To Seduce An Assassin (The Omaja Series Book 2)(19)

“I wish that were possible.” Jiandra pressed her lips together. “And I can’t blame you for being infatuated with him. I know how you feel. When I first met Yajna at the cart accident in the river, I thought he was a vision descended straight from the Gods. A very, very handsome vision. I couldn’t help but fall head over heels. Just be wary, sister. Yavi’s not open to a woman’s love anymore, not from what I’ve seen over the past six years. You are a lovely, wonderful girl, and I don’t want you to take it personally if he ignores you.”

Graciella swallowed, hoping Jiandra’s grim prediction didn’t come true.

“Besides, he’s a little too old for you,” her sister added.

“I knew that was coming!” Graciella exclaimed. “I knew it. Jia, you know you’re like a mother to me, but I’m not a child. I haven’t been a child since our parents died. I grew up quickly when we lost them. If you think about it, you’ll know it’s true.”

“Yes, I suppose it is true. You stopped playing with dolls and started cooking.”

“Yes, I did. And you know what? I much preferred cooking to playing with dolls, even at the age of seven.”

Jiandra touched her shoulder. “And glad I am that you did, because your cooking is the best in the world. Speaking of which—”

One of the twins appeared in the open doorway, clearing his throat loudly to interrupt. “Jiandra. Gracie is here for a visit, remember?”

“Yajna!” Graciella rushed to hug him.

He scooped her into his arms. “You are more beautiful each passing year, little sister.” He smiled down at her, silver eyes twinkling as he set her on her feet.

“Husband,” Jiandra complained, “kindly release my sister and stop staring at her so that we may go downstairs for breakfast.” She pulled Graciella out of his arms and inserted herself there instead.

Yajna growled and nuzzled Jiandra’s neck, causing her to squeal with delight. Graciella followed them out of the room, eager to see Yavi again.

§

Graciella bit into the dry, bland griddle cake, which crumbled a little onto her plate, then set it down and took a sip of the lukewarm tea. She stole a sideways glance at Yavi, who was seated at the head of the table, watching her eat.

“Would you like some butter for your cake, Graciella?” He held up the dish.

“Yes, that would be lovely.” She didn’t think butter would make the griddle cake more edible, but she wanted to appear congenial and enthusiastic.

“Who made these cakes?” Jiandra asked, tapping on hers unenthusiastically with a fork.

“We did,” Yajna answered.

“We? You and Yavi?”

“Well, yes, with some supervision from Shandri.”

Jiandra wrinkled her nose. “They’re terrible.”

Graciella choked on her tea.

“I told him Shandri can’t cook,” Yavi complained. “She had us put in too much salt, not enough sugar—”

“That wasn’t her fault, brother,” Yajna interrupted. “We’re low on sugar.”

“Yes, and low on talent.” Jiandra dropped her cake back onto the plate. “May I please ask Gracie to—”

“Jiandra.” Yavi was stern, frowning. “We’ve already discussed this.”

Graciella searched their faces. “Discussed what? Jiandra, what would you like to ask of me?”

“Nothing.” Jiandra looked down and poked at her griddle cake with her knife.

Graciella wanted to ask them what they were hiding, but she didn’t want to appear rude in front of the men. She would simply corner Jiandra later and make her fess up. She stole another glance at Yavi, staring at the V of his open-necked white shirt while spreading some of the butter on her cake, which didn’t absorb any of it at all.

Jiandra changed the subject. “Gracie, would you like to visit Rafe at the monastery with me tomorrow?”

“Oh, yes! Yes, I would.”

“Perfect. I’ll let the stable master know we would like a coach tomorrow morning.”

“I’m going with you,” Yavi said.

“No need for that, dear brother-in-law.” Jiandra shook her head. “We girls will be fine.”

“No. It’s not safe.” A tiny muscle in his jaw ticked.

“I can escort the women, brother,” Yajna said. “You can stay here and work on your griddle cake technique.”

“Like hell,” Yavi grated. “The roads aren’t safe, and I don’t think you can handle it alone with your bow.”

Yajna grinned. “I can handle anything with my bow, I assure you.”

“Yavi,” Jiandra interrupted, “why the sudden extreme concern about the roads? Has something happened that you haven’t told us about?”

A serving girl appeared with a bowl of dried figs and a fresh pot of tea. Graciella eagerly reached for a fig, thanking the girl as she filled her teacup.

Yavi waited until the girl left, then leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table with a sigh. “Yes, Jiandra. Something has happened that I haven’t told you about.”

“What is it?” Yajna demanded.

“Last night the courier Jiandra sent to Villeleia returned and asked to speak with me, reporting that he’d been stopped by bandits on his way to Villeleia. The bandits read Jiandra’s letter to Graciella, then sent him on his way to deliver it, threatening to kill him if he tried to return here instead. When I got the news, I went to the outpost at the border to wait for Graciella’s coach, and just as it crossed into Nandala, it was ambushed.”