Page 115 of Dawn Caravan
“Mercenary.”
“Practical.” Tenzin looked up at him. “Traditional human society has rejected their extended family over and over. Humans have taken their children, burned their camps, and treated them horribly. Why would they care about anyone who doesn’t belong to them?”
Ben’s vampire vision pierced the darkness, but he could detect no humans still wandering on the edges of the camp. The only humans awake were the ones currently serving the vampire guests. “I guess I can see your point.”
“The Eastern Poshani are Radu’s people. He was born to them, and he’ll choose a successor from among their ranks.”
“As long as we find the goblet for him.” Ben let out a long breath. “Are you sure René doesn’t have this thing and all his confiding in you was a big ruse to misdirect us?”
“He has no motivation to steal it,” Tenzin said. “There is no gain for him. I think Vano has it.”
“Why?
“He’s the sneakiest, and I think he hates Radu. René thinks Vano is the strongest, but he’s not.”
“No?
“Strong and sneaky are not the same thing,” Tenzin said. “René might think they are, but he is wrong.”
For the hundredth time, Ben wondered whether Tenzin and René had slept together. There was clearly chemistry between the two, and René quite obviously was fascinated with Tenzin. “Okay, I know this probably is none of my business, but did you and René—?”
“No.” Tenzin looked at him. “And why do you keep saying that my sexual partners—or possible sexual partners—are none of your business? They clearly are.”
“Are they?”
She huffed out a breath and turned to him. “Are you deciding if we can be together?”
Ben crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t know what I’m doing with you most of the time.”
Tenzin stared at him for a few long moments; then she grabbed his hand and dragged him to the nearest trailer, which was her own. She opened the door, pushed him inside, and followed him, shutting the door behind her.
Ben stood silently, waiting for her to speak.
“After I took you to Zhang, you sent me away.” She turned and faced him. “You said you were ‘done’—whatever that means—and that you weren’t going back to New York and you weren’t going to wait for me. But I said I would wait for you. And I have.” She spread her arms wide. “So what do you want, Benjamin?”
You!
No, that wasn’t it.
Okay, it was. But admitting that felt like defeat.
She asked, “Do you want me to wait longer?”
“No.”
“Very well.” She stood in front of him. “I dislike having to explain myself, but I am trying to… grow.”
“New Year’s resolutions?”
“Yes. I am here.” She stood perfectly still. “This isyourchoice.”
He didn’t know what to say. He knew it was his choice. He knew she was giving him time. He just didn’t know how to bridge the gap he felt between them. “Tenzin—”
“And to answer your persistent question, my sexual partnersareyour business because I assume you are feeling as territorial as I am. If you had sex with someone else right now when I am near, I would likely kill that person.”
Yes!
Wait. No. That wasn’t good.
