“If we are to be together, Opal, I want to be with you, spending as much time with you as possible.”
I thought of Valek and Yelena. He had said no amount of time or distance could break them apart. Was it too much to expect the same from Kade? Then there was Mara and Leif. They kept together for most of the year.
“Why?”
“You ground me. When I’m on the coast—” he gestured to the western horizon “—and dancing, I can easily lose myself in the storm’s energy and personality. I wanted to do just that after my sister died, but you kept me connected. You give me a reason to come back.”
Kade tucked an errant strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re kind, smart and tenacious, and I love the way you’re so quick to help others. And there lies the problem. You rush off to solve Sitia’s problems and you don’t need my help. But I want to be selfish, keeping you safe with me.”
“But I wasn’t rushing off for Sitia this time. I was the one being selfish.”
“An exception. What about next time?”
“Valek could teach—”
“I already have a job. I’d like a home and a family. Do you?”
“Eventually, I guess.”
“Guess?” An eyebrow spiked.
“I can’t see past this…uncertainty with my blood.” And while it was nice to think my spyglass would show me the future if I found the right focus point, I didn’t believe it.
“Whether or not you reclaim your magic, some decisions won’t change.”
He had a point. Yet, deep inside, I equated planning my future to giving up; if I agreed to stay with Kade and work for the Council, I was admitting defeat.
Kade watched me. “You’re conflicted about more than your blood. What’s wrong?”
Time for full disclosure. I resumed walking, but the beautiful scenery didn’t even register in my mind.
Matching my pace, Kade stayed next to me. After a few moments, he asked, “How bad is it?”
“Bad.”
“Have you and Janco decided to run away to Ixia together?” Kade joked.
He surprised a laugh from me. “I’d kill Janco before we reach the border.” Then all my humor drained away. “You’re not going to like this.”
“Just tell me, Opal.”
So I did. The words rushed out.
Kade stopped in disbelief. “Devlen? You kissed Devlen?”
Feeling miserable, I nodded.
“But he… How could…?”
“I don’t know why. Maybe because he understands what I’m going through right now.”
“I—”
“Can’t understand. I’m sorry it happened, but I can’t erase the past. I love you. I do, but I need him right now. The search for my blood had given me a purpose. Devlen gives me hope that if I don’t find it, I’ll be able to get on with my life.”
“With me?”
“I’m here.”
“What does that mean?” he asked.
“I knew that if I didn’t come here, we’d no longer be together. I don’t want to lose you, and I don’t want to lie to you, either. Can you just be with me for now?”
“I need to think about it,” he said. “The house is over there.” Kade pointed. “I’ll meet you later.” He strode away.
I hovered near the back porch of the house, feeling lost and heartsick. The unmistakable sounds of an argument reached me. I didn’t want to eavesdrop on Kade’s parents, so I let their voices flow past me. Instead I counted the number of clotheslines strung next to the shed—more than I would expect for three people. I was up to ten when my name was mentioned. Unable to avoid the now-loud conversation, I sank to the steps and rested my elbows on my knees.
“…took her sweet time,” Kade’s mother said.
A muttered reply from Ink. I covered my face with my hands.
“…don’t care… She’s nothing but trouble.”
At least she had that right. The door squeaked and I glanced up.
Ink leaned on the frame. “Where’s Kade?” he asked.
“He said he’d meet me here.”
“Don’t sit out in the sun. Come in.” Ink pushed the door wider.
I entered a workroom. Kegs of ink rested on a long table. Bolts of cloth littered the floor and open barrels of liquid lined the walls. I had known Kade worked on his family’s farm during the off-season, but had no idea exactly what they did with the ink.
Ink didn’t give me time to ask as he led me into the kitchen to introduce me to his wife. She stirred a pot heating on the hearth.
“Sarrah, this is—”
“Met her already,” she said without looking up. “Go wash up before supper.”
“Be nice. Opal’s our guest.” He shooed me from the kitchen and into the living room. He played host, telling me to sit down, fetching me a drink and asking how long I planned to visit.
“Not long,” I said. “My sister is getting married in fifteen days and I need to be home in time to help.”
Sarrah came out to set the formal table, setting down the plates with extra force. The bangs punctuated her ill humor.
“Can I help with supper?” I asked her.
“No.”
To break the awkward silence I asked Ink about his work. Before he could speak, Sarrah grumped. “She knows nothing about us.”
“Of course she doesn’t,” Ink said. “Opal’s been busy. Without her, they never would have fixed those orbs.”
“Tell that to Nisha and Kamlesh. I’m sure they would rather have their children home with them, than for all of them to be murdered.”
I missed a major connection between fixed orbs to murdered children. Ink rubbed his temples as if this were an old argument. I caught his eye and raised my eyebrows in question.
“Nisha and Kamlesh are Indra, Varun and Nodin’s parents. Or were.” Ink hunched over the table.
Grief welled. The three glassmakers had been killed by Sir and Tricky for the Stormdancers’ secret orb recipe—the special sand mixture used for the glass orbs. I also had the recipe, but when Sir couldn’t force it from me, he turned to them.
“I would like to visit them before I leave. Do they live nearby?” I asked Ink.
“Don’t bother them,” Sarrah said. “They have no wish to see you. Believe me.”
Lovely. Kade’s mother blamed me for their deaths. I wondered if Nisha and Kamlesh did, as well. At least Sarrah couldn’t pin her daughter Kaya’s death on me. It was one of the reasons I had become involved with discovering who had sabotaged the orbs. Through that mission I had met Kade.
As Sarrah bustled around, I studied her. She had lost a child a little over a year ago. My mother had been devastated when Tula had died, but I couldn’t remember if she had been angry, as well. The man who had killed my sister had been caught, and so had the people responsible for Kaya’s death. Kade had helped capture them. Did Sarrah also think I was responsible for getting him involved? He had been caught and forced to harvest the energy from the blizzards in Ixia. I shied away from thinking about my role during that time.
I remembered Kade had been just as walled off as his mother. But he had found a little peace since his sister’s death. Why? I sorted through my memories. Kaya’s soul had been trapped in a glass orb, existing with a storm’s energy. After escaping Sir and Tricky, Kade had set her free. He had said goodbye.
“Did you have a good harvest this year?” I asked Ink.
Once again Sarrah jumped in. “Why do you care? Look at those drab-colored clothes you’re wearing. We only produce vibrant and beautiful ink here.”
I bit my tongue before I could make a nasty comment about her brown pants and tan shirt. I really, really didn’t want to argue. Since anything I said would be misconstrued by Sarrah, I kept quiet.
Kade returned. He wouldn’t look at me, and he didn’t notice the tension in the room.
Supper was painful and I almost wished to be back at Wirral. Almost. Sarrah steered the conversation and I kept my temper in check. She reminisced over Kade’s and Kaya’s childhoods. I noted the lack of embarrassing stories. Lucky Kade.