She put her hand on Vera’s shoulder. “Vera. Get up. You’re at my place.”
Vera widened her eyes. “But I was only trying to help, sweet.”
“Help?” Mila said, lifting her eyebrow. I bet you are.
“Why yes, darling. I hate to see you suffer through supper with a man who disgusts you. I merely thought to keep him company so you wouldn’t have to.”
At her words, Lake glared, as though Mila herself had said he disgusted her. “I wouldn’t want you to sit here when you so obviously wish to be elsewhere,” he told her. “Go sit with your…Creaky.” He waved a big brown hand. “I release you to sit with him.”
He leaned toward Vera, smiling at something she whispered to him, and Mila stood embarrassed and awkward, unsure of what to do. Creasy decided for her. He touched her elbow, his eyes sorrowful.
“Might I speak with you, Mila? Please?”
“Go,” Lake roared. “You two have fun.”
She wanted to punch them all. Hateful, hateful people. Vera giggled again, and Mila ground her teeth.
“Welcome, Councilor,” she heard someone say, and knew it was too late to do anything. Her leader had arrived, and she was not stupid enough to make a scene in front of him.
He stared at her in surprise as he passed, looking from Lake and Vera back to her. “Mila?”
“Please, Councilor,” Creasy said, before she could open her mouth. “May Mila eat with me? I need to speak with her, and the Ednian has…graciously agreed.”
He raised his eyebrows, considering, then waved his hands. “I am impatient for my dinner and cups. Do as you will.”
A sharp pang of disappointment ran through her, but she was caught. Lake glanced up at her, a smile playing over his lips at Vera’s whispered words. Mila turned up her nose and grabbed Creasy’s arm. “Shall we?”
“We shall,” he said, sounding as relieved as she’d ever heard him. Creasy wasn’t a bad sort, really, but he was, she was beginning to realize, too much a self-centered, childish bully for her. But then, what man wasn’t?
Suddenly she longed for Cho and his ancient, quiet wisdom, and his complete and uncompromising love for her. “Excuse me,” she told Creasy as he seated her and took his own place. “I’ll be right back.”
“Mila!” He caught her arm to stop her, but with a quick glance toward the hulking Ednian, quickly snatched it away again.
“I said I’ll be right back, Creasy!”
He shrugged. “Fine. Do hurry. The food will be cold.”
“Oh please, eat. Don’t wait on my account.”
She left the bustling, noisy, smoky hall and ran out the door, a fist against her mouth to keep the sobs from escaping. Cho was waiting, and when he saw her, he opened his arms. She flew into them, sinking down to her knees, her tears releasing against his shoulder.
“Shhh,” he said. “Mila, Mila. I’m here.”
“It’s just terrible,” she got out, her voice thick with tears. “So dreadful.”
“Tell me.”
“Creasy is getting worse. He got rough with me and—”
“What did you just say?”
“Creasy, he is insane with jealousy. The Ednian beat him, threatened to kill him if he so much as talked to me again.”
“Good.”
“But it was a lie,” she said, bitterly. “Now I am forced to Creasy’s table while Lake celebrates with Vera! And the councilor said I might, but I don’t want to…oh, Cho, it is all a mess.” Fresh tears started, and she buried her face against his hard chest.
He sighed. “Little one,” he said, causing a smile to break through her tears. Cho, calling her little one. “You will have to stop giving others the opportunity to get what they want at your expense.”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“Vera will fuck him if you allow it.”
She shuddered. “That is…she will be punished. She wouldn’t dare!” But she knew even as she spoke the words that Vera would dare much.
“You understand that Creasy is not the man for you.”
She pulled away and wiped her eyes. “I’m beginning to.”
“That’s an improvement.”
She sniffed. “I suppose.”
“You also understand that falling for the Ednian will gain you nothing but pain.”
“I do,” she whispered. “Gods help me, I do.” Ednians could not mate with Myaians, not for life. Myaians could not mate for life with Ednians. It was not allowed by either clan. They would be cast out into the darklands should either of them break such a law.
“The Ednians cursed us,” she whispered, as though Cho didn’t know. But she was only reiterating to herself why she should maintain her distance. Why, really, it was the only choice she had. “It is because of them we cannot bear children without their seed.”
“What is it then, darling?”
She hadn’t said anything, but Cho knew. “I feel as though he is meant for me.” Almost too afraid to say the words, she felt nonetheless lighter once they’d been spoken.
Cho sighed at her words. “I know, sweet. But once he’s gone and you have the babe, you will forget him.”
Never. “I hope so.”
Cho grasped her hand and helped her to her feet. “Go back inside, Mila.” When she would have pulled away to obey him, he wouldn’t release her. “Mila?”
“Yes?”
“Take what’s yours. For now, it is all you have. These memories will sustain you in the time to come.”
Head held high, her spine as stiff as a tree limb, she walked back inside. Merriment was in full swing, and she glanced over to see Creasy spooning his dinner into his mouth, his face impatient.
He looked up and met her gaze and, frowning, motioned her to him. She shook her head. He half-rose, his eyes narrowed. Now, he mouthed, and she smiled. Fuck you, she mouthed back, and went to take her rightful place at the Ednian’s side.
Chapter Seven
As though he’d been watching for her, Lake met her gaze across the room, his mouth relaxing into a half smile when he saw her. At his glance, Vera turned around.
Mila looked away from Lake long enough to send a serious, silent threat Vera’s way. The woman knew her well enough to know when Mila had reached her limit.
“Oops,” Vera said, and scooted her chair back so fast it overturned. She didn’t stop to right it but, with a quick grin back over her shoulder at Mila, scrambled away.
Mila might have smiled if she hadn’t been so nervous. Hoping she fooled him with her coolness, she picked the chair up, dusted it off, and sat down. “How is the food?”
He laughed. “The food is wonderful.”
She shoved Vera’s trenchers away and waved for her own. “Do you want her?”
“I want you.”
She met his stare. “Likewise.”
He sat up straight, all traces of humor wiped from his face. His face became that of a hawk’s, and she shivered with a delicious fear she’d never before experienced.
“You belong to me now.”
“From Menda’s Eve until…until you must leave.” If invisible knives stabbed her heart now, she could only shudder in horror at the pain a year would bring. For her sanity, she must fight. Fight to the death. She would not, could not, fall for the Ednian.
“Yes,” he drawled. “The Myaians fucking Menda’s Eve.”
“You mock us.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He lifted his cup in a salute. “To Menda’s Eve.”
“Do you know the story?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
“You should. Since it involves you.” At his surprise, she quickly amended, “It involves your people.”
“Ah. Then please tell me your story of Menda’s Eve.”
She shook her head. “Menda is the first woman to have delivered a babe after the curse your people gave us. She is how we discovered that not only had the Ednians cursed us, but that they would also be the ones to…to bless us. The shad
ows knew, somehow, and the legend is that they are the ones who brought the Myaians and Ednians together.”
“About the shadows,” he said, sipping from his cup, “what is that story?”
She shrugged. “The shadows have been part of the Myaians forever. They come to us on our Passage Day, and never leave us. To leave the one they’ve chosen would be worse than a thousand deaths. They take care of us, and we take care of them. They are part of us. It is love.”
Her simple words seemed to touch him, and he sat his cup down carefully, his eyes downcast. “Very…sweet.”
“Do not laugh at me, Ednian.”
“Lake. And I wasn’t.” He lifted his gaze, and she saw that he spoke the truth.
“I expect the Ednians have no shadows because…”
“Yes?”
“Perhaps because you are so…” She waved her hands, searching for the right word. “Hard.”
“Hard? You think we are too hard to have shadows?” His eyes sparkled, temporarily causing her to lose her thought.
“I do,” she said, nodding firmly. “I cannot see you coddling a shadow.”
Something flashed in his eyes, there and gone so quickly she wasn’t sure what it was she’d seen. “I cannot see it either.”
“See? Hard.”
“Who is the man who mishandled you earlier?”
“Oh.” She allowed him to change the subject. “You mean Creasy? For a time, I thought he would ask for me, but all he really did was keep me dangling whilst he courted another.” She shrugged. “It is for the best. I have come to the realization that Creasy is not the one for me.” Her heart jumped into her throat, and she looked away from him, afraid he’d read her thoughts.
“He shall not touch you again.” In his words she heard the promise of dire retribution should Creasy be foolish enough to try him.
“I’m not afraid of Creasy.” I’m afraid of you. Of what you can do to my heart.
“What of your parents? I would think a father would refuse to allow one such as Croaky to do anything to you without so much as a promise to mate for life.”
“Creasy,” she reminded him, and bit her lip to keep from smiling. “My mother was cast into the darklands when I was but a babe. I don’t remember her. My father…I do not know of him.”
His gaze softened. “I’m sorry, sweet.”
He didn’t push her for an explanation, for which she was grateful. Her mother’s banishment was not something she liked to think of. “No matter. Let us not speak of sorrowful things. Tell me of your people. Your life.” She looked around at the noisy, drunken, celebrating clansmen and smiled at him. “I imagine our boisterous ways must seem strange to you.”
“Boisterous?” He laughed. “No, Mila. Compared with my out of control people, yours are peaceful, quiet, and delicate.”
She wasn’t sure whether or not to be offended. “What of your women?”
“The women are much like the men only…curvier.” He grinned, his eyes dropping to her breasts.
“What do they do all day?” she asked him, trying to ignore his lascivious behavior. “Are there many babies?”
“Babies everywhere,” he said. “Someone is always pregnant.” At her sad look, he reached for her hand. “I’m sorry, sweet. I am not accustomed to watching my words.”
“No matter,” she said. “Please go on.”
He kept holding her hand as he talked, and she was afraid to breathe for fear he’d snatch it away again. How good it felt, how right.
“Mila?”
“I’m sorry?”
“I was telling you about the women. You seemed far away.”
“I…please, tell me.”
“The women, as I said, are much like the men. Everyone does what he or she can do. Some of the men mind the little ones while the women build the cabins. The chores are not based on gender, but on ability.”
She squeezed his hand, delighted. “That is wonderful!”
“I’ve gathered it isn’t the same here.”
“Hardly.” She cleared her throat, hoping he hadn’t heard the bitterness and would think she was traitorous to her own people. “We have our…duties.” She lowered her voice and said dryly, “Though I must admit they are indeed based on gender and not on ability.”
“You don’t like it.”
A quick flare of fear snaked through her. “I do!” She snatched her hand away as though he might feel the lie through her skin.
“Why are you afraid, little Myaian?”
“I do not wish to be cast out. Surely that is understandable.”
“They would cast you out for disagreeing?”
“Councilor can do as he wishes.” She took a drink from her cup, her throat unbearably dry. “Besides, it is wrong to betray your clan, even if the words are not meant as such. And you shouldn’t talk. Your own clan forces you to come here to do your duty, and if you do not, as councilor said, you will be dishonored by your own. Cast out.” She sat back and crossed her arms. “So we are not that different, Ednian.”
He hooted with laughter, but no one paid him any mind. They were all busy getting drunk and doing their own laughing. His voice was but one of many.
She stiffened and glared at him. “Are you mocking me again, Ednian?”
“Lake. My name is Lake. I am not mocking you, Mila. Remind me sometime to tell you of all the misconceptions your councilor and you have about my people. True, they would shame me and my mother would come after me with a tree limb, but I would be forgiven soon enough, and someone else would be sent to take my place.”
“Then why did you stay when the councilor berated you and threatened to send you home?”
He smiled. “That’s the mystery, isn’t it?”
“I just don’t think you would have come had you not been forced to.” She crossed her arms, resolute in her belief.
“Well, it’s best to give in to my clan sometimes, rather than take the nagging and tongue lashings they like to hand out.” He shrugged and drained his cup. Again. “And I am a rather dutiful person. I do my part.”
“If they really are such as you say,” she whispered, “I wish very much that I might meet them someday.”
“Oh sweet, they would adore you. I would have to constantly fight the men to keep them from you. And some of the women.” He grinned.
“Despite your exaggerated words, your clan sounds so…perfect. Oh. The drink tonight is very potent. You should stop drinking now. It takes a while, but it will take you over if you’re not careful.”
“I know something else that might take me over if I’m not careful.”
She looked down, pleased. “You are not the way I thought you would be.”
He said nothing, but sat back in his chair, his eyes considering. Finally, he sat forward and took her hand once more. “Mila—”
But whatever he had been about to say was forgotten when the councilor stood, and the room quieted with eerie suddenness. “We shall withdraw to the fires,” he said. “It is celebration night.” He turned to Lake. “Because you are new here, I will explain this night to you.” He held his arms out as though embracing his people. “Tonight is a night for rejoicing, for freedom, for change. Anything is possible, and anything is permissible. Except, Ednian, for you, of course.” He smiled, his eyes disappearing in the folds and wrinkles of his face. “But you may watch and drink.”
The crowd roared and started for the exit like stampeding cattle.
Lake cast a mystified look at Mila. “What is he talking about?” He had to shout to be heard over the noise. “Now this,” he yelled, “is more like my people!”
The Ednian was enchantingly intoxicated, his sternness giving way to a relaxed humor she adored.
She laughed and arose, offering him her hand. He was not going to mock her clan after this night, surely. “Come, Ednian. I will show you.”
Once outside, she led him to the huge, red fires placed strategically about the grounds. The entire village was there, dancing about it drun
ken bliss, cares and troubles all cast aside on this celebration night.
Men ran to women they chose to be with this night, and ripped the clothes from their willing bodies. Women shrieked with glee and chased naked men through the shadows, life mates forgotten in the enchantment of this wanton, wicked night.
“Have they all gone crazy?”
Mila giggled at his awestruck expression. “Yes, in a manner of speaking. Tonight they may go insane and do anything they wish.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she remembered what tonight meant for her. Tonight, Cho would feed from her.
Cho slipped up beside her, taking her hand. “Come, Mila. I will have you now.”
“Whoa,” Lake said, his expression half unbelieving, half incensed. “What?”
“This night belongs to the shadows.”
“Cho! Quiet!” She knew Lake. He would run for home if he discovered what she would do tonight. She couldn’t bear to be parted from him. Not yet. “We will take Lake home and put him to bed.”
Lake thumped his head. “What did I drink in there? I know I’m drunk, but I keep hearing, and seeing…” His voice trailed off as a young woman stepped up to him, her body shining in the firelight, and began masturbating.
Mila pushed her gently away. “Go find Stony, Wild Rose. Go on, dear.”
“Come, Ednian,” Cho said, looking up at the big man. “Let us tuck you in. Tomorrow, things will be as you prefer to see them.”
Chapter Eight
Lake was not a callow youth. He’d learned his suspicion and slight cynicism the hard way. He might be intoxicated, but that didn’t make him stupid.
Mila and her little parasite were up to something that she did not want him to know about, and he was going to find out what that was.
Stumbling, he fell into a group of naked females. Their warm, soft bodies would have swayed a watcher, but Lake had more important things to take care of. Grinning up at Mila’s frowning face, he caressed the large breasts of the girl he’d nearly squashed when he’d fallen. “Nice.”
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