wasn’t the least bit concerned by her outburst. “I know my brother, you don’t.”
“True.”
All the fight drained out of her. “What do you want?” She was too tired to figure it out. He took her hand and pulled her down, not beside him, but on his lap. She should object, should get up. She rested her head against his shoulder.
“I want you to tell me about him. Who are his friends? How does he spend his time?”
Jamaeh almost refused, but she wanted Zaxe to see Esau as she did. “Everyone likes Esau.” Even to herself she sounded defiant. She took a breath. “He always has a smile, sees the humor in a situation. He helps out where he can, is learning carpentry skills from a neighbor.”
“But who are his friends?”
She opened her mouth and closed it. “There’s no one in particular.” It hadn’t seemed odd to her since she had no female friends. “He’s friendly with everyone.”
Zaxe rubbed his hand up and down her back in a soothing motion. “He feels as alone as you do, looking for a place to truly belong.”
“You’re right.” Stricken, she swallowed heavily. “How could I not have seen? Not have known?”
“You’ve been busy providing for him, keeping a roof over his head.”
“He works.” She didn’t want Zaxe to think Esau was a drain on their finances. “Since he was a child, he’s found a way to earn money. He’s always brought it home, proud to tell me what he’s done.”
“And would working with his father allow him to provide for you, the sister he loves and who has taken care of him his entire life?”
Fear gripped her heart. “No. Yes. I don’t know.” Uncertainly dug in its sharp talons, refusing to let go. “He knows how I feel about Helldrick. He wouldn’t work with him.”
“He went with him.”
The logic just about broke her. “Why are you doing this?” She dragged herself out of his arms and stumbled over to sit on the side of the bed. The battle in the canyon hadn’t left her this battered and hurt.
“I don’t want you blindsided if that’s the case. Maybe it was nothing more than a son wanting his father’s attention. Esau left without telling you, right?”
“Yes. It’s why I’m so worried. He always tells me where he’s going. He knows I worry.”
Zaxe’s eyes darkened and he nodded. “Maybe Helldrick tricked him somehow.”
“Maybe.” But she was no longer certain.
“You should try to get some sleep.” He pulled his cloak around him and closed his eyes. The lamplight flickered over his dark skin, making him appear almost otherworldly.
The fanciful thought made her shake her head. He was a flesh and blood man, sexy and aggravating. “You can’t honestly expect me to sleep now.” Even as she said it, she yawned.
“There’s no point in worrying about something you can’t change. All you can do is deal with things as they come at you.”
“Is that what you do?” She lowered herself, sighing when her head hit the single pillow. Grabbing the blanket, she tugged it over her, snuggling under the warmth.
Zaxe turned his head toward her. “Yes.”
She waited a few seconds. “That’s it? Yes?”
He shrugged. “Life will happen as it will. All you can do is control what you can, accept what you can’t, and find a way to turn it to your advantage.”
A practical, if not slightly cold philosophy of life. “Is that an assassin thing?” She could have bitten her tongue, but curiosity had hold of her. “You know about my life.” More than most did. Not to mention they’d been intimate. She knew very little about him. “What about you?”
****
What about you? The question echoed in his brain. Maybe it was the residual pleasure from the dance they’d shared or the intimacy of the dwelling, but for the first time, he wanted to share.
“I was six when my parents were brutally murdered in front of me.”
Jamaeh’s breath caught. “I’m so sorry. You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
For a woman who’d faced such hardships, her heart was still soft and open. “It was a long time ago. Your loss is more recent.”
“My mother was sickly all my life, but losing her was still unexpected. I guess I thought she’d keep on living as she’d always done, but one morning she didn’t wake.”
“I’m sorry.” He wanted to go to her, to offer comfort. He tilted his head back and stared unseeing at the ceiling. “My father was larger than life. He fought the