A Violet Fire (Vampires in Avignon #1) - Kelsey Quick Page 0,44

are the odd ones out...,” she states, nervously scanning the room.

“It’s not fun, that’s for sure.” I mutter, “Feel free to sit elsewhere if it bothers you too much.” I give her the brunt of my assumption and all of a sudden, the image of Katarii slapping my welting face those years ago pierces my thoughts, and a reluctant anger festers. But, to my surprise, she looks horror-struck.

“I... I won’t do that,” she stumbles over her words, clearly embarrassed. Maybe we are dwelling on the same memory.

There is a moment of tense silence before she says, “I don’t want to be that kind of person. I’m sorry for, you know, everything back then.”

Caught off guard, I open my mouth and swiftly close it, averting my eyes elsewhere. No one except Savvy had ever apologized to me before. I finally manage a small and chaste, “...It’s okay,” before the heavy air lifts from the table.

Savvy’s face alights, and it’s obvious as to why. She has always wanted me and Katarii to get along. I have to admit, I’m kind of happy about it, too.

“Hello girls.” The voice of Emi approaches from behind. She struts over with her tray, and with Glera at her side. Emi takes the seat next to Savvy, across from me, while Glera takes the one to my right.

“Is it okay if I sit here?” Glera asks me softly. I nod, unsure of her intentions and if they coincide with any of my fears. She seems timid, yet kind so… perhaps not.

“It’s Wavorly, right?” Emi addresses me. ”How are you doing? Is it painful?” She touches her own neck in reference.

“Oh, um,” I start off slow, moving my hand to the covered puncture wounds in a copycat fashion. “A little, but not too bad now that there’s salve on it.”

Why is talking to these girls like this so nerve-wracking? Usually I have no problem saying what’s on my mind, but never have I been in a situation when multiple people want to hear what I have to say.

“What did he do to you?” Glera offers her concern, looking over my neck and torso as if searching for something that might have been misplaced. “We heard you went to the infirmary.”

“He didn’t do anything serious, I just fainted.”

“Was he... angry?” Emi asks.

“Well, I did make him wait three seconds instead of two,” I say.

It takes the same three seconds for the girls to realize it’s a joke, except Savvy, who started chuckling right away. I look at Emi intently.

“Emi, may I ask how you, and Anaya for that matter, knew about what I did at the Distribution?

She tilts her head, slightly taken aback. “What do you mean?”

“Neither of you seemed all that surprised when Katarii and Savvy showed up,” I say, ”It was odd that you were so open to our arrival, and you even had red robes for Katarii and Savvy waiting for them.”

Both Savvy and Katarii exchange quizzical glances, suddenly interested in hearing Emi’s answer. Glera looks between us. She had seen them in the amethyst dresses too. Surely, she also wants to know.

“Oh!” Emi’s voice raises an octave. “I suppose that is a bit weird. While we’ve never had something like that happen before, there are always communications in place to let the escorts and head of supply know who will be arriving or not arriving to the seraglio. Madam Ceti gave us the first list from the Selection Hall, without the three of you on it, but a little after, she brought us a new one from Lord Zein himself—which is quite unusual—explaining your arrivals and what to do.”

“I see…” I simply fill the silence. A part of me was hoping that her answer would shed some light as to why the whole thing was so hush hush, but it appears that I’m not the only one suspecting things.

“So, if it’s not too forward… what exactly is the relationship between you and Lord Zein?” Emi asks me.

My eyes flit between everyone as I try to understand her meaning.

“Um, master and very reluctant servant, I guess?”

“Well, Savvy mentioned you two have a strange history, so…”

I offer Savvy a trite glare and she mouths a quick apology.

I turn back to Emi and smile none too genuinely. “Yes, we do have a strange history.”

She raises her eyebrows which inadvertently asks her next question.

I clasp my hands together and inhale deeply. Surely, she isn’t thinking what I assume she’s thinking.

“He’s a typical, blood-thirsty vampire who keeps me here against