Moran’s lips tightened as she caught sight of the Barrani, but she said nothing. She locked the office with the touch of a palm and a three-word command, and headed out of the building.
The guards had changed shifts, and happened to be human, not Aerian, which made passage between them less awkward. And it was going to be awkward, because Mandoran’s question still cut her when Kaylin returned to it.
She wanted to help Moran.
Was she willing to risk Clint losing his wings, if she made a mistake?
Was she willing to risk Lord Grammayre losing his?
* * *
Helen was waiting for them at the door, and as Kaylin stepped into the front foyer, she felt her jaw unclench. There had been no further problems on the way home. No invisible assassins, for one. Helen gently draped an arm around Kaylin’s shoulder, taking care not to crush the familiar, who lifted a lazy eyelid to look at her before he shut it again.
“Why is he so exhausted?” Helen asked.
“Who knows? All he’s done today is complain and sit on people’s shoulders.” Except for saving Moran’s life. Kaylin glanced apologetically at the familiar, who failed to notice.
The small dragon squawked without opening his eyes.
“You visited the Keeper?” Helen asked Kaylin.
Moran stiffened. “I’m going to take a bath,” she told Helen. “I’m not sure I’ll be down for dinner.”
“That’s fine, dear. I’ll have food sent up if you aren’t.” She watched Moran mount the large staircase, but waited until she had disappeared before speaking again. “She’s worried about you,” she told Kaylin.
“I’m beginning to understand why people hate worry so much,” Kaylin replied. “You guys eating here?”
Teela glanced at Tain, who shrugged. “Looks like a yes. We’re going out drinking after, if you want to come.”
“Maybe.”
The Barrani exchanged another glance.
“I’m going to get changed for dinner,” Bellusdeo told them all. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t leave without me.” Her eyes were close to gold as she met Teela’s. Teela’s were closer to blue.
Unable to ditch her Barrani guests, Kaylin looked to Severn, who raised a brow. But he did nod, and headed toward the dining room, which had become the equivalent of an informal parlor. There was a lot of room, it had chairs and it was always well lit. The Hawks used it the way they used the benches in the mess hall; the parlor was almost intimidating in its formality by comparison.
Kaylin hung back.
“She knows what you’re doing,” Mandoran said cheerfully.
“Great. Can you tell her that I enjoy being worried about as much as she does?”
“Yes,” Teela said, before Mandoran could reply, “and when you’ve got centuries of experience under your belt, I’ll stop.”
Which, of course, meant never, because Kaylin wasn’t immortal and was, in all likelihood, never going to seeonecentury.
She kept seeing Clint without wings. It was his wings she had loved first. Everything else had followed, as wings—and what they meant to Kaylin—made way for the person to whom they were attached.
And yes, that probably meant Teela wasright. The Aerians were people, just like any other people; the fact that they had one physical characteristic that was at the heart of Kaylin’s many, many daydreams and longings wasKaylin’sproblem, not theirs. They didn’t owe her her dreams. They didn’t have to live up to them.
To Helen, she said, “Can I use the mirror?”
“Now, dear?”
Sarcasm came and went. Kaylin managed to keep it to herself, but Helen, who could read the thoughts of almost anyone who entered the house, heard it all. Helen, like Tara, didn’t mind hearing it all.
“Why is now bad?”