Page 95 of Dark Shaman: Eternal Hope
Tula shrugged, the gesture so casual it was jarring after her emotional breakdown. "Tony is okay. He's good company, decent in bed, and he cares about me. But he's human, Tamira. We both know there's no real future for us. I know that you have somehow reconciled yourself to Elias's mortality, but I can't do that."
"You are carrying Tony's child, and he deserves to be part of that child's life. Besides, who would you replace him with? There aren't exactly immortal males lining up for you out there." Tamira shifted on the narrow ledge. "Unless you want one of Navuh's soldiers, which I know you don't, even if they wouldn't report you."
"There are others," Tula said with such certainty that Tamira turned to stare at her. "Other immortals who are not part of the Brotherhood."
"What are you talking about? What do you know that I don't?"
Tula hesitated, biting her lower lip. "I can't tell you yet because we still might get caught. I'll tell you when we're safe. When we're off this island and far from here."
"Tula—"
"Don't. Just be patient."
Tamira studied her friend's face, seeing fear and determination there. Tula knew something that might endanger someone, and she wasn't going to budge.
"Fine," Tamira agreed. "When we're safe."
Looking relieved, Tula stood and walked over to the mirror to examine her tear-stained face. "I look awful."
"You look like a pregnant woman dealing with hormones." Tamira joined her at the mirror. "That's the perfect cover."
They both looked terrible, with red, puffy eyes and faces blotchy from crying, but they were immortal, and in moments all those signs of distress would disappear.
Tamira watched Tula carefully pat her face with a wet washcloth, hands steady now despite the emotional storm that had just passed.
"Do you really not love Tony?" Tamira asked.
"I care about him." Tula put the washcloth down on the vanity. "He makes me laugh, and he's kind to me, but he's not the man of my dreams."
"Does he know?"
"He's not stupid despite acting like a buffoon sometimes." Tula turned from the mirror. "I never told him that I love him, so he can't claim that I led him on."
It was sad but honest.
Tula straightened her dress, checking her appearance one more time. "I'm not ending things with Tony, and I don't intend to keep him away from his child. But I can do all that without beingin love with him, and if he wants to find happiness with someone else once we are free, I will not stop him."
"That's fair." Tamira smoothed a hand over her hair, which had gotten loose from the updo she'd crafted that morning.
"What should we do for the rest of the day?" Tula asked. "I can't just sit here thinking about tomorrow."
"We do what we always do." Tamira reached for Tula's hairbrush and ran it through her hair. "We can go to the library and help with the book restoration, or you can stay here and rest, watch a movie, or read a book, and I'll go alone and tell the others you are still not feeling well."
They'd already packed the few belongings they were taking with them, mostly jewelry they could sell and use to support themselves. Eluheed and Tony had talked about selling the submarine, but Tamira imagined it would be a much more difficult transaction than selling gold and precious stones.
"I need to be with them today," Tula said. "I can't squander my last day with my sisters."
"Can you manage to do that without crying?"
Tula nodded. "And if a few tears escape, I'll blame my hormones."
They left Tula's room together but parted in the corridor. Tamira headed toward the library while Tula went to the common room, where some of the ladies often gathered in the afternoon.
The library was quiet when Tamira entered, only Sarah and Liliat working among the damaged books. They looked up when she entered.
"Is Tula feeling better?" Sarah asked.
"She is," Tamira said, which was true enough. "The hormonal changes are making her emotional."
