Page 41 of Elemental Affections

“Why do you say that?”

Calya shrugged, helping herself to one of Dae’s teacakes. “He’s always proper when he presents at the capital, but he’s … cold. Doesn’t think much of the Councils. Probably not of Graelynders at all.”

“His homeland’s being consumed by poison, and aid hasn’t been very forthcoming since everyone else thinks they’re safe.”

“I don’t deny any of that.” Calya leaned closer, arms coming to rest on the table. “You’re quick to defend him.”

“I’ve been working a lot on environmental restoration spells. It makes one sympathetic to the cause,” Dae said. “He cares. Too much, sometimes. It’ll be the death of him.” She gripped the sides of her teacup, made herself take a deep breath and gently set it back down.

“Are you sleeping with him?”

Dae blanched. “What? Why would you— I’m— I work for him.”

Calya sat back, fingers tapping her lips. “That wasn’t an immediate no.”

“No,” Dae said. “I’m not seeing anyone.”

“Okay.” Calya’s head tilted from side to side. “But you should. Maybe not with him, but you’re not chained to Brint anymore. Don’t need to be so buttoned up.”

Dae’s eyes closed. Perhaps others could discuss their sex lives flippantly with their siblings, but she wasn’t one such person. More troubling was how a contrary sliver of her brain woke at Calya’s dismissiveMaybe not him. Made her want to protest, to question why. Even though she already knew the answers, having already made it through such an ill-advised dalliance.

With her eyes shut, it was too easy for Ezzyn’s smug grin to form in her mind. How pleased he’d looked upon hearing her admit to liking a part of him. And not just his forearms.

“You know, if you keep ignoring me, I’m going to assume you’re picturing Sor’vahl naked.”

Dae startled, bumping the table as Calya attempted to pour herself more tea.

Amber liquid poured across the table toward the edge, Dae’s bag and Ezzyn’s notes directly underneath.

Dae didn’t think. Her hand shot out, light flaring between her fingertips. A shower of sparks landed on the tea, turning it instantly to ice. A twitch of her fingers sent out another spark to freeze a drip that had spilled over the edge. It glanced off the top of the notebook peeking out of her bag and rolled harmlessly onto the floor.

“Wow,” Calya said. She poked at the frozen tea spread across the table. “You didn’t even blink. What else can you do?”

With tentative fingers, Dae pried the ice from the table and set it on the tea tray. “I didn’t know I could work a frost spell that fast.”

Calya tapped the sheet of frozen tea, breaking it into shards. “If you get bored with saving the environment, you should look into combat magic. This has got to be useful.”

“I don’t have the fortitude.” Dae poured Calya the last of the tea. “Learning a few tricks just to show off doesn’t seem like a good reason to study it.”

“Depends. Optics matter sometimes.” Calya made an exasperated sound in the back of her throat. “Why do you think we all put up with Brint pretending he’s a lightwrath and not just some hack who can put on a light show? He’ll never serve a day in his life. Shit his pants if he had to be in a real fight.”

“It does get him connections amongst the military folk,” Dae mused.

“He’s useful to trot out and have him do a pretty show. Exploding inanimate objects impresses the investors back home, and I’ll give him that he knows how to work the magic.” Calya gave a conceding nod. “As long as we don’t ask him to use it against a real person. The security deals are carried by others anyway.”

Calya arranged crumbles of teacake on the tray, tapping them to make her points. “The mercs from that guild in North? Only signed on with us when they saw the offensive enchants Brint drew up for the ships. The funding for all the ships the Borders div ordered a few years ago for official transport? Only took Brint’s meeting because—well, actually, that’s probably more because his brother’s a Central representative.” Calya popped a crumble into her mouth. “Daddy Avenor being a big donor doesn’t hurt. But still. Look, I can’t wait to be done with him, but having a good visual is powerful.”

Dae listened, marveling as Calya launched into her plans for Helm Naval over the next three years. She’d always known that Calya loved the family’s business, that she had plans to make it even better, that she itched at the restraining hold their parents placed upon her ambitions. Though Andrin Helm had stepped down as acting director to fulfill his new role in Graelynd’s Transportation division, he’d named someone else as trustee until his daughters were deemed ready to take over. Dae’s break from Brint had pushed that timeline further into murky waters, yet Calya hadn’t lost her zeal. For all Dae knew, she’d still be trying to pass Adept One in three years’ time.

“You’re really good at this,” Dae said.

“What? Making plans I don’t have the power to implement?”

“Steering HNE. Planning its future. Just being a businesswoman.” Dae laughed softly. “You have the mind for it more than I ever did.”

Calya’s cheeks went pink. She made a dismissive gesture with her hand. “You were the design mage. That’s why we were going to rule together.” She grimaced, rushing to add, “Not that I’m still expecting that! You’re happy here. It’s where you should be, and I respect that.”

“I wasn’t that good at design, though, not for anything that benefited the company. I was just good at managing the projects.” Dae gave a rueful shake of her head.

---