Page 43 of Spirit Rites
“I'm on guard duty.” He cocks a head at me.
“Me?” I ask in surprise. “You’re guarding me? Why?”
Mae recovers and scowls at Taren. “He means protection duty. He’s protecting you. Well, no need. I’ve got her now. We’re headed to the assembly.”
“Not a good idea,” Taren says, still relaxed.
Mae, however, does not look quite so relaxed. “What do you mean not a good idea? She’s supposed to be at the assembly. They’re expecting her, and—”
“And she was injured on the way here,” Taren says smoothly, interrupting her. “And therefore, she can’t attend the assembly.”
“But I’m fine now,” I interject, looking between the two of them.
“See, she’s fine, Tar,” Mae says. I make a mental note of the shortened name; apparently, everybody shortens their name here.
“She’sinjured,”Taren says, drawing out the word. “And therefore unable to attend the assembly.” He’s still relaxed, but he’s obviously trying to convey something to Mae.
Mae squints at him and then looks at me before her eyes bounce back to him. “But my cousin—”
“Does not want her there,” Taren interrupts.
“Wait, you’re Kaldar’s cousin?” I interject. Kaldar had told me his cousin was coming. I didn’t put it together that the cousin was Mae.
Mae stops the staring match she’s currently participating in with Taren and turns to me. “Yes, he’s my cousin.”
I take in that small detail before I deal with the next thing. “And why doesn’t Kaldar want me at the assembly?”
For the first time, Taren doesn’t look quite so relaxed. “Don’t worry about it. He’s just dealing with business—”
“That directly affectsher,”Mae interrupts again. Taren looks at her, and I can see the exasperation he’s trying to hide. “It’s customary. He found his mate, and now she needs to stand before the assembly and—”
“Maelin,” Taren says, cutting her off. My eyes are going to cross and stay that way with how I’ve been looking back and forth between the two of them. “He doesn’t want her there.” Each word is slow and distinct.
“Think we got that part,” Harper says in typical Harper form. “Maybe if he didn’t want her there, he shouldn’t have brought her here...to his kingdom.” Her words have the desired impact, and I watch as Maelin cringes.
“He does want you here...there...well...” She glances hopelessly at Taren. Taren is no help and stays quiet.
I’ve suddenly had enough of it all. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. I’ll catch up with him later...if he wants me around,” I can’t help add. There’s a tinge of bitterness in my voice that I don’t think I hide as well as I think I do. “I think I’m just going to...” I hike a thumb over my shoulder. “Go back inside. Mae, it was great to meet you. Taren, I’ll see you around.” I don’t waste any time leaving the two of them behind and heading back inside, wondering if coming here was indeed a mistake.
Chapter 22
“Sulking doesn’t become you,” Harper says about five minutes later.
“I’m not sulking.” But that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’ve been sitting in this chair since I came back inside.
“Sure you’re not.”
I feel a tug at my sub-conscious, and then a voice fills my mind.Good. You’re awake.
Instantly, the ache in my chest eases.I am.
I can’t feel any pain from you. I take it the human was able to help with the pain.
Yes, I can’t feel a thing.
Good. You were in quite a lot of pain.
I don’t comment on that, not wanting to remember the pain.Where are you?
