“Will you at least tell me if you are all right?”Ra’Sa calls after me, quickly catching up.
“That was difficult to see,” I say, trying to change the subject and hoping it takes his mind off the mission.
I certainly can’t stop thinking about how he’d agreed to come.
A tightness brackets his mouth, and he pauses near the end of the tunnel.
“Why not skip the ceremony since you won’t be getting a gem?” he asks bitterly.
Good question.
I suppose it has something to do with my optimism… or maybe I just want to escape from the pity in his eyes.
I shake my head, “I want to see the ritual.”
“Will you be all right?” He’s not usually so talkative.
His tone makes me pause. When I look up, I see his usually stern gaze soften.
Why?
He told me he wanted nothing to do with me unless we were mated, which we definitely are not.
“I will be with the other women. I will be fine.”
We walk the rest of the way in silence and then reach the cave, where Estela and the other women are waiting.
I admire her tightly braided hair. She no longer wears the giants’ clothes. Now, she is resplendent in her Enduar silks. The gown hugs her body and trails on the ground behind her. The only thing out of place is the look of worry splashed across her features.
She shouldn’t let such emotions be so apparent. Men don’t like a worrier.
My thoughts walk backward, and I realize my error. She struck gold with her mate. Having King Teo means she never has to be concerned about what men prefer again.
I look back up at Ra’Sa one last time.
He’s coming with me—my plan is back on.
The others haven’t noticed us yet, so I kiss his hand. He’s too tall for me to reach up and kiss his cheek.
His mouth parts.
“I will see you later,” I say softly.
Shock gives way to confusion, and then he starts to grin.
Not just a dim smile like he has shown before; his whole face lights up. I’ve never seen anything like it; it stuns me just as the music in the water did.
No no no.
I give him a curt nod and join the women. Estela spots me quickly and comes over.
“You look nice with your hair piled atop your head,” she says.
I reach up to touch it.
“Arlet helped me,” I say. “That redhead could tame an ox’s locks.”
A strange look crosses Estela’s face, but she smiles anyway and says, “Arlet taught me everything I know.”