Thanks to my reviewers! Review! Flamers welcome!
Disclaimer: the world of Black Jewels belongs only to Anne Bishop, I only own my characters.
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Sirian sipped at the bitter tonic, eyeing the white envelope before her with distaste. As promised Claudia had cancelled all her appointments for the rest of the week and even went so far as to cancel half of them for the week afterward. Not that she was going to complain. She had been meaning to take a break for the past two months now. Maybe she'd pay a visit to Draega and do some shopping, or even Ebon Askavi. Sirian smiled at the thought of the mountains and open air. She hadn't much time to fly recently and her wings were aching to be used. Glancing at the door, she wondered where Kavar was. Not that she wanted an annoying male presence fussing over her and getting snarly about everything. Maybe she'd even sneak out while she had the chance. Traveling before her fourth day was careless, but if it meant freedom from annoying male presences and busy body friends, Sirian thought it would be worth it. Standing, she went to her closet and pulled out the heavy wooden trunk and proceeded in flinging everything into it. She'd request food to fill her cold box, find a coach, and get as far away from here as possible. Feeling lightened by the thought, she tossed the envelope in the trunk and closed it. Should she call someone to carry it for her and increase the number of people who could tell Kavar she had left, or should she use craft and risk a backlash? Deciding it best to find someone, she placed her hand on the doorknob and froze as someone pounded on the door. Stepping back, Sirian hesitantly tried to decide whether she should answer it or not.
"Sirian if you want to pretend you're not inside stop hovering near the door." Kavar's voice. Sighing, she opened the door and stepped back, letting the tall eyrien slip inside.
He wore his usual black leather pants and vest, his shaggy black hair falling across piercing gold eyes. Kavar smiled down at her sharply, tapping his fingers against his thigh, a sure sign that he was irritated.
Shifting uncomfortably, Sirian began to wonder just how much Claudia had told him. Claudia was a female who had dealt with Warlord Princes before and she would know how much to tell one about a moontime. So why did that not help ease Sirian's worry that Claudia may have mentioned that she'd been servicing men during her moontime?
"Going somewhere?" Sirian looked at Kavar, puzzled, before remembering the trunk.
Dammit she should have put it away before opening the door.
"Of course not, it's the second day; I'm not foolish enough to travel without my jewels." Kavar's look told her just how foolish he thought she was.
"Of course you aren't. So why do you have a packed trunk resting on your bed?"
Sirian glanced at the trunk and around the room.
"I was going to wait for the fourth day and go to Ebon Askavi. I didn't want to trouble myself with packing later." I paused as someone knocked on the door.
In two strides Kavar reached the door and flung it open, giving the eager looking boy a slashing look.
"What do you want?" the boy's face paled drastically and he took a step back.
"Well? Spit it out!"
"I…I was told to deliver Miss Sirian's things to the coach waiting outside." I felt the blood rush out of my head, wishing dearly that the sputtering boy would just shut up and go away.
"I see. Tell the coach we will be out momentarily. I'll escort her things downstairs." With that, Kavar shut the door.
I didn't dare look up at him; instead, I focused my attention on the red carpet.
"Sirian." It sounded as if Kavar was struggling not to yell. "Did you really think you could sneak off?"
A rush of anger overcame me and I met Kavar's glare with one of my own.
"I don't need to 'sneak off'. I'm a grown woman and I'm mature enough to make my own decisions without anyone telling me otherwise."
"I never said you weren't an adult, and let's not discuss your maturity right now. All you needed to do was to tell me where you wanted to go and I would have made arrangements."
"That's the bloody problem! I don't need you to make arrangements for me; I can do that on my own."
The temperature dropped and I shivered a little.
"It is a male's duty to serve and protect."
I sighed.
Normally I would have smiled at being caught and invited Kavar to join me on a weekend excursion. Damn these moods.
I let out a sigh and shook my head.
"All right. I was wrong, want to join me in sneaking off to Ebon Askavi?" the temperature returned back to normal and Kavar gave a sharp smile.
"On one condition." I glanced up suspiciously.
"What?"
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That insufferable, immature, inscrutable ass.
Sirian made a well aimed kick at her trunk and hissed as she stubbed her toe, glaring at anyone who dared look in her direction. They had arrived in Ebon Askavi not to long ago and Kavar had immediately found a hotel. Sirian was given specific instructions to stand with the furniture and not to move an inch or else. Not wanting to argue with that tone of voice, she now found herself standing in a corner next to her trunk and the nervous looking coachman who had been ordered not to let her out of his sight.
And to add it all up she was feeling nauseated and exhausted from the long ride.
She had to admit though that Kavar had kept his temper for the most part. Normally the thought of letting a female on her moontime out in public (when a male had something to say about it) was unheard of. Any male around a witch on her moontime would scrape the temper of her guardian, especially an eyrien warlord prince. Despite his territorial nature, Kavar was doing a fine job of not slaughtering any male around them, much to Sirian's relief. But because she was tired and moody, she was not happy with the fact that Kavar had went off to do something and left her standing here for over thirty minutes.
One condition?
More like all of her free will being suppressed by multiple conditions he pushed into one.
The bastard.
She had promised that she would listen to him. That was the condition. She was not to go anywhere without him and she would listen to him.
She. Would. Listen.
That bastard.
There was a fine line separating listening and obeying.
Muttering angrily to herself, Sirian didn't notice Kavar come up behind her until he clamped a hand on her shoulder.
Giving a startled yelp, she swung to face him and glared full force.
"I've got our rooms."
"Oh, I'm so surprised you found it acceptable to get two rooms instead of locking me up where you can keep an eye on me." Sirian snarled.
"They're adjoining rooms." Picking up her suitcase, Kavar dismissed the coachman and headed down the hall. Glaring after him, Sirian followed suit.
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