She sighed. When had her thoughts become so jumbled?
“Something you want to ask?” He leaned against the wall, an elbowpropped on the ledge and one ankle crossed over the other, the picture ofrelaxed, the master of putting people at ease. “Something about this mysteriousnoble, perhaps?”
She blinked, wondering how he could have known, but as his smilegrew, she knew her reaction had just told him something. “You’re guessing.”
“And by the look of you, I was right. So tell. Is the nobleterrifying, or have they caught your eye?”
Her cheeks burned as she turned away. “I should get back to—”
“Nope. Stay and tell. That’s a royal command.”
She hoped her look conveyed where he could stuff his royalty andhis commands.
He barked a laugh. “If this noble is terrifying, I can yank a fewof their fearsome teeth. If you find them intriguing, ask the master ofromance.” He opened his arms as if welcoming her in.
“Master of the one tumble and then a quick good-bye.”
“Hey! Some were interesting enough for two or three.”
She snorted a laugh. “No thanks.” And there went thespirits-cursed burning in her cheeks again.
His eyes widened. “Are you in love?”
“Shut up,” she mumbled as she tried to turn for the stairs again.
He raced around her and drew himself up to his full height of sixfeet, blocking her path. “Are you? You have to tell me, Than. I’d tell you.”
“I wouldn’t want to know.” When he dodged to stay in her path,quick and lithe, she sighed. “I don’t know this person well enough to be inlove.”
“But you can’t get them out of your mind.”
“The garden explosion was the day before yesterday. Of course,they’ve been on my mind.” Sometimes naked, but she didn’t mention that part.Her cheeks had probably told the secret for her by now.
He leaned back, the wonder on his face softening toconsideration, the grin becoming a smirk again. She put her hands on her hipsand waited, but he only turned to the side, gesturing that the way to thestairs was clear.
Thana stepped that way, trying not to stomp or sulk or blush anyharder.
“When you tell me their name,” he said behind her, “I want thewhole story.”
She strode on, glad the darkness hid her face.
Chapter Five
Sylph awoke feeling bold, something she hadn’t experiencedin a long time. She lay in bed and felt unworthy of the feeling even as shereveled in it. She hadn’t done anything the day before except make a bunch ofcourtiers make way for the queen’s pyradisté. She hadn’t ordered them to gojump in the river or chop their own heads off, nothing that would make themfear her more than any other noble. And Thana had probably forgotten theincident even as it occurred. No doubt she viewed herself as above her stationbecause of the royal company she kept.
That thought wrinkled Sylph’s good feelings, and she sat up,staring at all her clothes and cosmetics and frippery. She took no joy in themtoday and focused on Thana. She didn’t want Thana to forget her actions withthe courtiers—a desire she did her best to squelch—because it had brought themcloser…a little. She also frowned a bit at the thought of Thana being of suchlow station.
But that was truth and required no feelings from her whatsoever.
With a sigh, she nearly threw a pillow across the room. Even herown mind was starting to sound like her father.
She rose and dressed herself, not waiting for her maid. Shepulled her hair back in a simple tail and donned one of the ridiculous hats soin fashion. It would cover her lack of artistry nicely. When she emerged intothe sitting room, her maid made a little squeal from where she was laying outsome breakfast things.
“My lady, I didn’t know you were up!”
“You may go.” Sylph gave her an icy stare until she fled. Herstomach was churning, and the thought of the impending pyramid practice lefther thoughts scattered. She did not have the energy to field inquiries orschool her face from the maid’s searching glances. She sipped her tea and triedto make herself be calm. She’d endured many lessons in her lifetime. What wasone more?
One more that could ruin her if anyone found out?
She set the cup down with a clatter that would have shocked heretiquette tutor and forced herself to breathe. She couldn’t think of thepyramids without being nervous, so she thought of the only other thing thismorning included: Thana.
Yes, Thana couldn’t be her friend or anything, but that was onlyin reality. In her mind, Sylph could have anything, be anyone, befriend whomshe liked, and love whomever she wished. She’d had many occasions to begrateful that her father couldn’t read her mind while he lectured her, couldn’thear the many names she called him when he scorned or belittled.
She imagined that she and Thana werefriends. She would be excited they were going to spend the morning together.They could talk about anything, not only the difficulties and triumphs in theirlives but what they might do if let out into the world. They could go awaytogether and have adventures. They could laugh. They could kiss. They could—
Sylph gasped as another thought occurred, a buried bit of triviathat fought through her imaginary nonsense. Because they had the power to readminds through pyramids, pyradistés never had to worry about someone readingtheir thoughts. The power shielded them somehow.
Having her mind read had never been a great worry, even with allher rebellious thoughts. Her father loathed pyradistés, but when she’d foundout they had the power to read minds, she’d been fearful. Now, she had acertainty in her favor, an indisputable fact all her own. No one would everknow her thoughts.
The boldness returned.
She ate lightly. She would need sustenance for the tasks ahead,but she didn’t want to be sick if her nerves assailed her again. When shefinished, she waited in the hall, not wanting her maid or her father to catchThana visiting. She would
