Blood Double (God Wars #1)(37)

"I guess I fall in the abhor category. I'd prefer to be in the ignore category instead."

"Would you like something to eat or drink? I can warm you as well," Graegar offered.

"All of those things would be nice," I lowered my head.

"Then I will take you elsewhere—they only offer sandwiches here." I stood with Graegar and he folded me somewhere else.

"Where are we?" I asked as he led me inside what seemed to be a massive restaurant kitchen. Employees were eating and talking after cleaning up for the evening. The hour was late and the restaurant was closed.

"Sir Larentii," a man, one of several sitting around a table shoved against a kitchen wall, rose to greet Graegar.

"Master Cook Fes, I have a bird here that needs feeding," Graegar smiled at the man. I stared at Master Cook Fes. I could read all the others inside the kitchen. I couldn't read him. Graegar patted my shoulder. "She doesn't eat meat," Graegar added.

"I have a pasta dish that will suit," Fes nodded. "Here, sit, you look tired and cold," he said.

I nodded—almost afraid to speak. I was rumpled and could only imagine what I looked like, even after Graegar had dried my clothing and warmed my bones. I sat in the seat that Fes had occupied, and waited while he warmed a plate of food inside a zap oven. He then pulled up an extra chair and motioned for me to eat while he went back to his food.

"Oh, my gosh," I moaned in pleasure after the first bite.

"You like that?" Fes grinned.

I nodded enthusiastically and took another bite. Fes' brother rose and brought me a glass of wine. Graegar stood by, smiling as I ate the best meal I'd ever had.

"Come back anytime," Fes gave me a grin after I finished my meal and Graegar said it was time to go. While I'd eaten, Fes, his brothers and three other employees had talked as if I were one of them, discussing menus, wine orders and other business. I could have wept at how comfortable it felt. "Tell the host that Fes invited you, and you'll be brought to the kitchen," he added.

"Reah doesn't look like any of you," I said shyly as Fes lifted my fingers and kissed them.

"You know Reah?" Fes smiled widely. "She's my niece."

"I saw her once, on Campiaa," I replied.

"She's the best cook in the family," Fes said.

"I don't know about that. This was the best food I've ever had," I replied. Fes had dark eyes and hair, and was more than a foot taller than I. He was lean, too, so I knew he worked hard at his restaurant.

"I'll cook for you anytime," Fes chuckled. "Come back again. Please." He let my fingers go.

"Now, young one, you will fold us back to Le-Ath Veronis," Graegar announced.

"But," I said, blinking up at the tall, blue Larentii. I wasn't sure I could get myself there, let alone a passenger.

"Focus on where you want to be. Exactly where you want to be," Graegar's bright-blue eyes twinkled.

"I want to be in bed," I sighed. I was exhausted, and with a full belly, all I wanted to do was sleep.

"Then focus on your bed," Graegar laughed. I grasped large blue fingers in mine, focused on the bed in Queen Lissa's suite and folded to Le-Ath Veronis.

"It took you long enough," Kalenegar waited inside the suite when Graegar and I dropped inside it. "You didn't transport her, did you?" Kal looked accusingly at Graegar.

"She brought us both here—from Tulgalan," Graegar said, his voice going cold.

"You know what, I don't like your tone," I glared at Kal. "I don't like you, either." I'd seen a lot of things in Graegar's reading. Many, many things, in fact. "Bye. Have fun," I raised a hand in Kal's direction. Did I know it would bring a flash of power? I didn't. I did smile, though, thinking about the icy water when Kal landed in it. I figured he could get himself out quickly enough—he was used to folding anywhere he wanted. I was still learning. And—if he hadn't wanted me to learn these things, he should have stayed far, far away.

"Where did you send him?" Graegar asked.

"Where he sent me first," I said. "A sea, somewhere."

"Larentii have not been trained to fold that way in a very long time," Graegar remarked with a frown.

"Well, I get the idea Kal does a shitload of stuff nobody does anymore," I huffed.

"I will leave you now," Graegar grinned. "You need sleep."

"Yeah. Gavin the terrible will be here, first thing in the morning," I agreed.

*

"Erland will come for you as soon as the Council meeting is over. You will spend the night at the King's palace on Karathia, and perform your duty for Rylend tomorrow. He expects an emissary from Tyriss, accompanied by his six wives. You will tell Rylend everything he wishes to know."

Gavin had started in before I was properly awake, shoving a bottle of blood substitute in my hands and growling his instructions. If I hadn't shut the closet door, I imagined he'd have followed me inside my closet, still grumbling, while I dressed. I wanted to call him names. I didn't. I wanted to treat him as I'd treated Kalenegar the night before. I didn't. I could only imagine that more trouble would come, and if I were truthful, I expected Kal to retaliate in some way. It's just the way things worked. I'd been tired the night before and hadn't thought my actions through very well.