Page 13 of Song of the Dawn
Giving a shaky laugh, I stumbled over my words, “Yes. Well. Work first.”
“Speaking of work”—he sobered—“I don’t want you to think I led you here under false pretenses. I’m aware Ginger asked you to help in the kitchen in the mornings and—”
“It’s fine,” I said quickly, thinking of the money. “Besides, it’s only temporary, and I have plenty of time to practice. I’m afraid I might be bored without the work.”
“If you change your mind, come to me.”
“I will,” I said, wondering about the tension between Ginger and Ezra.
“The summers are busy, full of festivals and celebrations, and I look forward to hearing you play again.”
“The violin in my room, where did it come from? Do you play?” I asked.
A stillness came over him before he winked, his manner turning teasing, playful again. “As long as you like it, it is yours to keep. Besides, I can’t reveal all my surprises in one day.”
He strode down the path, and I walked beside him, examining the gardens. Fat bees flitted from flower to flower, and sometimes a hummingbird would speed through the air with a whirl, incandescent colors brightening the scenery. They were so tiny and fast it made me want to catch one and hold it in place so I could see its beauty.
“At least tell me something about you,” I suggested, aware he was more of an enigma than when I’d first met him.
“What do you want to know?” His hands were in his pockets, and he strode casually, as if he did not have a care in the world.
Questions popped into my mind faster than I could register them. “Do you really live in the ruined tower?”
Ezra laughed. “The staff has been talking about my odd habits, haven’t they?”
“A bit,” I admitted.
“It’s my workshop and private quarters. Most nights I fall asleep there, but I have an office and adjoining chambers in the inn. I keep the books and run operations, make sure there’s enough food and wine and money for all this.” He spread his arms out to indicate, well, everything, I supposed. “As you might have guessed, Ginger is second-in-command here. She knows how to run everything in case anything happens to me.”
“I see,” I said, not wanting to talk about Ginger and her lack of warmth. Something was off about her, although maybe in time, I’d understand. “What of your workshop? What do you do there?”
“Oh, come now,” he dodged my question skillfully. “Am I going to be interrogated all afternoon? Don’t I get to learn something about you?”
“You’ll have to wait and see,” I quipped. “I can’t reveal all my secrets in one afternoon.”
He moved so quickly I almost missed it. One moment, I was walking down the path; the next, my wrist was locked in his hand as he pulled me closer, his jaw working. “I see. You toss my words right back at me. Well, then we shall have to do this again.”
Lifting my hand, he brushed his lips over my skin.
Every inch of my body tingled in anticipation.
Winking, he released me. “Until next time, Mila.”
Ezra
“What are you doing?” Ginger demanded, teeth bared, smokey eyes flashing.
Locking my secret drawer, I rose to see her lithe frame filling up the doorway. An anxious red aura snapped around her. I promptly sat back down, exhausted before our argument began. “What is it Ginger? What do youthinkI’m doing that you don’t approve of?”
After marching in, she closed the door. It clanked with finality, like a death sentence. Standing in front of the desk, she cocked her hips to the side and waved a red finger in my face. “It’s not what Ithinkyou’re doing. I know because I saw you flirting with her in the gardens. A mortal. You can’t play with mortals. They have feelings; they are fragile. If they fly too close to our fire, they will burn.”
A sour taste stained my tongue, and my mood darkened. After all the brightness and life Mila had brought, Ginger was determined to keep me in dourness. My shoulders sagged, but I still forced the words from my mouth. “Ginger, aren’t you exhausted by this parade? This facade of who we are and who we aren’t?”
“It doesn’t matter what my sentiments are,” she hissed. “It shouldn’t matter to you either. We are above such mortal emotions. What happened when you went beyond? Did something change that you’re keeping from me?”
Rubbing my temples, I sighed. The beginnings of a headache threatened to return. I needed to play to ease my discomfort. “I have to summon a spirit, a deadly one who will bind the King of Hearts. We have twelve months to either free ourselves or seal our damnation. But you know she will come for me and me alone. I can make it impossible to find you and the others. You can take them and flee.”
Ginger was silent, although her chin wobbled just a moment before she jerked it up. “And go where without our leader?”
