Page 20 of Stone Lover
Surah's heart stopped. “No! That’s not what I meant.” She took a deep breath. “Look—”
Malin turned away, slashing a hand in the air. “No matter. Why did she try to kill you?” He paused, glanced back at Surah. “Or frighten you, rather. Mogrens don’tmiss.”
It was Surah's turn to grimace. “That’s what Geza said,” she replied withoutthinking.
Malin’s eyes widened in outrage. “You told Geza? If he had responded appropriately, you wouldn’t behere.”
“Geza said he’d have to deal with it his own way. I think he’s afraid of theMogrens.”
“There is no fear in Ioveanu’s sons,” Malin said. “This was just a warning. If she sent two, in plain sight, it was an opening feint. The Mogrens are, in their way, honorable.” He glanced at Surah. “Forgive mytemper.”
“You shouldn’t let Geza upset you,though.”
Malin, on the other side of the room, turned on his heels and walked straight towards her, a light in his eyes that warned the Surah not to move a single step back. The anger she saw echoed her own–only Malin had the claws and fangs to do something aboutit.
“Why are you so angry,Malin?”
He stopped in front of her, jaw tight. “You really don’tknow?”
Oh, the irritation. “If I knew I wouldn’t ask.” Wasn’t that how questionsworked?
“You aremine. Under my protection–the protection of a true Ioveanu Prince. If anyone gets to murder you, it will beme.”
Surah ran her tongue around her teeth, changing her napkin, though the blood had mostly clotted by now. “Gee, I didn’t know you felt that way aboutme.”
“You know what I feel about you,” Malin said, stony. “You don’t know how to handle it yet. Orme.”
Their eyes locked. But this time–this time Surah stepped forward rather than retreating. She could tell herself the wine made her reckless–the heightened emotions swirling about the room clouding her judgment. She could lie like that, and get away withit.
“I’ve known you since we werechildren.”
Malin smiled, cold and proud. “I was not a child when you were birthed. You did not know me whenwewerechildren.”
Maybe not, according to gargoyle customs. But humans considered sixteen underage, no matter how well one could swing a sword or swive aservant.
“Then say, I’ve known you longer than anyone else save your mother.” Surah's voice lowered. “We’re...courting.”
The smile faded, turning impassive. “Weare.”
Surah's eyes closed. “I’ll have to tell Geza. What do I tell him? But if we don’t mate then all this drama will be for nothing. Your anger with him, with Petru. I know about your fight, by theway.”
The Prince’s expression didn’t shift. “Good.”
“What do I tell Geza so he willunderstand?”
“What do you think you should tellhim?”
“You have the formula, Malin. I only have itsparts.”
Malin grimaced faintly. “Scientist metaphors, Surah. I only speak one humanlanguage.”
Discarding the napkin, Surah looked around for a small hand broom and dustpan, stalling. She knew her heart beat in her throat, her breath came a little quicker, and blood roared in her ears, alerting her that she was preparing to say something she hadn’t intended to say. Ever. She swept glass from the counter, crouched to herd shards from the floor into the dustpan. She felt, rather than saw, Malin lean over the counter towatch.
“What are you doing, Surah? I have servants forthat.”
She stood, shrugging. Emptied the pan into the wastebasket and put the cleaning tools away. “I don’t have glass in my hair doI?”
“I shouldcheck.”
