Page 81 of Sun Elves of Ardani
He tilted his head. “Do you mean that?”
“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it.”
“I don’t think you know what you’re offering. You know what I’m like when I’m dreaming. I'm not good company. You want me to come to you whenever I want, when I’m in a bad mood, no less, at all hours? When you’re busy?”
“Yes.”
There was a pause so long that she thought he’d started thinking about something else.
“All right,” he said uncertainly, breaking the silence.
“Good,” Kadaki said.
A light in the periphery of her vision caught her attention. She turned away from Neiryn to squint toward it. Dread stirred in the pit of her stomach as she saw the mass of blue mage light moving along the horizon. She had feared it was someone who had followed them from the house. This was far worse.
“The magic-eater,” she said.
Neiryn’s hand clenched around hers, either to reassure her or himself. “It’s far away,” he said. And it didn’t look like it was coming their way. Just another distant sighting, like all the others.
“We should go.” She was still wearing the collar, which meant she was defenseless. They would be in a bad spot if the magic-eater decided to attack.
“Kadaki.” He put a hand on her wrist as she started to get up. “Don’t forget this when we get back.”
“Forget what?”
He grinned. “That every time I look at you, I’m wishing I were kissing you.”
“So it’s not just me, then,” she said, a shy smile pulling at her lips. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
* * *
Neiryn driedKadaki’s hair with carefully applied heat before they returned to the house, and they entered separately, in case anyone was watching. Mere seconds after Kadaki came through the door, she was confronted by Safana.
“Lady Kadaki,” she blurted. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Where have you been? Are you all right?”
Kadaki quietly shut the front door behind her before answering. Safana didn’t have a habit of checking in on her in the middle of the night. “I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I—” she looked over her shoulder, down the hall, as if afraid of who might overhear. “There’s something I need to tell you. I’m sorry to bother you so late, but it’s urgent.”
Immediately Kadaki began to dread whatever was coming. Was Rhian up to something? Or had one of the Ysurans been bothering Safana? Or had she discovered Eliyr and Roshan together? “Tell me.”
“In private,” Safana said, ushering her down the hall and into the kitchen. When they stepped inside the room, a man was waiting for them.
“Gregoris,” Kadaki said, surprised.
He gave her a short nod. He looked as nervous as Safana. “Lady Kadaki. Well met.”
“What’s going on?”
Safana wrung her hands, exchanging a glance with Gregoris. “I guess I should be frank.” She still hesitated. “Gregoris and I are… We’ve become involved with the rebellion.”
Kadaki didn’t know how to react. “Is this a joke?”
“I’m afraid not, lady.”
Kadaki had almost thought the rebellion was simply a rumor, perhaps made up by the Ysurans as a reason for their random searches and interrogations. The last thing they needed, on top of the magic-eater and the anomalies, was more fighting.
She lowered her voice, moving away from the door. “You realize the Ysurans might kill you for admitting to this?”
