Blossom and the Beast (The Alder Tales Book 1) Page 14

  Kaide pushed his plate away and stood, extending his hand out for hers. “Come along.”

  “Where are we going?” But even as she protested, she slid her hand in his and let him pull her from her chair. It wasn’t like she was going to eat.

  “I want to show you something.”

  Blossom’s nerves all but exploded when he led her toward the stairs, not the ones in his office that would take them to the first floor, but the other set—the ones that led up his personal quarters on the third floor.

  Before they went any further, she jumped a few steps ahead of him and turned, looking him square in the eye for once. “Wait, I’m not the kind of girl—”

  Kaide picked her up by her waist and carried her the rest of the way up as he said, “I know very well that you are not. And even if you were, I wouldn’t try unless I knew you wanted it.” At the top of the stairs, he lowered her back to the floor.

  Blossom’s brow creased in confusion. “Then what are we doing up here?”

  “I told you, I want to show you something.” As if to prove it, Kaide walked into his personal washroom, a massive space larger than Blossom’s whole bedroom. He approached the left wall, covered in planks of pressed alder wood, and a second later, slid away a large panel.

  “What is this?” Blossom wrinkled her brow at the idea of a secret room behind his washroom. All sorts of unsavory things probably occurred there.

  “My personal collection.” Kaide slipped through the opening that was just large enough for him to fit through. Once he was clear of the entryway, he reached out his hand and pulled her in with him.

  At first it was dark—perfectly pitch black once the door was sealed behind them. Only her hand in Kaide’s grounded her to her position, but a moment later, low lights flashed on and flooded the space with a soft, pleasant glow.

  Blossom’s mouth fell open. Along the curving outer wall, a bookshelf stretched from floor to ceiling and extended so far she couldn’t see the end. On the other wall hung bright portraits and paintings so numerous they touched each other, a patchwork of art. In the middle of the room were so many strange objects, Blossom didn’t even know where to begin.

  “What is all this?”

  Kaide’s hand moved to the small of her back. “If you’re going to make a decision on whether or not you’re going to live here, then you should know who you’re living with. These are all pre-war relics. This one is a telescope, for viewing the stars. That one, a piano, an instrument for music, though it doesn’t play anymore.”

  “Pre-war?” Blossom did the math in her head. It was year 962 now, so these items were a thousand years old at least. “How did you get them?”

  “Some were my father’s. Most I purchased through various black market dealings. Most of these are extremely illegal, especially the books. I trust you won’t mention them to anyone.” Kaide’s eyes were on her with staggering intensity. She knew at once she could destroy him with this. One word to the right person and he’d be executed for crimes against the Mother. He would have been smart to keep this hidden. But instead, he’d chosen to show her. To trust her.

  “Why do you have all this?”

  He wrung his hands in front of him while he considered his answer. At last, he said, “I like to be reminded that things weren’t always this way. Humans weren’t always divided into branches. We didn’t always have totems. There was a whole world of math and science and art, and none of it had anything to do with the Mother. Things were different once.”

  That wasn’t at all the answer she expected. Blossom stepped toward the bookshelf and noted, as he’d said, that none of the titles were the Terra-sanctioned volumes about the Alder Mother and her origins. Instead, they had letters and symbols she couldn’t begin to recognize.

  “These are the oldest. Most are in French or German, a few in Italian. Down on the other end I have a section of Seraphinian books. They aren’t sanctioned, but you’re welcome to read them if they interest you.”

  Blossom let her fingertips skim across the spines of the books, torn and stained with age or rot, but in remarkably good shape considering. Then, all at once, Blossom spun and looked at him. “Why?”

  Kaide shrugged and closed the gap between them. “Do you like it?”

  She nodded, a small smirk playing at the corners of her lips. “Are you trying to bribe me?”

  His whole face brightened with laughter. “That wasn’t my intention, but if that’s what it takes, then sure.”

  Blossom rolled her eyes and slid away from him. She perused the wall of books with one hand skimming the spines, all the way to the end of the room, so far around the curve of the manor she could no longer see him. And there at the far end, as he’d said, sat a section of books written in Seraphinian letters but definitely not sanctioned as holy writ by Terra. Most didn’t even have green or brown covers. They were red and purple and black and blue and every color between.

  She closed her eyes and let her hand fall on one of the colorful spines, picking a thick book with a cobalt cover. Pyrona Dusk. Blossom clutched it to her chest as she moved around the room, taking in the stunning paintings of old men and pinched-faced women, landscapes of open grasslands and expansive ocean views. Some were nothing more than splashes of colors and strange shapes, but she couldn’t deny they had a certain appeal.

  As she wandered through the space, Blossom found a low couch with cream-colored cushions and little flowers sewn in pink thread, and curled up on it, cracking open the book with care.

  Somewhere on the other end of the room music began to play. It was like nothing she’d ever heard before. “What is that?” she called out.

  “A trumpet, I believe,” he shouted in answer. “They called it jazz.”

  Blossom let the music sail over her in waves, feeling its rhythm and energy. She closed her eyes and let it seep into her soul.

  “That’s a good one,” Kaide said as he appeared beside her with his own book in hand.

  “Am I supposed to believe you’ve read all these?”

  “Not all of them. But most. You’ll have to let me know what you think when you finish it.”

  It was then Blossom realized she couldn’t read the whole thing before she was supposed to leave, and she didn’t want to take it with her. He’d already given up too much for her.

  She felt another pull to stay, though a book wasn’t a good reason and she knew it.

  Eager to push away such thought, Blossom flipped to the first page and let her eyes scan over the words, the first new words she’d read in years.

  Kaide felt the weight of Blossom’s head on his shoulder, and for a brief moment, he allowed himself to smile. She liked his collection, she liked this side of him, and now she’d ventured an unwarranted touch in a way she hadn’t yet done.

  Then he realized her shoulders moved with the easy breaths of sleep.

  Kaide set his book on the couch and pulled hers from her hand, slow enough to prevent waking her. Then, as she probably would have hated, he scooped her up against his chest and carried her to his bed.

  He would never tell her how he enjoyed these stolen moments. In fact, he knew there was a great deal he would never have the chance to tell her. Despite her interest in delaying her departure, Kaide knew she would eventually leave. Once she’d had her fill of secret libraries and exotic mountain peaks, she would tire of this life and go back to the Alderwood.

  Blossom stirred when he lowered her onto his bed, but she only rolled to her side and stilled again. Then, as he had the night before, Kaide pulled a pillow to the floor and tried to sleep, though as always, the early-morning hours passed too slowly.

  When at last he decided he could sleep no more, Kaide sat up and stared at his empty bed. Sheets were strewn and piled, so he was sure she’d slept there, but still, no Blossom.

  When Kaide stood to find her, he noticed her bare feet sticking out from behind the bed. He stepped closer and found her asleep on the floor with nothing more than a pillow. He put
a hand on her shoulder as gently as he could and shook her awake.

  Blossom’s eyes opened with a start before she realized where she was.

  “You fell out of bed,” he told her.

  “No, I didn’t,” she argued.

  “You’re on the floor.”

  “I like it here. What time is it?” Her hand rubbed across her face and she blinked to wake herself.

  Kaide couldn’t help but smile at her, all messy hair and tired eyes. “Still morning. Are you hungry?”

  “Starving, but uh—” Blossom sat up and revealed she’d untied her shirt so that it hung loose around her figure. “I have no idea how to fix this.”

  “Would you like me to show you?” After he said it, he realized how it sounded. But Blossom nodded and pushed herself up to sit on the bed.

  Kaide pulled her to standing and finished untying the last of it. “These here,” he said of the longest strips, “go around the back and cross.” He tried to reach around her but she was too short and the angle was all wrong. “Actually, could you turn around?”

  From behind, it was easier to pull the strips around, cross, and tie them. Then he started on the next set. “These go around your neck like this.” Kaide didn’t miss how his hands skimming the skin of her neck made her go rigid.

  “And these last ones, they cross and hook together in the back.” When he reached around for the shorter strips, his chin skimmed the top of her shoulder. Without thinking, he parted his lips and kissed her soft, bare skin, now riddled with gooseflesh. Kaide planted another kiss closer to her neck, moving his way in, kiss by kiss. Blossom tilted her head to the side and gave him access to the space under her ear, and Kaide took full advantage.

  His long arms snaked around her, pulling her against his chest, where he continued to kiss her neck, growing bolder with each passing moment. What had started as small, shy kisses turned more passionate. Slow became fast. His heated breaths warmed her skin until she wriggled away.

  When she turned to face him, her eyes were wide and full of questions.

  “I’m sorry. I did exactly what I said I wouldn’t—”

  Blossom stepped toward him. Kaide refused to move—to violate her trust again. But Blossom stood tall and inclined her chin to kiss his neck, though she was so short, she only managed to kiss the spot above his collarbone.

  Kaide bent his knees and lowered himself enough that she could reach. If she wanted to kiss his neck, he would find a way to make it happen. When she was finally able to reach, Blossom pressed her lips to his neck—once, twice, a third time—before she pulled away again.

  “What was that for?” he couldn’t help but ask.

  Blossom pressed a fingertip to the neck he’d just kissed. “It felt good. I thought I should at least return the favor.” She shot him a nervous smile before looking at her feet.

  Kaide could have fallen over. He would have landed on his back with arms spread wide like a sea star and cared not a bit.

  She liked when he kissed her. It was too good to be true.

  “Can we go see the city today?” she asked when she looked up at last.

  “Anywhere you like.” Kaide focused on breathing in and out, filling his lungs with air, as he watched her battle her nerves. He liked that he made her nervous, but he loved that she was bold enough to get past it—an intoxicating combination.

  Then he heard boots on the steps. Kaide looked up in time to see Olin come into view, his posture professional and his features serious. After a courteous bow, he said, “Good morning, sir. Vice Syndicate Iolla has just arrived and is waiting in your office.”

  Oh. No.

  He’d completely forgotten. Kaide pinched the bridge of his nose between two fingers as he tried to think of something to tell the Hydra Vice Syndicate.

  “It’s all right,” Blossom said as she smiled up at him. “Druma can take me. Then we can do dinner tonight?”

  Kaide didn’t like it, but he knew it was the only option. He kissed her forehead. “You’re an angel.”

  Blossom rolled her eyes and laughed. “I’m hardly angelic.”

  Just the sound of her laugh floored him. He was already struggling when she reached up and kissed his collarbone once more before passing Olin and disappearing down the stairs.

  As Kaide watched her leave, he noticed Olin’s grimace. “What?”

  Olin shook his head. “I told you I think she’s a distraction.”

  Kaide straightened at the accusation. He could handle a tumultuous political career and a feisty young bride. He wasn’t willing to give up on either of them. There was no choice but to make it work. Besides, if Blossom had her way, he would only be distracted for one more day.

  From his closet, he selected a scarlet cloak and buttoned it with hasty hands. He worked his fingers through his hair for a moment before he joined Vice Syndicate Iolla in his office.

  “Good morning, Vice Syndicate,” Kaide offered as he approached his desk and bowed his head with respect.

  “And to you, Vice Syndicate Landel.” Iolla mirrored the motion, his cerulean cloak shimmering in the morning sun streaming in from the wide windows.

  “I hope your journey wasn’t too taxing.”

  “If you don’t mind, could we skip the pleasantries? The numbers for last quarter’s transformations arrived and they’re worse than we feared.”

  Kaide let his frustration settle into his jaw. “Another decrease?”

  “From forty one to thirty six percent.” Iolla’s stern expression matched his words.

  “A five percent drop? Is even Aero that bold?”

  Iolla walked around the crimson leather chair and sank, the color bright against the pleasant blue of his cloak. “You know that they are. The food shortages are only going to get worse. We need more men—and not like the ones you sent last time.”

  Kaide, too, sat in his office chair and stroked his chin. “We’re struggling to find enough capable men to assist without cutting into our own needs. It sounds like you’re dissatisfied with our previous attempts to assist you.”

  “Deviants and criminals are not the men we sought when we asked for your help. They harvest crops by day and rape and kill at night. Hardly an improvement.” Iolla tipped his head toward Kaide with his accusation.

  In reality, Kaide already knew that would be the way of it. Pyros raised under volcanic fire and pulsing with the blood of predators could be nothing but dangerous in the unprotected farming community of Hydrona.

  “If you want more men, I will find some to send. Two hundred more, and that’s all. Of course if you don’t want them, you’re under no obligation to accept.” Kaide kept his features neutral, but he knew Iolla would agree. He needed men to harvest their dying crops and distribute them within the realm. He would deal with the Pyro interference as best he could in the meantime.

  “Hydra appreciates your contribution.” Iolla said to conclude their business, but he remained in his seat.

  “Is there something else, Vice Syndicate?” Kaide clasped his hands across his lap and waited.

  “We received the formal invitation to the Seasonal Ceremony at the Syndicate Building. I hoped you might offer your allegiance in boycotting the event. No Hydra will be in attendance.”

  Kaide breathed out his frustration as slow and steady as possible. “We’ve discussed this before. You and I will not give any indication of our alliance nor our knowledge of Aero corruption before we have the means to make a swift and permanent strike against them. Boycotting such an event will only alert them of our plans.”

  “You think you’ll be able to attend a formal celebration with Syndicate Waller, or worse, Vice Syndicate Mercer without giving away your intentions?” Iolla shook his head. “I think it’s best we keep away from her as much as possible.”

  “To stay away from her, to hide in our cities like scared children, will only give her the power to continue moving forward with this agenda to destabilize our branches. And yes, I have the capacity to interact with Walle
r and Mercer without revealing anything other than my honor to be in their esteemed presence.”

  And with that, Kaide knew he had him. Iolla couldn’t boycott the event without admitting he lacked the social skills necessary to keep his thoughts to himself. “Then we shall attend, but should this event result in the fracture of our alliance, I will hold you personally responsible.”

  Kaide stood and nodded. “I would have it no other way.”

  Lava Stone

  BLOSSOM SAILED right past Kaide’s visitor and descended all the way down the steps to the first floor. She found Norsa in the kitchen, working on whatever she had going in her pots. Earthy scents of cooking meat and floral fruit filled the space, mixing with the steam and heat from the stove.

  Valenta appeared in the doorway and sank in like a lover. “Ms. Frane! Did you have a wonderful time?” Valenta clutched her hands in front of her and looked as if she might swoon.

  Blossom and Norsa both laughed at her theatrics. “It was fine. Do you know where Druma is?”

  “Probably out at the service building. Valenta would be happy to fetch him for you.” Norsa shot her a look that said not to argue. Valenta nodded and hurried back out the door.

  “Are you hungry, child? We have all sorts of berries and things from the Alderwood.” Norsa motioned toward a basket of the same fruits they’d eaten at last night’s dinner.

  “Do you have anything from around here? What do Pyros have for breakfast?” Blossom pulled up a stool to the counter and watched as Norsa placed a dozen strange new foods in front of her, taking the time to identify each one.

  “The volcanic soils can grow nearly everything, but Pyros tend to eat meat for the most part. Otherwise, there are these: pineapples, grapefruit, this melon here is good. A little sweet but good.”

  Blossom let Norsa cut open the fruits and tried a little of each, marveling at the new flavors and textures. It was all so different from the berries and peaches of the Alderwood.

  “Sure you don’t want me to cook you up a few slices of cured bacon?”