be such a convincing actor? That kiss he’d planted on my hand, that offhandgoodwhen I’d said I never wanted to change my hair.

I must be lonely,I thought.If Nomi and Fal were here, I’d never fall for such a monster—I caught myself—amonster’stricks.

When the door opened again, I shot to my feet, ready to tell him exactly what I thought of him.

Except it wasn’t Elang.

“General Caisan,” I said, my tone coming out flatter than I intended. “To what do I owe the honor?”

The turtle dipped his head so he could enter through the door, then straightened. “I had presumed you sought Lord Elang’s affections for the sake of bettering your life of squalor, but now I see that you are too improvident to have such ambitions. My apologies.”

I was taken aback. Honestly I didn’t know whether I ought to laugh or be offended. Caisan was a soldier through and through, even in the way he fashioned greetings.

“I most begrudgingly accept your apology. Does that mean you no longer deem me a hoodlum?”

He grunted. If I’d wondered whether he might have a sense of humor, I had my answer: no.

“You shouldn’t have gone into the Western Fold,” he said, ignoring my question. “Even a hatchling would have sensed the ambush that the Dragon King had planned for you.”

“A simple thank-you would suffice. I did save your sister.”

“My scouts would have found her in time.”

“Unlikely.”

Caisan clenched his spear, the only visible sign he grew irritated. “I have not sought you out to argue.”

“Then why have you come?”

Rather than respond, the general barged deeper into the room, settling beside the hearth where Elang had boiled my medicinal soup. The fire flared at his presence, green flames zapping to life.

“In light of your mistake, you will need additionalprotection,” Caisan said at last. “I offer myself as your personal guard.”

Personal guard? I dropped my brush onto the table. “Why would you offer to protect me? You despise me.”

General Caisan bored his round, unblinking eyes into mine. “When have I said I despise you? It is true, I distrust your kind—I find humans covetous and opportunistic.” He pointed his spear at my opal ring. “But I distrust demons even more.”

“I already have a guard,” I replied.

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