how to get them to see it.
I also didn’t know how to explain all that to Rhea, or want to give her a burden that wasn’t hers to bear. “They think I’m more than I am,” I finally said.
She didn’t say anything, but I saw her biting her lip again.
“It’s okay,” I told her. “You can say whatever you want.”
She hesitated, and then came out with it in a rush. “Is it possible that it’s you who doesn’t see?”
“What?”
She immediately looked horrified. “I’m sorry! It—it wasn’t my place—”
“It’s all right. If not yours, then whose?”
But she just shook her head. “Mother used to tell me things sometimes, and I—I wanted to help her, so much, but I didn’t know what to say—”
“You didn’t need to say anything. You being there was enough.”
“Was it?” She had on sunglasses, too, but hers were darker than Tami’s, so I couldn’t see her eyes. But her voice sounded so hopeful that I couldn’t do anything but smile.
“She was your mother. I’m sure that having you there was a big help—”
“And am I a help to you?” she asked, grabbing onto my forearm, almost making me spill my drink. “Even a little?”
I looked at her in surprise. “Of course. The kids—”
“But that’s not—that’s a help to the court, yes. But an acolyte’s job is to help the Pythia, and I can’t—” She broke off again, and even though I could see only half her face, it suddenly looked chagrined. “And here I am, laying my problems on your shoulders as well. I’m making things worse!”
“You’re not making things worse,” I told her. “You never—”
And then somebody started yelling.
“I’m not looking! I’m not looking! Don’t freaking hex me, all right? I’m blind—I’m totally, completely blind!”
“That better not be that flimsy-ass scarf you were trying to cheat with last night,” Tami said—to Fred, since that was his voice. Like it was his curses after a bump, which sounded like somebody running headfirst into a bedpost.
I couldn’t see him, since Rhea and I had ended up behind a potted palm. But when I looked around, there he was, blindfolded and clutching his forehead. “Damn it, are you convinced now?” he demanded.
“Twenty bucks,” Tami said, and Fred’s scowl grew worse.
“Don’t give me that! There’s no kids in here!”
“But some of us have delicate sensibilities,” Vi said, prompting him to laugh even while still wincing.
“You’re about as sensitive as Marco,” he told her, or rather the bed, because he was still facing the wrong way. He course-corrected, hands out in front of him this time, although there was nothing to run into. “Speaking of which, I need to talk to Cassie.”
“She’s not here,” Saffy said, licking salt off the rim of her glass and grinning at me. “She took the afternoon off.”
“Well, shit,” Fred said. “That’s great. That’s just perfect!”
“Looks like you’re gonna have to deal with whatever it is yourself,” Tami agreed, putting a hand on my arm when I started forward.
“I can’t deal with it myself, and he’s already packing! The only person who can maybe do anything is Cassie, and if he’s gone by the time she gets back—”
“Packing?” I said. “Who’s packing?”
“Cassie?” Fred’s head came up. “That you?”
“Can’t you tell?” Tami asked. “I thought you guys were like bloodhounds.”
“That’s only some of us, and it was never my gift. All I can smell is coconut oil and booze and—hey, are those margaritas?”
“Concentrate,” I said, throwing the nudists a couple of towels and going to take the blindfold off Fred.
“Thanks,” he said, blinking. “The call just came through. I said he was packing, but it’s more like trashing his room. The guys are downstairs with him, but I came up here because—look, I know things aren’t great between you and Mircea right now, but you’re still Pythia, so I thought maybe—”
“Fred, what are you saying?”
“Sorry. I’m just kinda emotional. It’s weird, you know? None of us were exactly thrilled to get this assignment, but now we’re almost like a family. And to just lose somebody—”
“Fred! Lose who?”
He took a breath. “Marco. He’s been recalled, like Paulie and the others. We were told that Mircea needs him for the war and we’re not getting him back.”
“What?”
Fred nodded. “It’s not fair. He’s what keeps this whole group together. With him gone, I don’t know who’s supposed to make everybody toe the line. Because I’m telling you, it’s, uh, it’s, uh, um.”
He trailed off, at whatever was on my face I guess, because I was momentarily speechless. And then I
Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 1 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 2 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 3 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 4 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 5 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 6 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 7 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 8 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 9 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 10 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 11 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 12 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 13 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 14 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 15 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 16 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 17 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 18 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 19 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 20 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 21 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 22 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 23 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 24 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 25 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 26 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 27 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 28 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 29 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 30 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 31 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 32 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 33 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 34 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 35 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 36 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 37 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 38 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 39 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 40 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 41 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 42 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 43 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 44 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 45 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 46 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 47 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 48 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 49 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 50 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 51 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 52 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 53 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 54 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 55 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 56 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 57 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 58 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 59 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 60 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 61 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 62 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 63 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 64 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 65 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 66 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 67 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 68 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 69 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 70 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 71 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 72 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 73 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 74 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 75 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 76 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 77 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 78 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 79 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 80 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 81 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 82 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 83 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 84 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 85 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 86 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 87 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 88 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 89 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 90 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 91 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 92 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 93 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 94 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 95 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 96 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 97 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 98 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 99 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 100 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 101 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 102 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 103 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 104 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 105 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 106 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 107 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 108 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 109 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 110 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 111 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 112 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 113 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 114 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 115 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 116 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 117 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 118 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 119 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 120 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 121 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 122 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 123 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 124 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 125 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 126 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 127 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 128 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 129 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 130 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 131 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 132 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 133 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 134 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 135 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 136 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 137 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 138 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 139 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 140 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 141 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 142 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 143 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 144 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 145 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 146 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 147 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 148 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 149 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 150 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 151 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 152 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 153 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 154 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 155 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 156 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 157 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 158 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 159 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 160 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 161 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 162 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 163 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 164 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 165 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 166 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 167 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 168 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 169 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 170 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 171 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 172 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 173 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 174 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 175 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 176 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 177 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 178 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 179 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 180 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 181 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 182 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 183 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 184 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 185 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 186 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 187 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 188 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 189 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 190 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 191 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 192 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 193 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 194 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 195 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 196 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 197 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 198 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 199 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 200 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 201 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 202 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 203 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 204 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 205 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 206 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 207 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 208 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 209 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 210 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 211 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 212 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 213 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 214 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 215 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 216 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 217 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 218 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 219 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 220 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 221 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 222 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 223 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 224 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 225 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 226 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 227 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 228 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 229 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 230 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 231 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 232 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 233 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 234 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 235 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 236 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 237 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 238 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 239 Brave the Tempest (Cassandra Palmer #9) - Karen Chance - Page 240