01 - The Compass Rose by Gail Dayton

Author:Gail Dayton [Dayton, Gail]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, General
ISBN: 9781408976388
Google: _mNonRJZSrQC
Publisher: Harlequin Mills & Boon, Limited
Published: 2011-11-01T05:52:24+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

When palace servants came bringing breakfast, Torchay made a point of sitting between Aisse and Stone at the table. It was petty perhaps, but he felt petty just now. He should never have allowed himself to hope that being ilias rather than mere bodyguard might have changed things between them. If he hadn’t had hope, it might not have hurt so much to hear Kallista call the incredible, intimate passion they’d shared a mistake, to understand that if the magic had not forced her, she might never have made love with him.

He focused his attention on his other iliasti, making sure Aisse had the crisp bacon she preferred and Stone’s cup was kept filled with the palace’s excellent cider. Aisse caught on quickly to how the game was played and did the same courtesies for the iliasti seated to either side of her. Torchay didn’t think the other two noticed anything.

When the meal was ended, Torchay stood and offered his hand to assist Aisse. It appeared to startle her, but she was nothing if not adaptable, and she slid her small hand into his. She stretched toward him onto her toes and Torchay bent to see what she wanted.

Lips near his ear, she murmured, “I still not do sex with you.”

His chuckle felt bleak. “Just now, that sounds perfect,” he murmured back. He kissed her cheek as he straightened, playing the part, and Aisse bustled away to tend to something.

“Torchay.” Kallista touched his arm.

He pulled it back, blanking his face save for a faint questioning expression.

“We should talk.” She shook back the darkness of her unbound hair, the hair that had brushed like silk across his naked skin in the night.

“I don’t know what we have to be talking about.” Torchay knew she was right, but he couldn’t face discussing it now, especially with Stone as an audience. On the other hand, maybe it was better he was here.

“Dammit, Torchay!” she exploded quietly, her words hissing as she spoke. “This is exactly what I was afraid of. Perfectly good relationships ruined because feelings got hurt over sex.”

“It wasn’t the sex that ruined it,” he retorted, temper flaring. Anger helped burn away the hurt. “It was knowing you think of me—of both of us—as mistakes.” He waved a hand toward Stone who appeared to be trying very hard to avoid notice.

“You aren’t a mistake. Neither of you is. I would never think that. Goddess.” Kallista looked up at the ornately painted ceiling with its scenes of picnics and hunting. Her eyes blinked rapidly. “I don’t know how to do this. I’m a soldier. I’m barely capable of managing friendship. I don’t know why I thought I could cope with an ilian.”

Was she blinking back tears? Kallista Varyl, captain naitan of the Third Detachment, Reinine’s Own? Surely not.

Except…Torchay had always known there were more depths to her than the devotion to duty she let everyone see. Now he resented her for the faint niggling of guilt she instilled in him. “Perhaps

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.