Chapter Four
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Three days, and Kaddar could almost feel the strain taking its toll on him. He was fairly sure that it wasn't supposed to work this way. Being nice to Kalasin, and her being nice in return, was supposed to relax him. All it had done so far was create awkward moments between them. The space that had once been filled with all types of sarcastic comments, witty one-liners, and cheap shots, was now just an empty pause, before reverting to business as usual.
Maybe it wasn't meant to be. Maybe he and Kalasin were destined to live life snapping at each other. Part of him just wanted to tell her so, but the other part feared for his own life if he did something like that.
Kaddar turned on his side and looked at her. The curtain had fallen open a bit, and a sliver of moonlight illuminated her face. She looked so innocent, with her long eyelashes sweeping her tanned and lightly freckled skin. Her brow was smooth and free of worry, and one stray lock of hair rested on her slightly parted lips, fluttering up and down with her breath.
Her eyes opened suddenly. "Hello."
Kaddar yelped and fell back. "Ah! Goddess, woman, must you do such strange things?"
Kalasin grinned mischievously and sat up. "Was that a yelp I heard, Imperial Majesty? And I have a name, and it's not woman. It's Kalasin. Kally, optional."
"Feh."
"Hmph."
Kaddar snorted. "Are you trying to challenge me on monosyllables? Don't even bother. Besides, why are you awake?"
Kalasin sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees. He was quickly recognizing it as her favorite pose. "I was cold. You had the blankets to your side again."
"I did not! You had an adequate amount of blanketry. And you did not feel a draft on your side," he said quickly, anticipating her next argument. She sulked at him, and he fell back on the pillows. "You would be warmer if you wore something with sleeves," he smirked. "You're the only one insane enough to wear a sleeveless nightgown in November, after all."
"It's not insanity," she protested indignantly, and actually pressed her bare upper arm to his cheek. "See, I'm warm as long as I have enough blankets. So I think you should share."
"If I do, will you go back to sleep?"
"Yes," she said with a flutter of her eyelashes.
Kaddar gave her his most world-weary sigh, making a space in the comfortable next of blankets. She collapsed right next to him, almost knocking against his head. He felt her warmth beside him as he pulled the covers tight around both of them. Kalasin rested against his shoulder for a moment—a definite first—and he felt the soft, light weight of her hair against his chest.
She was asleep within moments, leaving Kaddar awake, twirling a strand of her hair through his fingers. Half-asleep, he realized that they had not only had a conversation without insults, there had actually been a little physical contact as well. Maybe he had actually done something right for a change. Or maybe she had just drunk too much wine at dinner.
Kaddar favored the first possibility. It did wonders for his self-esteem. It was a little progress, after all.