Fantasy of Fire (The Tainted Accords #3)(68)

Jovan leans in close and kisses my cheek. “You were naked all night?” he asks. I nod and dart up to place a returning kiss on the cheek closest to me.

“Please don’t do that while I’m in here,” Ashawn calls.

I untangle myself from the furs and hurry to wrap myself in one before Jovan can see too much.

“There’s a sight to remember,” the king says as I retreat behind the screen. I hope it’s a good sight.

Jovan starts to explain my story to his brother as I dress. He brushes over my history and the actions of my mother.

“You’re Frost? But you’re the Tatuma? You ran away from here and somehow became a pit fighter?” he says incredulously. “That’s damned hilarious!” He high-fives me as I take a seat next to Jovan.

“You can’t tell anyone about this.” Jovan doesn’t stand over Ashawn as he says it. Instead, he gives him a level look. The look of an equal.

“No shit, brother,” he says seriously. “And what about the other thing?” Ashawn asks, looking at the rumpled bed behind us.

I feel my cheeks heat and turn to Jovan. This isn’t something we’ve dealt with before. I still don’t even know what happened last night.

Jovan wraps a hand around my jaw, thumb grazing over my cheekbone. “Could you give me a minute alone with Ashawn?” he asks gently. I nod with a small smile and place my veil over my head, giving my eyes a couple of moments to adjust.

“I’ll see you both at breakfast. I’ll tell the guards you’re cleaning up Kaura’s mess,” I say to Ashawn with a grin. I stop next to him, missing his shoulder the first time.

“Sorry, it takes a few minutes to get used to it when I’ve had it off,” I say. I find his shoulder the second time and squeeze it gently. “I trust you to do the right thing.” My words are sincere. The Ashawn here now is not the headstrong, bitter person I first met. I believe Olandon has helped him a great deal. Given him a friend and a distraction, allowing him to regain some normalcy in his routine.

“Plus,” I say, “what were the words you once used?” I pretend to think. “Frost is oddly nice for a paid fighter – once you get past the fact she can probably end you.” I snigger as he shifts uncomfortably.

I head for the door, hearing him continue talking behind me. “I should’ve known. Her tits are just the same!”

I smile at his grunt of pain as I slip out of the door.

As I enter the food hall, I remember what I’ll be doing today. Blaine may be dead by darkness. Or maybe it will be me. I wind around the long way to the food benches. Alzona, Shard and Avalanche are still absent. I was going to launch my plan as soon as they got back.

I pass by the delegates’ table and my heart falls at Rhone’s empty spot. He’d said he would only take three days, but any number of things could go wrong with the sleds. I need those papers!

I grab a pear off the bench and head to the kennels to see if the dogs are back. Maybe Rhone’s just skipped breakfast. I nod a greeting here and there, squeezing specific shoulders as I go. Small things to alert the select people that today might be the day. I hear Macy gulp audibly when I nod to her. She must be terrified. Out of everyone, she has the most at risk. Today could be everything she’s dreamed of, or her worst nightmare come true. I myself am wondering if Jovan will smile at me as tenderly as he did last night once I force his hand in this matter.

The kennels have a few teams in them, but not Rhone’s favorite set of dogs. Nerves flare in my stomach. Where is he?

I sit through the morning council, noticing Ashawn is there today. The two brothers have come to some kind of understanding. I’m glad for them both. Kedrick used to connect the pair, but it seems they’ve finally found a way to salvage their relationship. I’m glad Jovan will have someone he doesn’t have to pretend with once I’m gone.

I’m not called upon for an opinion and I’m grateful for it because I’m frantically running through the main points in my mind, trying to identify holes, readying myself for Blaine’s rebuttal. The rest of the time I’m distracted by the king, who keeps turning his head my way. Does he feel my tension and wonder at it? I feel a thrill of terror as I think of what I’m about to do to him. I realize I haven’t been trying hard enough to convince Jovan of Blaine’s guilt. I should’ve tied him down and forced him to listen. I need to try just once more.

But I get no such chance over lunch and my stomach threatens to revolt. If I do the trial without telling Jovan, he’ll look like a fool. I calm myself with the reminder that Sanjay was going to talk to him.

I take the long way to the food tables again and see Shard and the others have returned and sit with only Alzona absent, who will be waiting in the room she shares with Crystal. I lean my head in. If I’m quick Blaine won’t see what I’m doing.

“Please wait for Sanjay after the meal,” I say softly. “Alzona too. Crystal, meet me at the food bench.” I don’t wait to see if they’ve heard. I can’t risk Blaine catching me. I grab a bread roll from the table, fiddling with my food as I wait for Crystal.

She sidles next to me a couple of minutes later, running a gentle hand over the wall tapestry, pretending to admire the beautiful make of it.

“What happened?” I ask.

“Alzona’s dad paid the mistress to set Sanjay up. She says he was dragged in by two men and put in the bed, and the girls were only paid to be there when he woke up. Nothing else happened,” she replies, barely moving her mouth.