her to the University when the talent first manifested to see if there was anything they could do.”
Stupid. The guild had very serious rules about such things. A death sentence to ignore this particular rule. A blind weaver... You couldn’t form the pattern without holding the image in your mind. If you released your magic without that, you would die along with any number of people you caught within the weave. Certainly anyone in your immediate vicinity but also perhaps anyone your thoughts even touched upon. The guild secretly and humanely put down any of its members who lacked the ability to control their magic—the demented, the old and infirm, the disabled.
“I told them she’d been taken by a fever.”
“And they believed you?”
“Not at first, no, but we buried her in some state. I mourned publicly for months and she disappeared.”
Ily shook her head. He was protecting his child and endangering them all, everyone who lived in this building certainly.
“The guildmaster was willing to take her from me as a pupil and train her secretly.”
“No.”
Ily said it without thought—shouted it really—immediately and forcefully. Wincing inwardly, she turned her head to see the look of open shock on Cassia’s face. To her credit, the woman schooled her features quickly but wasn’t able to completely hide the speculation in her eyes. There was a marked lack of surprise on Kal’s face. Ily had been one of the guildmaster’s private pupils and would not wish that particular sort of tutelage upon any child. Had he always known the truth about her? What a very great fool she’d been.
Kal didn’t comment, which was a mercy. Or, worse, ask her any stupid questions, which would help no one. Instead, with a gentleness that shook her to the soul, he tugged her closer. His arms came up around her shoulders and pulled her to his chest. For some reason even she didn’t understand, she let him do it. The strength of his body, his scent. His hands smoothing down her spine. She tucked her head beneath his chin and he held her thus until her trembling subsided. Only moments passed as they stood there, but at some point while Ily hid herself in Kal’s strength, Cassia discreetly moved away.
“Don’t let him near her,” Ily whispered fiercely.
He kissed the top of her head. “I won’t. But this...this was the only alternative.”
A shudder ran the length of her body. She snaked her arms around his waist and listened to the reassuring beat of his heart. How long had he known that she was running from one particular man? Lanel Hasson, guildmaster for these past dozen years with a taste for young women and not above using his position to coerce them into his bed. Kal had likely suspected something of the sort once he recognized her as a master. There was every advantage to being a guild member and so very few reasons to run. She remembered how circumspectly he’d questioned her about her training.
He’d been planning this for a very long time.
When she lifted her head, he caught her jaw. He searched her face for a long moment and then kissed her deeply. “I’m sorry.”
“For kissing me?”
One corner of his mouth pulled up. “No.”
“Has it all been a lie then?”
His body stiffened. “No, Ily.”
“The rug. The workshop, every generosity great and small. Us?”
“I have to stay in the emperor’s good graces. I can’t afford his scrutiny or animosity. Haran likes expensive gifts particularly when they flatter his pride. The rest... I’ve wanted you from the beginning. You wouldn’t have accepted me otherwise.”
“No.” He flinched as if she’d slapped him, but she had no care for his distress. Her own anger was all encompassing. She’d thought that he’d come to care for her as she’d come to care for him. But she’d only allowed herself to be duped.
“You wanted me to train your daughter.”
“Yes. And I wanted you. Simply wanted you.”
She smiled but it was bittersweet. “And of course it would never occur to you that you can’t have everything you want.”
“I didn’t lie to you.”
No, but he’d outmaneuvered her at every turn. She’d thought that she could bargain with him and win. She believed he was telling her the truth now. But then, she was a very great fool.
She untangled herself from his arms and stepped back. “I’d like to speak with your daughter.”
“Of course.”
* * *
Ily knelt on the cushions across from Kal and his daughter. The girl, about ten years of age, was tucked in