Page 49 of Because the Gods Left

“There are some—” Vaneshta continued, but Lidishta swatted at her, interrupting. “But there are some who would think that makes him weak. Like he’s being controlled. Like you’re bound to take him down next. There would be challenges.”

Iryana shivered at the challenges she’d seen so far. “Exactly, it’s not the best time to start publicly courting.”

“Courting.” Vaneshta snorted. “That’s such a ketsan word.”

Iryana blushed. She wasn’t sure what else to call it. They weren’t just sleeping together; it was more than that. Guardian clans were considered higher society, and the Horvols had been a well-known ketsan military family. They were supposed to court, get married, and make lots of babies. The thought immediately made her shiver. She wasn’t ready for… that.

“We’re ketsan too,” Lidishta pointed out, a challenging smirk aimed in Vaneshta’s direction. “Are we not courting?”

Vaneshta hummed, eyes narrowing as if she had to think about it. Lidishta looked ready to push Vaneshta off the bed when she finally answered, “We’re not courting. I’m waiting to marry you, and you’re catching up.”

“Vani!” Lidishta’s eyes blew wide, jaw dropping. Pepha burst out into surprised giggles, but Iryana was sure she looked like Mezhimar: wide-eyed and sputtering.

“Anyway,” Iryana gasped. “So, yes. Pyetar and I are… a thing. A secret thing.”

Vaneshta turned and nodded casually at Iryana, like Lidishta wasn’t still gaping at her. “That sucks,” she said.

Iryana merely nodded.

The room was returning to normal, but Iryana was sure Vaneshta would have to face a reckoning later once Lidishta got her alone.

“Just don’t waste the time you have,” Pepha said gently, a bit of pain reflecting in her eyes.

Iryana swallowed. Pepha might not talk about it much, but Iryana knew how much she still grieved her husband.

“It’s complicated, Pepha. I wouldn’t be tiptoeing around in secret if I had another reasonable choice.”

“Vaneshta gets to be Vani, why am I still Pepha,” she blurted out in a rush, eyes narrowed.

“Oh, uh…”

“That’s because I made her,” Vaneshta cackled.

Iryana cringed. “I’m not used to—”

“We don’t care about your discomfort,” Vaneshta declared, draping herself across Lidishta’s lap. Lidishta immediately started playing with her hair.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Pepha argued timidly while Lidishta and Mezhimar chuckled.

“It’s okay… Pepi.” Iryana forced the words out awkwardly. “It’s an honor.” Though her heart was racing loudly in her chest.

“And I better be Mezho,” Mezhimar added, smirking.

They were enjoying this—Iryana knew it. But it felt good. “Okay… Mezho.”

“And Lidi.”

“Yes, yes. I will address you all as the very close friends that you demand to be.”

They all laughed.

“For what it’s worth, Iri,” Vaneshta said, turning her head in Lidishta’s lap to look at her, “I think you two are good together.”

Chapter Ten

Iryana loosed an arrow, feeling the edge of its fletching brush her cheek. It flew straight across the courtyard and into the makeshift target they’d set up. It sunk into the straw, far from where she had aimed.

“Fucking gods,” she cursed, gritting her teeth in frustration.