“Nope. None at all.”
39
Ben woke at nightfall, Tenzin curled into his side. One hand was playing with the hairs on his chest and the other was tucked under his armpit.
“Were you trying to tickle me?”
“Yes. And now you’re awake. It worked perfectly.” She stroked her fingernails along his side, and Ben nearly doubled up in laughter.
“Stop.” He’d always been ticklish, but he’d never slept with anyone who took advantage of it. “Don’t tickle me.”
“You’re much harder to wake now. I have to discover new tactics.”
He stretched up, throwing his arms over his head. “We’re leaving tonight, right?”
“Don’t you like our comfortable cave?”
“I want a proper bed, Tenzin. I’m taller than you and I actually sleep. I want to be comfortable and not cramped.” He slid his hand down her bare back. “And beds have other desirable features we both might enjoy.”
“Hmm.” She propped her chin on his chest. “How about Venice?”
He put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her in for a kiss. “I love you.”
“We’ll fly to the camp for a couple of hours, just to take proper leave, then we’ll fly straight there. We can be there before daybreak.”
“A few nights in Venice sounds perfect.”
“I agree.”
“Then we should probably go to Rome. I have a feeling Chloe and Gavin are about to send out the National Guard.”
“I don’t think they have any authority to do that in Italy.”
“No?” He tweaked her chin. “Bummer. Did you know you’re very cute?”
“You keep telling me that. Often followed by telling me that I’m irritating.”
“Two things can be true at the same time.”
“Ben.”
“Tiny.”
The corner of her mouth turned up. “I used to hate when you called me that.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“I really did. I often thought about how I could injure you in nonpermanent ways when you called me that.” She laid her head over his heart. “I have become accustomed to it now.”
“Good.” He stroked his hand through her hair and thought about all the nights they’d been apart. “Was it worth it?”
“What?”
“Whatever it was you had to give Zhang to make him turn me.”
Tenzin looked up and straight into his eyes. “Yes.”
No hesitation. No doubt. Not even a shadow of it.
“If you want to tell me—”
“I don’t.”
He stared at her and saw nothing hidden except the answer she knew he wouldn’t give her. “Okay. I won’t ask.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m still going to get angry sometimes,” he said. “I’m still going to get mad that I’m not who I was, because I worked really hard to make that person.”
“I understand.”
“So don’t forget this moment. And remember that wherever I go when I’m angry, I want to get back here.”
Tenzin nodded. “I will remember.”
“I love you.” He gripped a hand in her hair. “And I will learn to love this life.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
She frowned. “For loving me.”
“I didn’t have much choice about it.” He smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You just kind of worked your way in there.”
“No,” she said firmly. “Love—real love—is always a choice.” She kissed the center of his chest. “Baina min khar. Sha bol min yash.”
“What does that mean?”
She kissed him full on the lips, pressing her mouth to his over and over while she ran her fingers through his hair, trailed them along his jaw, and let them come to rest over his heart.
“It means that when you are angry, I will remember.”
* * *
Tatyana, Kezia, and Radu sat at a table in the center of the camp, just next to the bonfire, watching the musicians on the stage.
“It will be the first time two women have been on the terrin,” Radu said. “The Poshani are becoming very progressive.”
Kezia and Tatyana exchanged a look.
“Oh yes,” Kezia said. “Very progressive.”
“We’re still deciding what we will do with the Hazar and darigan who followed Vano,” Kezia said. “But they have all been identified.”
Radu looked at Tenzin and Ben. “I hope this does not affect your trust in the kamvasa.”
Ben glanced at the full circle of trailers. “It doesn’t look like you’ve lost any guests.”
“Not so far,” Tatyana said. “But if rumors start…”
“They won’t have come from us,” Tenzin said. “What happened to Vano?”
Radu, Kezia, and Tatyana stared at Tenzin with matching blank expressions.
“He has been dealt with,” Radu said. “We appreciate your trust on this matter.”
Oh yeah. Vano was super dead.
Ben nodded. “Of course. What will you do with all of Vano’s businesses?”
“They remain part of his property,” Tatyana said. “And the profit from that property employs and goes into the fund for all the Eastern Poshani. Radu and Kezia will help me to administer it until I understand the workings of the organization.”
Radu said, “With your background in financial accounting, I have no doubt that you’ll be an asset to all our people.”
“There are needs,” Tatyana said, “especially among the darigan. I believe I can be of some service.”
Kezia rose and held her hand out to Tatyana. “Come. Let’s visit some of the clan leaders while they are still gathered for Vashana. I will introduce you to everyone I know by name, and the old women will take care of the rest.”
“So the same as every community.” Tatyana smiled. “I already feel at home.”
As soon as they were away, Ben said, “You know she was hiding from Oleg.”
“Oleg is powerful,” Radu said. “But now Tatyana is one of the Poshani. She learned our language before she ever joined us. Our people respect that. She acquainted herself with our history and has impressed our people with her humility. I will tell you that already, the Eastern Poshani will defend her to the death. She is their terrin.”
“She won’t travel with the caravan?”
“She is welcome anytime, but Vano’s businesses are extensive and cross into Oleg’s territory. There is no way they will be able to avoid each other, but he knows that she is ours now. He will have to respect that or suffer the consequences.”
Ben sat back in his chair. “You’re a good man, Radu.”
He shrugged. “I
