It was done. I hadn’t completely resigned myself to the decision, regardless of the signs and—let’s face it—the money, but apparently I’d been set into office by another’s sworn oath of allegiance. Great.
Tarrek looked confused and then his face went completely blank with understanding. “Maddy, I’m sorry. I had no idea you hadn’t already accepted. I assumed if you were sitting with Bahlin of your own free will, you were discussing the murders.”
“Murders?” I asked weakly.
“For the love of your goddess, Tarrek, shut the hell up,” Bahlin growled.
Tarrek whipped his head toward Bahlin, a snarl on his face. What had been handsome was immediately feral, the threat more than implied. “You do not rule here, dragon. Walk softly along this path lest it open beneath your feet and swallow you whole.” His voice echoed, the candles on the table flared and Bahlin slid down in the seat, crossing his arms on his chest and appearing wholly unmoved.
“Gentlemen,” I said softly, forcing them to turn and look at me instead of each other. “Let’s not do this here. There may come a time and place where it’s appropriate, but the mundanes in this room are pleasantly ignorant as to your dual existences. Let’s keep it that way.” The last was said with steel in my voice. I had no idea I had it in me, the ability to speak like that. Cool. “Now let’s talk murder.”
Bahlin had the kitchen plate my meal and send it up to room 2210, several floors above my original room. He also made arrangements as we passed the front desk to have all of my personal stuff moved up to that room too. I felt a little weird about people packing and unpacking for me, but he assured me it would be fine. He tossed my old room key across the front desk and ordered that a new key be delivered to my new room within the hour. We barely slowed down as we passed the desk, but his orders had staff scrambling to obey.
We were waiting for the elevator car to arrive when I remembered the phrase I’d heard. I turned first to Bahlin then to Tarrek and asked, “What does adael i ddechrau mean?” The phrase was fresh enough in my mind that I thought I had the pronunciation pretty close.
Bahlin, who had been watching the descending floor numbers on the elevator’s display, turned to face me. A look of disbelief colored his face. “Where did you hear that, Maddy?”
I looked at Tarrek and found that he was watching me equally as close.
I shrugged. “I know it sounds crazy, but I heard it breathe through the stones the night I made my wish and then I heard it again tonight when Tarrek made his oath and affirmed me.”
Tarrek looked away, apparently uncomfortable.
“Sodding hell,” Bahlin sighed. “It’s truly done then.” He ran his hands through his hair again, and I realized this was something he did when he was frustrated and unsure of himself. “It’s an Old World Welsh phrase that translates literally to ‘let it begin.’” He turned in a tight circle and stepped around me, grabbing Tarrek by his suit lapels and slamming him into the elevator doors with a great thud. “Do you realize what you’ve done to her you damned faerie?”
I grabbed Bahlin’s arm just as Tarrek muttered something below his breath and Bahlin’s hands were literally thrown from Tarrek’s arms. In the rush of what must have been magic, I was flung to the floor, sliding about fifteen feet before coming to a stop.
“Damn it all to hell,” I muttered, trying to get my feet under me to stand up. “I’m already tired of this freaking weird shit.”
Bahlin glanced at his palms.
Tarrek strode to my side. “I’m so sorry, Maddy. I had no idea you’d grab hold of him at that moment.” Distress was evident in his every word. He reached out to help me up.
“Forget it, Tarrek.” I watched Bahlin approaching Tarrek from behind. “In fact, both of you forget it. Now.” I clasped Tarrek’s hand and stood, realizing belatedly that we had a small audience of hotel and restaurant patrons. “Let’s leave this alone, guys. We’ve garnered enough attention, don’t you think?” I was flushed with embarrassment.
We all returned to the elevator door at the same time it dinged to let us know our car had arrived. We all studiously ignored the imprint Tarrek’s body had left in the metal doors.