The women would be preparing breakfast for them as well.
The walk down the long hallway to the kitchen was almost torture. Her mouth was watering and her stomach growled. She pushed the door open and found herself the center of attention. Four women were in the kitchen and work stopped as they stared.
Beyond them, she could see meat already roasting on a spit over glowing coals. Nearby, she could see a glow from a brick oven. Something in two pots bubbled. She’d bet one of them was the dorin she craved.
“Hello, I’m Cami.” She smiled. Her eyes swept over the women and stopped on a short willowy redhead at a scarred worktable with her hands in a pile of dough. She recognized the woman from the dreams of Colm and Linc. From the hostile look on the woman’s face, she wouldn’t be welcoming Cami anywhere but out the door.
“They told us your name,” an older woman with silvering black hair said as she turned back to the stove in blatant dismissal.
Well, that was rude. Anger bubbled up in Cami as the other women followed the woman’s example. She looked over her shoulder and made sure there wasn’t anyone in the hallway before she went into the kitchen completely. No one anywhere in sight. She wasn’t paying for someone else’s actions.
“They may have told you my name, but obviously no one taught you any manners. I know why she would have a problem with me being here in a way.” Cami nodded her head toward the redhead. “I also know that you may feel some loyalty to her or one of the other women in this Thent Linc and Colm have fucked in the past. Considering how large that number is, you should know better than to start taking sides.”
The older woman turned around and glared at Cami. “The Ardin sought them out. You don’t belong here.”
“They were a convenience. If the women here aren’t idiots, they should have seen it. If Colm and Linc had wanted any of those women, really wanted them, those two men would have chosen and claimed. Their relationships before have nothing to do with me. I’m not sleeping with them, and even if I was, that’s between them and me. It would be their choice. I didn’t take anything.” Cami’s lips tightened. As good as her mood was, she wasn’t going soften the truth. It would cause trouble later.
“It wasn’t that way.” The redhead shook her head.
“Did they make promises of a future? From what I know of those two men, they wouldn’t promise one woman something and then move on and promise another the same. If you’re going to burn someone’s food, burn theirs. I have nothing to do with their choices.” Cami braced her hands on the work table and leaned forward.
“There were no promises.” The redhead shook her head.
“I don’t even see why you’d be so angry unless you were only after the power of being their Lady. Why should you settle for less when your true mate might be out there?” Cami knew it was a little hypocritical when she wanted to keep her mates at a distance.
“That’s an interesting opinion coming from you.” The voice of the chatar came from directly behind her. “Especially considering your plans.”
She spun and gaped at the man. How had she not heard the door open or a single footstep when he entered? The other women hadn’t even given an indication he was there.
“My situation is different and I suspect you know much of how it’s different.” She narrowed her eyes on the black-haired man. What surprised her was that he hadn’t told Linc and Colm exactly what she was to them.
“I’ll admit you have reason for your fears, but not for letting it rule you. Do you think your reasons are going to stop the Ardin’s pursuit? They know there’s something special about you.” He smiled slowly.
The predatory expression surprised her. Every time she’d seen him, he’d looked serene and utterly at ease. Not that he’d ever appeared to be a man who spent most of his time with books. He was almost as muscled as the warriors. She didn’t doubt that he was as intense as any other male Santir, but was surprised that the controlled man showed it.
She clamped her lips shut on any reply to that taunt. No way was she getting into an argument about what they did or didn’t know. It was bad enough she’d said what she had