Page 60 of Lhora
“Esstiss? You’re the Esstiss?” His face darkened. “And when were you going to let me know the truth?”
28
Truth
Lhora refused to back down or be intimidated. “I had planned on telling you tonight. Why? Is it too soon?” Yes, she was making light of it. Plug Birek! If he hadn’t addressed her…
She hesitated. Wouldn’t the Gur have known she had company inside? Wouldn’t he have been informed that she’d brought the Coltrosstian back to her bedroom? She was almost one hundred percent certain Arste had passed that information along. If not personally, then via word of mouth. Which meant, if Birek had been notified, then he’d just broken a cardinal rule.
No, not broken. Deliberately defied.
She didn’t know her irritation was masking her features until Duren spoke, interrupting her thoughts.
“I wasn’t supposed to know, was I?” His voice was somewhat softer, his tone gentler.
“Not this soon, no. That’s not what I’d…planned,” she admitted. Forcing a smile upon her face, she walked over to the table and picked up the carafe to pour out two glasses. For some reason, she didn’t sense him coming up behind her until he reached out and closed one hand around hers.
“Yes, I’m miffed, but not at you. I’m miffed at myself for not realizing it sooner.” He dropped a kiss to her shoulder. She turned around to face him. “All the signs were there,” he murmured. “It was a secret you were hiding in plain sight.”
He placed the glass back onto the table. Pushing her robe off her shoulder, he brushed his lips over her bare skin. “I have to admit, in a way I’m glad you’re the Esstiss.”
She looked at him in surprise. “Why?”
Duren leaned back to gaze into her eyes. “I’ve been wanting to fall in love with someone who was my equal. With someone who could give back as hard as she received. Someone who didn’t submit just because of who I was.” He caressed her cheek with his fingertips. “Someone who wasn’t afraid of me.”
I’ve been wanting to fall in love with someone who was my equal. She read him. It was true. All of it. Plus he loved her.
“You know what we’re doing is unprecedented,” she whispered.
“I know, and for the life of me, I don’t care. I don’t care anymore.” Bowing his head, he pressed his forehead to hers.
Lhora took a deep breath, inhaling his musky male scent along with the soap he’d used. “Duren, it’s time for all the truth to come out. If the two of us are going to make this work, we need to put everything behind us. I’m willing to make a commitment if you are.”
“What truth?” he softly asked.
“Did you know your father is collaborating with the Tra’Mell to destroy Beinight?” She opened herself all the way, enabling herself to detect the least little flutter of his heart, or the quick intake of breath—all the nearly invisible signs that would tell her he was lying, or about to lie to her.
His shock was genuine, as was his anger that followed. “What are you talking about?”
“Question Vadris Lon if you don’t believe me. Better yet, pull the video logs from theBeccan.When we encountered the Tra’Mell over Beinight territory, right before you arrived, they informed us that they’d made an agreement with the Sarpi. They and your father against us, the Beinights. Your father is playing a dangerous game with the enemy if he honestly believes they’re going to help him overtake us. Because if they’re successful, the Tra’Mell will turn around in a heartbeat and destroy him, you, and all of Coltross.”
Duren studied her face. His emotions were in turmoil. He wanted to believe her, but his devotion and love for his father demanded that he dismiss her claims.
Lifting her hand, she placed her palm to his cheek. “Something else I need to tell you. I am also a torgart.”
He immediately stepped back. “You’re controlling my emotions?” His voice almost broke.
Lhora hastened to reassure him. “No. We don’t control emotions. Forget what you’ve been told, or what the Coltrosstians believe, those stories aren’t true. Wereademotions. We sense them. We listen to your heart, to the blood pumping through your veins, and we study the play of your muscles in your face. We observe your eyes, for through them we can almost see what’s on your mind. And we hear your voice. Every inflection, the tone, the volume. We can’t controlhowyou feel, but we know if what’s spoken is the truth or a lie. We perceive misdirection and misinformation, as well as when a partial truth is spoken because some of it has been omitted.” She shook her head. “I’ve known how you felt about me ever since you came to the dungeon. I know you haven’t lied to me since you approached me in the Sarpi’s brig. Do you blame me for not telling you the truth about me, when I was afraid it would change the way you feel about me?”
The tenseness in his body evaporated, and his eyes softened. “Your eyes. When you looked at me, sometimes they sort of…changed.”
“It’s how you can tell someone is a torgart,” she confessed with a little shake of her head. “We can’t control it.”
“And your mother, the Esstika, also has this gift?”
She chuckled. “No. I got it from my father.”
“Who is…”
