The Charmer

41

 “Please,” she answered, mentally swearing at herself as his large, warm hands closed over her shoulders, making her nerves jump with awareness. She closed her eyes, shutting herself in solitary darkness as the blessing was said.

It’s just a side affect of last night, she assured herself. The more she thought, the angrier became. So I feel a little thrill when a handsome man touches me. I’m young, and healthy, and it’s not as if... She broke into a cold sweat. Even in her mind, her heart wouldn’t let her complete the sentence. Panicked, she thought with desperation, I don’t belong to him! He doesn’t have any claim on me! Her eyes opened. She saw Keilor looking straight at her, and her heart condemned her for a liar.

The meal began, and it was all she could do at first simply to hide her trembling hands. Eleven hungry men made quick work of the quiche and sweet pastries, thinly sliced roast and steaming asparagus. No one seemed to notice that she barely nibbled at her own breakfast.

In an effort to make conversation, she asked Mathin, “Are you nervous about the tournament today?”

Chuckles broke out around the table, and one of Mathin’s dark brows quirked. With great amusement, he answered, “Should I be?”

A touch annoyed at his arrogance, she answered with mock innocence, “Haven’t you heard?” she paused a moment, dragging out the suspense. Even the women looked at her with curiosity. “Urseya has vowed to take to the field and show you all up as bumbling boys.”

Urseya’s eyes widened in shock, and it was all Jasmine could do to keep a straight face as the men stared at the young woman in astonishment. “I understand she’s a wicked hand with an energy blade.”

Urseya surprised her by leaning back in her chair with regal calm. “You hear correctly, cousin.” She tilted her head, and without the slightest trace of humor, told Mathin, “I’m quite certain you’d find me unconquerable.”

An appreciative gleam appeared in his eyes. “Then I’ll have to ask you to beg off, warrior queen. I’d hate to risk public humiliation at your hands.” He gave her a mischievous smile, and at his words the snorts and muffled snickers broke into full-blown guffaws. Even Urseya allowed a slight smile to touch her mouth.

Jasmine and Rihlia looked at each other, and Jasmine raised her brows. This was interesting. “Well, maybe I can talk her into a private duel with the winner,” Jasmine said.

“So long as it’s not directly after the tournament,” Keilor interjected. “I’ll be otherwise occupied this evening.” Silence descended on the table.

Jasmine stared at him. Had the man been born with that ego, or had it taken years to inflate to such mammoth proportions? When the eyes of all of the warriors bugged out, she realized she’d said as much aloud. Even Mathin stared at her, incredulous.

Nuclear winter stormed behind Keilor’s eyes, but his voice was calm when he answered, “Name a warrior who has defeated me since I became a man, Lady, and I will give you everything I own.”

Jasmine held his gaze, refusing to give ground. She might not be able to take him with a blade, but she wouldn’t be the first one to give way now.

“Which is a great deal, by the way,” Rhapsody broke in, almost babbling.

Startled, Jasmine’s eyes leapt to her, breaking her standoff with Keilor. It took nearly a minute for Jasmine to understand that Rhapsody was doing her best to break the tension, and another for her to turn to Mathin and attempt to converse politely. Choosing the first topic that came to mind, she asked, “So...do you like kids?”

Looking puzzled, he answered, “I fail to see why it would matter.” When she just frowned at him, he said warily, “You don’t know, do you?”

When her frown got deeper, he told her, “Humans and Haunt never produce children.”

Eventually she blinked. She had no choice; her lids simply closed over her burning eyes and opened of their own accord. Her lungs pumped and drew air into her starving lungs, and even her heartbeat began again, even if it did lurch and bump erratically.

But she did not feel. Her head nodded once, and then she calmly returned to eating her breakfast, a perfectly calm expression on her face.

She didn’t taste a crumb.

The meal ended shortly after that, and she thanked everyone cordially for coming and watched as they filed out of the room, shooting her wary glances.

As the last one closed the door behind him, Keilor said from beside her, “Jasmine.”

Without a thought, she turned and slapped his face as hard as she could.

***

Mathin was waiting for him in the hall. “What happened between you two last night?” he asked with deceptive quietness.

Keilor looked back at the door, but he was clearly picturing the woman within. “Apparently, not enough.”

***

Jasmine didn’t give a speech.

She watched with dispassion as the Master of Ceremonies announced the events and the names of the participants. Yesterday all of the Ten had worn Jayems’ colors; today each wore the uniform of their own clan. Only two wore the familiar black uniforms of Jayems’ guards. One of them was Mathin.

The other was Keilor.

Rihlia and the others were with her in the pavilion, but she refused to look at anyone. She could easily believe her friend had no knowledge of...the child thing, but apparently it was common knowledge among the others. Rhapsody had explained that she hadn’t thought of it exactly because it was such common knowledge. That did not excuse Jayems. It did not excuse Keilor.

She hadn’t been under any illusions. She’d known exactly what her so called ‘suitors’ wanted from her. It was upsetting, though, to be so casually slapped in the face with the fact that none of them had cared enough about her to be upset that she couldn’t have children. Wouldn’t a man who felt something for a woman have the courtesy to at least tell her he could never give her a child?