Page 30 of Carnal: The Beast Who Loved Me

“No. I think that was the plan, but she said he chose work over her.”

“Who is she to Kellareal?”

“Don’t know. Why don’t you ask her?” The second that question was out of Charming’s mouth he regretted it and it showed on his face.

Carnal laughed. “Maybe I will.”

“She’s nice, Carnal. Leave her alone.”

“I’m not going to cause her harm.” Carnal took a sip of ale without taking his eyes off his brother. “Now what’s this I hear about you showing off during training?”

Charming looked sheepish. “Who said I was showing off? It’s not showing off if you can do something better. I can jump higher. So what’s wrong with that? You’re strong and fast. I don’t see you trying to hide that.”

Carnal sat back and grinned. “I get you. Nothing wrong with being good at something, but no reason to needlessly worry our mother either.”

Charming gaped at that, not being able to believe what he was hearing. “You’regiving me a lecture on worrying Serene? What the fuck is the matter with you?”

Carnal’s brows came down. “You got something to say?”

“As a matter of fact I do. What do you think she’s been doing when you disappear for weeks and months at a time? You think she forgets all about you? And especially since Crave is…”

“Don’t.” Carnal whispered, but the message was clear. Crave was an open wound with Carnal and the biggest part of the reason why he stayed away from home.

Charming sat back and blew out a breath. “Okay, look, I shouldn’t have… I know the two of you were, are, close.” Understanding seemed to wash over Charming, changing his expression to that of an older, more settled male. “That’s why you went absentee from our family. Isn’t it?”

Carnal didn’t answer. He just looked away. “I’m not absent now.”

“No,” Charming said slowly. “You’re not. You coming to supper tonight?”

Carnal’s gaze slid from the fire to his little brother. Charming may have only been a few years younger, but Carnal felt like the difference, reflected in the youth and hope on Charming’s face, was as deep as an abyss.

He felt the ghost of a smile form around his lips, reading a little anticipatory excitement in his brother.

“Sure,” he said.

Rosie was almost to the porch of the Extant’s house when Serene caught up with her. Forming a crook with her elbow, she looped Rosie’s hand through the space, patted her arm and turned them around so that Rosie was walking away from her temporary home instead of toward it.

That had happened so fast Rosie had to take a second to recalibrate whether she was coming or going.

“Wait,” she said, looking back over her shoulder. “I was going to…”

“You’re invited to come to the weaving barn as my guest.”

“I am?”

Serene looked over at her. “I saw you at the training field earlier.” Rosie said nothing because there was nothing to add. It wasn’t a question and the statement was factual with no room for correction or argument. So she waited for Serene to continue. “Were you just happening by?”

“No. Not exactly.” Serene kept guiding them toward the large structure, with long strides that made Rosie hurry along. “Charming’s friend, Tag, came to the bar. He said Charming was hurt.”

“I see,” said Serene. “And you left your post because of that?”

“I, uh, don’t really think of the bar as a ‘post’ per se. I more think of it as a job?”

“Here we are. I want to show you around.”

Rosie wasn’t sure what she’d expected. Rafters full of cotton and sheep’s wool, she supposed. She stepped into a foyer that opened into a wide aisle running the length of the building. The space on either side was divided into rooms with both exterior and interior windows so that anyone traversing the aisle could look in.

In the first room on the left were ten or so young Exiled looking toward an adult woman. Though the accoutrements were somewhat different, there was little doubt that Rosie was looking at a classroom. Serene let Rosie set the pace. As they passed by slowly, beautiful young faces turned to look with open curiosity. Serene nodded a greeting to the woman, who was certainly some sort of teacher, and she nodded in return.

---