Tempest Song: Unraveled World Book 2

by Alicia Fabel

  “Enough, Dam,” Kale said. “Keep your pants on. I don’t know how Vera puts up with you two every day.”

  “Aww, she loves us.” Addamas fell back into his seat with a grin.

  “When should I plan on you?” Kale asked Vera.

  “Plan on me for what?” Vera didn’t follow.

  “You’re coming to stay here while Mimi and Addamas are gone,” Kale said as if it was already decided.

  “I didn’t know that was the plan,” Vera said carefully.

  Mimi suddenly became interested in cleaning all the pink frosting from her plate.

  “I thought you’d know.” Kale picked at his thumbnail. “I can’t leave you there without anyone to watch over you.”

  “Uh, yeah, you can,” Vera said. “Because I can take care of myself. And I’m just going to be in my room reading all week anyway. So unless books start stealing souls, I’ll be fine.”

  “Couldn’t you read here?” Kale asked. “If you need help carrying all your books—”

  “I don’t need help carrying my books,” Vera snapped then pressed her lips together.

  Kale watched her like she was a keg about to blow.

  Calmly, she said, “It’s only a week. You can even send Ferrox to spy on me and collect me for my usual training.”

  “I’ll be more comfortable with you here,” Kale persisted.

  “But I wouldn’t be more comfortable here,” Vera argued.

  Kale’s expression became unreadable. He tipped his head to meet Vera’s gaze. Since her truth-telling was not public knowledge, that had become Kale’s silent way of asking her to listen for the truth. In this instance, his own. “I promise I’m never a danger to you.”

  “Huh?” Vera frowned at the man. What’s he talking about? Then it sank in. Vera’s eyes widened. “It’s not you that I’m worried about,” she rushed to explain. “It’s me. I can’t stay here for a week around all this magic.”

  Everyone around the table seemed to exhale. Why would they think I’m worried about Kale?

  “Maybe it would be a good opportunity to stretch your unicorn powers,” Kale suggested.

  “I can’t stretch what I can’t find. Not on purpose anyway. Give me a shot of poison and, sure, I’m grand. But that’s all I can do.”

  “I can help you,” Kale said.

  “No, you can’t,” Vera said as gently as possible. “Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate all of you trying, but no one here knows how to help me. None of you are unicorns.”

  “Maybe I could talk to Kuwari,” Addamas began.

  “He already said no,” Kale pointed out.

  “But maybe we don’t need him to come here,” Addamas said.

  “You think they’ll welcome a siphon half-breed, who needs help mastering kargadan magic, into Nibiru?”

  “Whoa. You two are talking Greek, you know that, right?” Vera asked. “Wanna try all that in English?”

  “Actually, Addamas is the only one speaking Greek,” Mimi corrected. “Kale’s speaking some dead language he won’t tell us the name of, and I’m speaking Canaan. You’re the only one speaking English, hun.” Mimi cocked her head in a very cat-like way. “You really don’t hear the difference, do you?”

  “No,” Vera admitted. “Add it to my list of weird. I forget that you all use magic to understand each other. Until you start throwing out words which don’t translate. Kargadan is a unicorn, but what are coo-war-ree, and nee-beer-rue?”

  “Kuwari is a kargadan Addamas knows,” Kale explained. “He’s from a realm called Nibiru.”

  “And Kuwari could teach me to be a unicorn?” Vera asked Addamas.

  The satyr shot Kale a sideways look and didn’t answer.

  Vera narrowed her eyes at Kale. “I’ll take that as a yes. Let me guess. You didn’t tell me because it’s not safe?”

  Addamas coughed and covered his mouth with a hand while Kale and Vera stared off.

  “I didn’t tell you because Kuwari cannot help you.” As soon as the words left Kale’s mouth, he ran a hand through his hair. The lie reverberated through Vera’s skull. “Let me explain,” he said.

  “This should be good.” Vera folded her arms while Mimi looked back and forth between them with a weird expression.

  “Kargadan no longer leave their realm, not since Kuwari’s last escort disappeared a few years ago. He was on a trip, looking for answers to their depleting numbers, and his bodyguard vanished. The herd realized they could’ve lost Kuwari instead. Since they cannot afford to lose their healer, he’s not permitted to leave Nibiru. That’s why he cannot come teach you.” Kale finished, still picking at his thumb. There was a red stain where it had been bleeding at some point. Vera wondered if he even knew. The meadow must have healed it, but if he didn’t cool it, he was going to start bleeding again.

  “I can go to him,” Vera said.

  “You cannot…” Kale paused. “It is not safe for you to go to Nibiru.”

  “It wasn’t safe for me to go to Summartir either. But we did all right.”

  “That was different,” Kale said. “I could go to Summartir with you.”

  Now Vera was getting the picture. “You don’t want me to go because I’d have to go alone? Couldn’t Addamas come with?”

  “Ah, yeah, we’ve all been banned not just Kale,” Addamas said. “Although, I do sneak by and see Kuwari occasionally. I’m pretty sure Kuwari informs the marduk—the king—when I do, but so long as I stay invisible and don’t cause trouble, he allows it.”

  “What did you all do?”

  “Killed the kargadan prince who was supposed to be the next marduk,” Addamas said cheerfully. “Actually, Kale let me kill him. Then he took the blame so I wouldn’t be executed for it.”

  “You went to a different realm and killed someone? But that’s against the world’s laws. Kale should’ve killed you himself,” Vera said.

  “Eh, it’s a gray area,” Addamas replied.

  “How?”

  “Technically, Nibiru is my home realm,” Addamas answered. “That’s where I grew up.”

  “Kuwari is Addamas’s adoptive dad,” added Mimi.

  “The prince I killed was married to my sister. When she miscarried again, he murdered her. Kargadan don’t divorce, so it was the only way for the prince to get himself a new wife. A kargadan woman is only valuable if she can produce spawn.”

  “They went to confront the prince and found out that he was trafficking young girls from off-realm,” Mimi expanded. “When he was done with one, he killed them and ordered another one from the Tablilu Clan—nasty people with tails like scorpions.”

  “Sounds like a lovely place.” Vera made a face. “But I’m still going.”

  “No,” Kale said.

  “Try to stop me, buddy.”

  “First of all, I don’t have to stop you because you’d never be able to find the gate. Second of all, it’s not safe for you there. You’re a woman.”

  “Glad you’re aware of that.” Vera poked at her right boob. “I was afraid these weren’t obvious enough.”

  Mimi giggled and high-fived her.

  “While the prince’s actions don’t reflect the ideals of the kargadan people, all kargadan men are over-protective when it comes to women,” Kale said.

  “You should all start a club,” Vera suggested.

  Addamas quirked a smile at that. “The girl has a point.”

  “Addamas,” Kale said darkly.

  “All right, all right,” Addamas conceded. “Vera, gods love you, girly. You are much too feisty to survive Nibiru, even with the progressive Kuwari as your guardian and mentor. Kargadan expect their women to be demure and obedient.”

  “I can be obedient for a week.”

  Kale barked a laugh. “Until someone pisses you off. Like when you see a man bossing around his woman.”

  “Okay, yeah, that would be hard.”

  “What happens if you get in trouble?” asked Kale. “What happens if you upset the wrong guy, and they decid
e you need to be punished for your own good?”

  “They’d learn that’s a bad idea,” answered Vera.

  “Exactly.” Kale looked very satisfied with himself. “And that’s why you’re never going to Nibiru.”

  “You don’t think I can take care of myself for one week around a bunch of misogynistic unicorns?”

  “Fine, you want one more birthday present?” asked Kale. “As soon as you can knock me off my feet in a sparring match, I’ll summon the gate for you.”

  “Deal. Let’s go.” Vera stood, tipping over her stool.

  “I didn’t mean now.” Kale’s jaw jumped. “You’re not ready yet. And I planned to give you tonight off for your birthday.”

  “No. I wanna go now.” Vera headed for the door. “It’s my party, and I’ll knock you on your ass if I want to.”

  2

  Kale squared off with Vera in the shadow of the barn. Addamas and Mimi had opted to stay inside where they’d deemed it to be safer. If it had been possible for them to see the fight from any of the cabin windows, Kale was sure they’d be pressed up against the glass. How did this night go so wrong? It started out so well.

  “Whenever you’re ready,” he called to Vera.

  She stood absolutely still, not even her eyes flickered. After a year of training, he had to admit, she was pretty good. A human wouldn’t stand a chance against her. Only a tiny quiver alerted Kale before she attacked. Staying low, she executed a burst of punches and ducked under his grabs, before skipping out of range. Just like he’d taught her. In and out. Keep moving. Don’t let a bigger opponent get their hands on you. Of course, he’d also taught her that her first choice should always be to run if that was an option. To those ends, he required her to run every day with Mimi and Addamas. Vera danced around Kale, light on her feet. She stepped in toward his side, but when Kale moved to block, she jumped back and kicked him in the leg. Nice. Except, she tried to do it a second time. Kale spun, grabbed her foot, and pulled, knocking her onto her back.

  Vera grunted with the impact. Kale cringed inside. That was going to leave a bruise. Not what he’d wanted to give her for her birthday, but he wasn’t about to take it easy on her either. No way was she was going to Nibiru. Vera crawled to her feet. Kale watched from a wary distance.

  “Not gonna help the birthday-girl to her feet?” Vera asked sweetly.

  The last time he’d helped her up was months ago. She’d taken advantage with a dirty shot below the belt. Kale had told her good job and ceded the fight since he couldn’t see through the spots in his vision. It was the only time she’d ever won against him. Tonight, she was desperate enough for a win that he wouldn’t put anything past her. He’d already taken her knives while blocking her punches.

  “You’re such a cheater,” Vera accused, feeling around her waistband.

  “Me? You would’ve stabbed me,” Kale replied with indignation.

  “You’d heal… I think.” Vera offered an evil grin. “I don’t know, Kalesius, would you heal if I cut off a certain tender part of your anatomy?”

  He hadn’t taught her how to unnerve an opponent with words. She’d come by that naturally. “No. And that’s why I took your—"

  Vera flew at him. A few hits landed, one on his jaw would leave a mark. He tasted blood from a split lip. Kale caught a fist aimed for his nose and spun her around, kicking her lightly in the back. She sprawled on the ground. Without missing a beat, she hopped up, spitting out dirt and blood. A nasty scrape graced her cheek. Blast it. I’ll have to heal that before she leaves if it doesn’t heal before then. Strangers had started approaching Vera last summer to ask if she needed help, assuming she was in an abusive relationship. Kale tried not to leave visible marks now, which sounded so bad it made his skin crawl.

  “Ready to call it quits?” he asked, hopeful.

  In answer, Vera spat out another mouthful of dirt and blood. She regarded him shrewdly. That would be a no. Kale sighed and waved her on just as she lifted the front of her stained shirt to wipe sweat and grime from her face. Angry red scratches ran down her stomach. If she hadn’t been wearing that shirt, those scratches would be a lot worse. Her chest rose and fell rapidly with her breaths. Damn me to Diyu for noticing. Kale pulled his focus to her face. Vera watched him closely. He got the feeling she’d seen where his gaze had strayed. The sweaty tendrils of hair clinging to her neck began to glow dimly. He’d forgotten his plans to experiment with that, but it seemed the experiment was already underway.

  With a lazy smile, Kale let his eyes dip to take her in. All her curves and angles. Stars, I’ve wanted to look at her like this for so long. Vera’s breathing hitched. Kale’s wasn’t in much better shape. While she was unbalanced, he moved to hook an arm around her middle. He twisted her around and pinned her back to his chest.

  “Now what are you going to do?” he whispered into her ear. His breath stirred the escaped strands of hair. He had to restrain himself from catching the top of her ear between his teeth. That would cross a line. This was just an experiment.

  Vera paused for a heartbeat, jerked his arms down, and pulled out of his hold just as she’d been trained to do. As she did, he extended a leg between hers. When she whirled around, her leg caught with his and down she went. Kale coiled around her, so he landed beneath her. Vera pushed away immediately, trying to stand, but he didn’t let her go. Instead, he reached up and yanked off her hat. Flaring hair cascaded around her. Vera sputtered.

  “You’re on fire,” Kale mused.

  Vera snatched the hat from Kale’s fingers and tried to jam the thing back on her head. He stole it again before she could.

  “Why does your hair bother you so much?” he asked.

  “It doesn’t.”

  Kale snagged one of Vera’s hands, holding it between them and ran a finger along a deception mark spiraling over her wrists. She watched him trace it, not able to see the mark, but she’d know what he was doing.

  “It’s red,” she said in regards to her hair.

  “Yes, I can see that.” Kale captured a lock of fiery hair, so much like her personality.

  Vera squirmed. “You hate red hair.”

  Kale’s stomach dropped. He did hate red hair. It reminded him of Talia, but Vera’s hair never summoned memories of the long-dead enchantress.

  “You hide your hair because of me?” Kale asked quietly.

  Vera shrugged, not willing to admit the truth out loud but not denying it either. The black deception stains began to fade at the same time her hair dimmed.

  “Well, don’t anymore, okay? I like your hair. I may even know what makes it glow now too.”

  “Really? What?” Her eyes widened.

  Huh, I probably should’ve thought this through a little better. “Strong emotions,” he answered carefully. Tartarus, this is about to get awkward. “Earlier, with your memories of Suzie. And just now.”

  “Because I was angry at you?”

  “Yep,” Kale agreed before remembering the lie was futile.

  Vera narrowed her eyes.

  “Okay. I don’t think it was anger so much.”

  “What do you…” Vera fell silent, staring at her hands on Kale’s chest. A chest she was perched on and just seemed to remember that fact too. Her hair brightened. Right along with her cheeks. Then she scrambled off him.

  “You figured out that emotion thing earlier?” She wouldn’t look at him.

  “Yeah,” he said slowly.

  “And you decided to test it out just now?”

  “Yes.” This is not going to end well.

  Vera reached out a hand to help him up. Kale took it warily.

  “So, you decided to play games and see just how hot I am for you? To stroke your ego? To embarrass me?”

  And that’s worse than I expected. “That’s not what—”

  “Well, guess what.” Vera yanked him to his feet. “Yeah, I think you’re hot. And I think you’re a bastard.”

  Vera swiped her leg out just as he planted his feet.
One last attempt to knock him on his rear. He shifted just in time, and Vera’s toes cracked against his shin. She cried out and went down, breathing in little huffs between parted lips.

  “For freak’s sake!” Vera grimaced.

  “Here, let me look.” Kale reached for her foot.

  “Don’t touch me.” Vera knocked his hands away.

  “Vera?” Mimi rounded the corner.

  Duat. She must’ve heard Vera scream.

  One look at Vera’s banged-up body curled on the ground, and Mimi rounded on Kale, claws lengthening. “What did you do to her?”

  Kale put up his hands and backed away.

  “Stop Mimi,” Vera called out. “I kicked him in the shin. I think I broke my toe.”

  Mimi knelt beside her. “Why’d you kick him in the shin? That’s a terrible place to kick someone.”

  “Trust me, I’m aware,” Vera moaned. “Next time I plan to kick him somewhere much softer.”

  “Want me to do it for you? I didn’t get you a birthday present yet.”

  “No, I want to do it myself. Thank you, though.”

  “Let me know if you change your mind.” Mimi brushed Vera’s hair aside. “Let’s look at those toe-toes.”

  Vera hissed through her teeth while Mimi slipped off her shoe. She was panting by the time Mimi stripped off her sock. Her big toe was purple and swollen like a sausage.

  “You broke it good,” Mimi informed her.

  “Fabulous.”

  “You can stay the night if you want,” Kale offered. “The meadow will have it healed by morning.”

  “Not happening,” Vera retorted.

  “Vera, I didn’t mean to—”

  “Whatever. I’m fine.” Vera pulled on her favorite mask of indifference. “We have a group project in an hour. If I miss it, I won’t pass the course. I’m not staying.”

  “Maybe Kale can heal it?” suggested Addamas.

  “No,” Vera replied quickly.

  Kale was relieved. It would take a good five minutes for him to heal the break. That was an eternity to be lost in his memories.

  “I’ll be fine.” To prove it, Vera stood, keeping all her weight on her other leg. “See? I’ll manage. We should go so I can get cleaned up.”