by SM Blooding
I grinned and picked at the vegetable-covered rice. “I just showed you how. You did the rest.”
She shook me off, looking around. “I’m not really interested in staying here to be ogled by men who have no idea who I am or why they shouldn’t marry me.”
I offered my arm. “Me either. So let’s go around and speculate on who should marry who.”
Her smile matched mine as she ducked under the table and took my arm. “Why is your mother pushing the marriage thing, anyway?”
I steered us past the throng of admirers around Oki. “The whole point of these games was to find Zara a husband. I’m the one who turned it into more than that. Typically, only the higher-ranking sons and proven warriors of the Seven Great Families would have been invited.”
“It’s . . . ” She shrugged. “It’s a good idea.”
A large group of men crowded around several of the women, applauding and hollering. I couldn’t tell what was going on. “I thought so.”
She pulled us toward the center of the arena where musicians tuned their instruments and the bonfires were being built. “So who do you have your sights on? The great El’Asim must have his eyes set on someone.”
I gave her a shove then pulled her back to the tables. The musicians weren’t ready, the bonfires hadn’t been lit and my stomach rumbled. “I’m just Synn and I don’t have my sights on anyone.”
“Why not?”
I found a portion of the table that had been abandoned by everyone. The food, however, was still there. “I don’t know. I . . . just haven’t thought of it.”
“At all?” She let go of my arm and picked at the food. Her expression warmed, and she grabbed a small plate sitting nearby, piling more onto it.
I followed her lead. “No. I’ve been a busy. Planning all this. And then with the air games. When have I had time?”
“Before?”
I snorted. “Before or after I was in the Hands’ custody?”
She nodded, shoveling a mouthful of noodles between her lips. “So i’ ‘as ‘ofing to do—” She chewed twice and stashed it in her cheek. “—with Nix.”
I laughed at her, working to decipher what she’d just said. There was a stray strand of hair caught at the corner of her mouth. I pulled it away and tucked it behind her ear. “No, but . . . ” I mashed my lips together, my eyes on Keeley. The last thing I wanted to talk about at that moment was Nix. “I think it’s mostly just been a matter of time.”
She chewed a bit more sedately, her eyes rising to mine.
My limbs filled with a nervous energy I’d never experienced before. I took in a shallow breath and said before I lost the courage, “Would you ever consider living on an airship?”
She swallowed and licked her lips. “I don’t—I mean, I’ve thought about it—”
Her blush set off a fire in my belly.
“But I don’t know. My Mark is healing. I think I’d be better suited for a lethara, don’t you?”
I watched those green eyes, her freckles dancing the light of the dying sun, blending one into the other. “Anyone would be lucky to have you, Keel. It wouldn’t matter what type of city it was.” I cupped her cheek and stepped closer. My heart pounded and my brain screamed, What are you doing? However, when my mouth opened, I said, “You’re amazing.”
She didn’t have anything to say about that, but she didn’t pull away either.
We’d been so close for so long. She’d been there through the worst parts of my life, but we’d never had a moment like this before.
The rest of the world slipped away. The noise of the people around us. Their banter and horse play. The smell of food. All I saw, heard, smelled, felt was Keeley.
She blinked, her eyes studying mine.
I really didn’t know what to do. I only knew what I wanted to do; to feel her lips against mine. Nothing more.
I didn’t know how or when it happened, but her lips were there, hesitantly touching mine. She tasted like mien noodles and fish sauce. I was starving.
I closed the gap between us, taking her plate and putting it down on the table, deepening the kiss.
Her teeth bumped mine.
We pulled apart with a laugh.
Her fingers went to her lips. “I’m sorry.”
I smiled and took a step back feeling awkward and a little gangly. The kiss hadn’t . . .
It hadn’t made me feel what Nix had. Disgust and self loathing wound their way around my heart. How could I prefer Nix over someone like Keeley?
She was blushing from the tips of her ears to the end of her nose, her freckles standing out in stark contrast.
I gathered food, glancing at her uncertainly.
Someone clapped me on the back, giving my shoulder a good shake.
I smashed my lips together and turned to Joshua, my plate in hand. “Yes?”
He glanced between the two of us, his grin wide. “I just wanted to le’ ye know both of yer sisters found beaus.”
I filled my mouth with noodles, trying to push the awkward moment from my mind. “How in the world did Zara find a beau?”
“She bloody well punched him in the eye for insultin’ her food.” Joshua howled with laughter. “It was a big brawl. Food went ever’where. Men were fightin’ each other. Fists everywhere an’ there were girl fights.” Joshua looked at his sister. “I love a good girl figh’.”
She punched him in the arm.
He rolled his eyes and disappeared the way we’d come.
There was quite a group of people around the area we’d vacated.
“Well, it looks like we left at a great time.”
Keeley nodded, shoveling food in her mouth . . . quite inelegantly, I have to say.
Why in all the sky couldn’t I be drawn to her?
Keeley and I finished eating in silence. Once we were done, she led me to the bonfire.
The musicians had already started playing. There were two bands on either end, both playing very different songs. Both suns had set long ago. Kel’Mar reigned in the sky, his red surface brightening with no suns to compete with.
However, the medusa of Ino City blocked all that. I knew the suns had set because the light shining through the outside was dark and tinted red. Looking up, there were no stars. No planet. No asteroids.
This was the main reason I detested living in a lethara. I loved my sky.
As the music paused and the dancers left the circle, a group of airmen stepped up. They stared in silence into the flame, pieces of fabric in their hands. The leader raised his chin, took in a deep breath and tossed his fabric into the fire, watching as it was devoured. The others with him followed suit.
The rest of us watched in quiet.
The leader tugged at his blue tunic, swiped angrily at his face and left.
The musicians played an upbeat tune, one that had the toes of nearly everyone there twitching.
Keeley and I watched other couples dance, sharing kisses, embraces, laughing, teasing, playing. She bounced on her toes. “I don’t know this dance.”
I forced a chuckle. I had a lot I needed to clear from my head. “It’s easy. Come on.”
Bathed in the light of the bonfire, her hair looked like tamed flame. There was a lot to like about her, a lot to respect.
“The steps?”
With a grin, I threw us into the dance, leaping, hopping, clapping, swirling around one another and the other dancers.
She was breathless, her cheeks rosy. She stumbled with the dance at first, but as soon as she got it, she followed me with great enthusiasm. It was almost as if she’d never danced before.
The song ended and the couples pulled apart.
Keeley stared up at me, a near permanent smile on her face.
The next song started up. It was a complex number, with a lot of steps.
I could do this with her all night. I bit my lips and offered my hand. “Willing to try another?”
She grinned.
But her hand wasn’t the one that filled mine. T
his one had long, red nails.
I felt a growl rise in my chest. “Nix.”
“It’s only a dance,” she purred. She put her other hand on my chest, leaning in close, as she turned to Keeley. “You don’t mind, do you?”
Keeley opened her mouth.
“Keel.”
She raised her hands and stepped out of the circle of dancers.
I clamped my lips together and glared down at the queen.
She smiled sweetly, looking up at me through full, dark lashes. “Have I interrupted something?”
I couldn’t keep the look of contempt from my face.
She shrugged and entered the dance, maintaining a grip on my hand as she walked through the first few steps on her own.
I just stood there and breathed.
She paused elegantly. “You’re not going to make me dance by myself, are you?”
I raised an eyebrow. “I’m thinking about it.”
She cooed, pressing herself against me on her way by.
I closed my eyes and ground my teeth.
“However are you going to get me to agree to this treaty of yours, that now includes all the tribes, if I don’t believe you are my knight.”
“I’m not, Nix.”
She settled in front of me, her hand splayed against my chest as she murmured against my lips, “Oh, yes, Synn. You are. You will always be mine.”
I raised my chin, my lip curling. “Never.”
She gave me a whisper of a smile. “Always.” She drifted away in the crowd.
How could I possibly crave that? Was I really as whole as I thought?
And if I wasn’t . . . I spotted Keeley’s worried face in the crowd of onlookers. She was talking to Yvette. If I wasn’t, could I trust myself to lead the League of Cities?
My only answer was no.
CHAPTER 26
AIR GAMES TAKE TWO
I wasn’t in a great mood as I headed to the arena first thing the next morning. Where was Joshua always hiding? How was I supposed to get a message to him if I never knew where he was?
The arena was busy with combat elimination rounds. Fences had been erected in small squares. The crowd crowed, cheering the contestants on. Currency exchanged hands. People were betting on us?
“El’Asim.”
I turned.
Marko Dudyk stepped through the thin crowd.
I watched him warily. I did not like him.
“We appear to be short an observer.” He stopped in front of me, folding his hands over his blue robe. “I was wondering if you would mind filling in.”
“Aren’t you afraid I’d give you a bad report? Cheat?”
The look he gave me was cold. “You think you’re the only competitor we’ve used in observation?”
I had other things to do. “Who would it be for?”
He looked down at the piece of paper in his folded hands. “Eosif Novokshorov.”
I winced. “There’s a slight language barrier.”
Marko shrugged. “While onboard, they will have to speak Adalic.”
I snorted. Not likely. “I’m busy. Please find someone else.”
“This is your mother’s command.” He turned away. “Gather your things and meet the Hebo Kowka on the docks. I’ll let them know you’re on your way.”
I let out a frustrated breath, shaking my head. “Marko Dudyk.”
He stopped and turned. “Yes?”
“What kind of protections are in place so we don’t have any further issues like we did last time?”
“Frankly, El’Asim, having you in the race will ensure the safety of at least one of the ships.”
“What are you implying?”
He walked toward me, his teeth clenched. He was a tall man. “There were three ships that came back on their own without any signs of sabotage. Your two ships and the Tokarz.”
Were they really looking at me as the saboteur?
“And of those three, only two completed the mission.”
“That doesn’t make me guilty.”
He bared his teeth, glancing away in disgust. “You’re the one who led the rescue operations, which made you quite the hero of these games.”
My hackles rose. I wanted to shove my fist in his face, but knew that was the wrong thing to do. “You’re trying to tell me that because I did your job for you, you think I’m guilty?”
His hazel eyes landed on mine.
I leaned in. “He admitted to me that he did it.”
Marko raised a graying eyebrow.
“Iszak Tokarz. That’s who you need to be looking at.”
“He didn’t complete the task.”
“Probably because he was too busy trying to destroy everyone else’s ships.” My jaw was so tight, it hurt. “What are you doing about that?”
His eyes narrowed. “You need to leave. We are investigating what happened.”
That didn’t sit right with me. “What other precautions are you providing?”
He crossed his arms over his chest and straightened. “I’m not telling you, El’Asim. Just know they’re in place and that we will be maintaining a very close eye on all the ships this time.”
I nodded. Did I believe that? “I just have one more question.”
He sighed, looking away.
“If I’m still under suspicion, why are you sending me out there?”
“I’m not.” He spun on his heel and left.
Great. Now I had to prove my innocence as well as find evidence of Iszak Tokarz’s guilt?
Joshua sauntered out of my room as I made it back to the living quarters. He stopped, pulled his head back and smiled as he redirected himself and headed toward me. “I just left ye a note.”
“I was looking for you.”
He grinned. “Shiny. I wanted ta let ye know what ye missed las’ night.”
I rolled my eyes and headed toward my rooms. After the incident with Nix, I hadn’t been in the mood for dancing. “I don’t need gossip.”
“Would ye like to know who drew the attention of yer fair sister?”
“Which one?”
“Zara.”
I snorted. “Did you just call Zara fair? If she were here, she’d hit you. You know that.”
He laughed. “Yup. It’s why I said it.”
I couldn’t quite give him my full and undivided attention. Something was going on here, something bigger than just Tokarz, but what? “Is he an airman?”
“Yup.”
I flinched. That meant I would probably be giving her the fleet while I took the city. I let out a long breath. “Who?” My voice sounded harsh even to me.
Joshua closed the door behind him, watching me gather a rucksack and fill it with clothing and supplies. “Kowka.”
I paused, a spare belt in my hand. “As in the Kowka?” I turned to him. “As in Eosif Novokshorov?”
Joshua’s lips were flat as he nodded. “One and the very same.” He clucked his tongue, snapped his fingers and slapped his fist to the palm of his opposite hand. “I just thought ye should know.”
Well, that brought a whole new light to the next three days. “And what about Oki? Did she find anyone?”
“Oh, loads.” Joshua chuckled. “I don’t envy her one bi’, tha’ one. Most of her suitors are after her for the power of controllin’ Ino City.”
“They do realize that the Ino are a matriarchal family.”
Joshua shrugged. “Who knows? They’ll learn soon enough, I suspect.”
True enough.
I cinched up my sack and donned my rain coat. “Anything else I should know about?”
“Other than the rumors of yer apparent engagement to Nix are greatly over exaggerated?”
I dropped my shoulders, eyes dead as murderous rage built in my chest. I was going to kill her.
He shrugged. “I don’t know wha’ they saw, but it wasn’t what I did. Could ye have shown your revulsion any more at the dance?”
I glared and pulled my weapon’s belt around my waist, freein
g my curved sword from the folds of my long coat. “Probably not.” I slung my sack over my shoulder. “What are you doing for the next few days?”
He followed me into the hall. “I have things to keep me busy.”
I raised my eyebrow at the air of mystery and pushed the button for the platform. “Sounds ominous.”
He fell against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. “Ino Nami made me the Master of the Librarium, which means it’s up to me ta come up with a fail proof plan ta allow access ta all the tribes.” He gave me a look that said how thrilled he was about it.
I stepped onto the platform as soon as the metal grate rose. “Congratulations.”
He snorted before following.
Someone waited for me just outside the elevator when the grate opened again. She loitered in the hallway with a sexy grace. Her dark eyes were vacant as though she were thinking about something, her expression soft and relaxed, her dark eyelashes lowered, her eyelids smoky. She wore a leather uniform similar to Dyna’s, this one black and red. She lacked her crown, but her ruby spider gleamed above her chest. What did she want?
“I’m leaving.” Joshua gave me a wide-eyed look as he peeled toward the arena. “Unless you need me.”
I waved him off.
Nix didn’t move or blink to acknowledge my presence.
I didn’t have time for this. “Nix.”
She raised her chin, her eyes focusing with a slow smile. “Synn.” She walked toward me, her hands open.
I stopped and retreated a step back, frowning.
She took my head in her hands and brought my forehead to hers. “Good morning, Synn.”
I stiffened and pulled away. “What are you doing?”
“Saying good morning.”
“You don’t get to say good morning like that.” I took her hands and dropped them. “I need to speak to you about fuel for the station.”
She grasped my fingers, keeping me close. “I would like to speak to you about other things, like when you plan on fulfilling the duties of your knighthood.”
I clamped my teeth together and tipped my head. “I’m not your knight, Nix. I don’t care how many times you say I am, I’m not.”
Her lips tightened. “You need fuel?”
I yanked my fingers out of her grasp. “Yes. But I’m willing to pay for it. I just need to know the price.”