Fantasy of Fire (The Tainted Accords Book 3) (15 page)

The veil floats to the ground in a delicate whisper that belies its evil past.

I look at the room of people, and they gaze back at me.

The dam breaks.

They turn to each other whispering frantically, then everyone starts doing the same and they start shouting to be heard over the explosion of noise. I keep my back straight and my friends stare at me and talk, then stare and talk some more. My eyes water in my determination not to blink too often and look like I’m hiding my eyes.

I take one staggering step back.

“Silence!” roars Jovan. The assembly stops. The barracks are half a step behind, but nowhere near as bad as when Alzona attempts to shut them up. The king steps behind me and I feel his warmth at my back. He rests his hands on my shoulders, probably glaring at my jury over my head.

“We are here to answer your questions, but don’t squawk like a bunch of fucking chickens. Ask Olina,” he orders. No one wants to be the first. They glance at each other wondering who will be brave enough to do it. The lack of noise is worse.

It’s up to me. I turn to the barracks and give some semblance of a smile. “Maybe now I can ask you what an Avalanche is,” I say.

They don’t understand straight away. But then Shard smacks his hand on the table.

“It all makes so much sense now!” he says. He scoots around the table. “All those times you said something out of place and we chalked it to you being fancy and coming from the castle.” He shakes his head, a broad grin on his face. “You’re a bloody Solati? This whole time.” He throws his head back and laughs again. He reaches me and holds me at arm’s length.

“You got big balls, Frost. Maybe bigger than Avalanche’s,” he says. We grimace at the same time. Malir gives him a withering look.

He leans in, eyes kind. I know my apprehension is all over my face. “I always assumed you knew this before, but might I say you’re as pretty as they come.” He pulls me into a tight hug.

It’s something I’ve always wanted to hear. My friend’s reaction is perfect. It turns out, it’s the last straw on a very stressful week. I take shuddering gasps as torrents of tears flood down my face on to his shoulder. Shard steps back and awkwardly pats my arm, looking at the barracks with an expression of alarm. I giggle on a sob as he hovers, unsure how to console me.

“Oh, watch out! Men and tears.” Fiona steps around him and kisses me on the cheek. She dabs her eyes. “I don’t know why I’m crying. You just have such a s-sad story. I always knew you’d be beautiful. Inside and out.” Her voice catches on the last word and she turns into Sanjay’s chest behind her. He pulls me into a one-arm hug around her.

“I’m not sure if anybody has told you this, Olina, but you have blue eyes,” Sanjay stage-whispers.

The tension explodes into a boom of laughter. I mouth my thank-you to him, wondering at a small frown between his brows as he studies my face. I don’t have time to wonder for long; a line is forming.

“I’ve always wondered why Frost saved me that day in the Dome,” Malir says seriously. “Thank you, Tatuma. I’m sorry you were ever in that position.”

“Malir, you know to call me Olina. And I do have to say, it’s quite interesting to experience the Dome from the other side—as someone facing execution, not just watching. I’ve been speaking to the king about it, as well. But at least you can put your mind to rest about your security on the migration. It was easy to sneak out as a Bruma.” He beams at me and looks sheepishly at Sadra next to him. She clicks her tongue at him and moves to kiss my forehead.

“Well, my dear, it seems you were looking out for us the entire time. I thank you all over again for saving my husband. Though I haven’t enjoyed listening to him fret about gaps in his migration strategies.” It’s my turn to be sheepish. Malir flashes me a grin.

Crystal’s next. She punches me lightly on the shoulder and pulls back as though burned. “Oops. Can I do that now that you’re a Tatuma?” She darts an anxious look behind me. I turn to see a stern Jovan there. I raise my eyebrows at him, but he doesn’t break from his tense posture.

I smile as I peer back into the eyes of my Ire friend. “I’ve always been the Tatuma. You treat me as you did before.”

She gasps. “You made me help a Solati escape the king!”

Uh-oh. Jovan didn’t know it was her. She goes on as I share an uneasy look with Alzona. Crystal extended an offer of help when she thought Jovan was taking advantage of me after surviving the Dome. I’d escaped after sleeping with the king, and the young woman had led me to the Ire to save me. I’ve dreaded the day she discovered I wasn’t actually in trouble at the time, just wanting some space from Glacium’s leader. To say Jovan had been pissed was an understatement. I hope he doesn’t turn his grudge against the petite woman.

“I mean, I knew you were mixed, but I thought he was making you have sex with him against your will or something.”

I resist the urge to cover my face as Alzona leans forward and covers Crystal’s mouth, dragging her out of the line. I feel two points on my back where the king is staring into my back. I don’t dare look at my brother.

I turn my red face instead to Adnan. He’s one of the only people here who won’t pursue the sex comment. He holds his hand out for the veil.

“I’ve always been most curious about this material. May I?” he asks. I wordlessly pass it over and get a quick smile from him. I smile back, knowing what he wants say, though he can’t find the words—not without a fair amount of brew anyway. He’s most comfortable when Sanjay is in the immediate conversation.

I go through them all; Blizzard and Ice, who seem to think it’s a great joke—like Shard. Avalanche gives me a hug tight enough to crush every bone in my body.

“How long have you known?” I ask Rhone when he approaches. His face splits into a rare smile.

“I suspected when I saw your interaction with the king in the Dome. There were the obvious clues: the height, the chest size,” he gestures. I cover my chest with my arms self-consciously. Olandon moves to my side.

Rhone glances over at Crystal. “I’d also seen you lay Kedrick on his back when he snuck up on you that time on Osolis. But I was sure you were Olina, and not the other short girl over there, when I brought Kaura into the food hall.”

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” I ask. A larger grin is my only response before Sanjay shoves Rhone.

“You knew? And you didn’t tell me? Your best bud? Why?” Sanjay jokes.

Rhone snorts. “I can keep my mouth shut, that’s why.”

Sanjay presses a hand to his chest as though he’s injured. “Why do I have a feeling there’s an ‘Unlike you, Sanjay’ at the end of that sentence.”

I giggle, turning to share the moment with Jovan. He’s scowling at the back corner. He sees me watching and quickly changes his expression, giving me a hurried smile. It’s too late; I’ve noticed something is wrong. The delegates have purposely been blocking my view of Jacky and Roman. The smile drops from my face as I see they’re fighting ferociously in low voices. The noise becomes steadily louder, making it harder and harder to pretend we can’t hear them.

Roman looks up and sees the rest of us standing awkwardly. He flings Jacquiline’s hand from his arm and stalks to me with a stinging glare aimed her way. The king stands in front of me at his approach. I touch Jovan’s elbow and step to his side. Roman licks his lips, darting a look at his king.

“Olina, my dear friend. I’m so terribly sorry for the ordeals you’ve been through, and I am honored, both on my behalf, and on Jacquiline’s, that you deemed us worthy of telling. The man who captures your interest is a very lucky man indeed, for you are courageous and loyal to a fault.”

His words are sincere, though I wonder if he’s overdoing it to anger Jacquiline. He should have known Jacky isn’t one to simmer in silence.

“You can keep my name from that speech,
husband
,” she says through clenched teeth.

Fiona approaches her, but Jacky flings her arms out. “Fuck off, Fiona. You’ve kissed her. I don’t want you near me.”

I gasp, as do most of the people in the room. Roman is shaking, he’s so furious. But it’s not him I’m worried about. I grip Jovan’s straining forearm and use all my body weight when he starts toward Jacky.

“Someone better shut that bitch up before I take to her with my right fist,” Alzona calls. “Then my left.”

Ice cracks his knuckles. “You said it, Zona.” I know he’d never follow through on his words, but Jacquiline doesn’t. She takes a couple of steps back and glances at Roman. When she sees he hasn’t moved she gets angry all over again.

“How can you all have overlooked the fact that she’s mixed! She is part Bruma, and part Solati. She doesn’t belong anywhere. She is a
monstrosity
, an abomination.” She spits on the floor beside her.

“Uh, actually, I think you’ll find there’s a place—” Crystal starts.

“Crystal,” I say. She falls silent. Mentioning the Ire in front of Jacky would not be a good thing right now. Jovan hasn’t shared the actual details with his people yet.

“I’m sorry you feel that way, Jacky,” I say. “If I’m honest, part of me hoped this would help you forgive me for leaving you all on the way to the First Sector.” I move closer to her, interlocking my hands behind my back.

“I knew,” she breathes heavily. “I never have seen that particular blue-black of your hair before. I saw you in the Dome, saw the light reflecting off your hair, saw the way you stared at our table from the back, and I
knew
it was you. That a vile half-breed had been sitting next to me, eating
my
food for months.”

The extent of her hatred leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Her words will never leave me as they reinforce my every fear.

“Shut your mouth, for once in your life!” Roman roars. Half of the room jumps. I wonder if they’ve ever seen him that angry. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him stand up to Jacky.

Jacquiline stares at him with wide eyes.

I run through my options: letting Jovan take over, listening to Roman and Jacquiline argue, or leaving her at the mercy of angry pit fighters.

“You're all fooled by a pair of tits and a smile,” she starts again, swiping her hand against her mouth.

A dagger sinks into the wall by her head. One of Shard’s.

“I’d be careful what you say next. He missed on purpose,” Blizzard says. “Then again, maybe you should keep talking and do us all a favor.” He grins maniacally. I know him, and it’s still terrifying.

I go for the final option: stepping in myself.

I walk toward Jacky, palms raised in a non-threatening gesture. “It sounds as though your mind is made up, and I won’t waste my time changing the mind of someone so set on hatred. But for the sake of what we had before you found out how repulsive I am, can you tell me
why
you hate the mixed so much?” I ask in my calmest voice.

There’s a flicker of something on her face. Perhaps she’s realized she’s hopelessly outnumbered, but I tell myself it’s the Jacky I used to know. The one who stuck up for me against Arla all those months ago.

“Your kind bring nothing but pain and suffering,” she says, eyes filling with tears. Her hatred is personal. And obviously still fresh, or repressed for too long.

The king wraps his arm around me. “Roman, if you do not shut your wife up, I will, and then I’ll deal with you after.” He doesn’t raise his voice. He doesn’t need to. Roman hurries toward Jacquiline as the king addresses my former friend.

“As your king I’m ashamed one of my subjects could react in this way. You heard what Olina’s life has been, but because of something in your past, you’re blind to any kind of empathy. I feel for you the same revolt and abhorrence you hold for the woman by my side, who is wholly undeserving of your ignorance and viciousness. You have made a grievous misjudgment.”

The blood drains from Jacky’s face. She bends slightly at the waist as though hit in the stomach.

“Jovan,” I whisper to him.

He speaks over me. “Even now, she’s trying to save you by asking me to stop. I don’t like to cause her discomfort, but I have one more thing to say. It’s a warning. One you should take very seriously.” He lets go of me and stalks toward her, death in every step. The room is suddenly cold, as if Jovan controls Glacium itself.

“If you even think about repeating what you’ve witnessed here today. If the betraying words hover only for a second on the tip of your tongue before you swallow them back. Then run far, and run fast, because I will separate your head from your body before you can summon the air to scream for your husband.”

I shiver at the hardness of his promise. Not a single person in the room doubts he will carry through on it if she should be foolish enough to test him. He stands over her, every inch of him coiled for attack. She brought this on herself through sheer stupidity, and it’s my life she holds in her hands. I was an imbecile to think I could trust her.

“Have you got anything you wish to say, Tatuma?” he asks.

There’s a lot I could say, but none of it would make a shred of difference. “Nothing at all.” I'm unable to keep the sadness from my voice.

Jacquiline stares at the ground, tears falling at her feet. They mean nothing to the man in front of her.