Page 12 of Forbidden Obsession
“Another time.” My stress isn’t of the bodily variety but of the mind. A simple massage won’t help. “Plus, you look about as strong as a wet noodle right now.”
He presses a fingertip to my nose and smooshes. “Your fault.”
“Indeed.” I nibble his fingertip.
His gaze narrows. “What’s wrong?”
A sigh escapes unbidden. It’s impossible to hide anything from Jindal. He reads me like a book. “We don’t need to talk about it now. You’re tired.”
“Not too tired for you. Tell me. What’s got this crinkle in your forehead making an appearance?” He runs his finger over it as if to soothe, and I try to relax my face.
Best be out with it, then. “Vander says there’s fighting in the south between the humans and the fae. Whispers of a human uprising.”
Jindal frowns. “Since when do you listen to what Vander has to say?”
“Since he returned from the merchant routes through Lemossin. I don’t think he’d lie about this, Jin. It’s too important.”
“I don’t trust Vander. Probably he wanted to rile you up.”
I shake my head. “I think he was trying to get a handle on where I’d stand if I had to choose. Fae or human? And it’s not just Vander. He isn’t the only one worried about this.”
Jindal scrunches his brow and stiffens. “My father doesn’t count.”
“Why not?”
“He gets his rumors from the gossips in Clodhill. You know how they can be. Always poking around in everyone’s business.”
“Just because they’re unsavory doesn’t mean they’re wrong.”
The quality of Jindal’s gaze shifts, like he’s peering into my soul and finds a bit of dust to be swept away. “You’re really worried about this?”
“You’re not?”
“We’re quite far away from Lemossin and even farther from the southern shores of Irondale. It’s safe here in Jodpirn.”
“For now.”
He blinks. “Luminia has been peaceful for millennia. Not since the war with incubi have we squabbled. Our society works. The four fae bloodlines rule, and we all prosper. Why would anyone want to fight?”
I bite my tongue. Do we all prosper? I’m not so sure. What of Bessa? We love her, yes, and she loves us, but what would her life have been if she’d been free to choose her fate? If she hadn’t needed work? If Jindal’s father hadn’t hired her to care for his baby when Jindal’s mother went dormant? Would she have a family of her own? Children? These are the sorts of things I’ve been wondering about and haven’t got any answers for.
And there’s my own mother to consider. A human who raised her mixed-blood child all alone when my fae father couldn’t be bothered. We’re treated well enough, but the other mothers weren’t expected to clean the schoolhouse on weekends. Weren’t expected to scrub floors, polish silver, or wax windows. No, those chores always fell to the humans among us, and everyone acted as if this were fair and normal, but I can’t help but wonder why.
Why aren’t we all equal?
No, not everyone prospers in Luminia. At least not the same amount.
Jindal kisses me, a gentle press of lips, followed by a whisper. “You’ve left me out of the conversation again. What are you thinking about so hard that you can’t say it aloud?”
I didn’t mean for this to happen. We’ve had such a nice day and an even better night. I want to snuggle him close and drift off to a dreamless sleep with the smell of his hair in my nose.
Maybe there’s nothing to worry about after all. Maybe he’s right. The south is so far away, and things here are peaceful.
“I’m sorry I brought it up.”
He purses his lips at my nonanswer but doesn’t push. Sweet Jindal. Neither of us likes to argue, but sometimes that means simple disagreements fester. This doesn’t feel simple, and I’m not ready to pick through the thorns this conversation would bring up. Another day. Another night.
“You can always talk to me.” He tucks his head beneath my chin.
