Heads or Tails (40 page)

‘...I’m glad you sought me out.’ A soft female voice said. ‘I’ve noticed, as I assume you have, that the queen is making her preference known.’

‘Yes well...I mean, I’m still hoping for the best,’ Tristan’s low voice was unmistakable. ‘But I need to be realistic too. I’m the last male in my line now. I need to think about my future.’

‘Yes! I agree whole-heartedly.’ Sahori gushed. ‘Any time you want to talk it over, I am open and willing to your proposal.’

There was a sigh. ‘Thank you Sahori. I’ll find you when my shift is over, okay?’

‘Okay.’ Sahori breathed. ‘Until then.’

Ivyanne counted the retreating footsteps and flung open the door on the tenth, annoyed to see Tristan standing in profile, watching Sahori’s departure with a bemused smile.

‘Better have your receptionist book that talk in,’ Ivyanne said, crossing her arms across her chest and leaning against the door. ‘Sounds like something you wouldn’t want to miss.’

Tristan’s head whipped around to hers, surprise widening his lovely eyes. Genuine surprise-not a façade. ‘Oh shit!’ He exclaimed. ‘You scared the life out of me! Garridan said you were in the theatre room. I’ve been standing outside the wrong door all this time?’

Ivyanne had told Garridan that she was going to watch a movie in peace, only had changed her mind at the last moment when Lachlan and Adele had gone in there. ‘Yeah well, here I am. Your avid audience, as always.’

‘Audience?’ Tristan rolled his eyes. ‘Come on Ivyanne. I could have done backflips down this hallway naked every hour on the hour for the past week and you wouldn’t have noticed.’ He gestured to the hall Sahori had disappeared around. ‘I’m sorry you overheard us. And I’m even sorrier that I had to have that conversation.’ He shrugged. ‘But like I said to her...’ He adjusted the gunsling over his shoulder, and part of his fitted sleeve inched up, exposing the most masculine arm she’d ever had the pleasure of kissing as he turned away. ‘Anyway, I’m due to check in with Garridan so…’

His unflustered though self-conscious manner caught broke Ivyanne’s heart. Where was the Tristan she knew? Where was the sarcasm, or the relentless innuendo? How much had she damaged his self-esteem in the short time they had known each other?

He turned to leave and she grabbed his sleeve. ‘Tristan wait! Don’t…’ she floundered for the right word. He wasn’t stopping, or slinking or even swaggering. He was just leaving. Quietly. It made her stomach lurch. ‘I’m sorry, okay?’ She whispered, her voice catching in her throat. ‘For how I left things Saturday night, and how I’ve ignored it since. I didn’t know what to say so I said nothing. I
still
don’t know what to say!’

Tristan stared down at her hand, then up to her face. ‘I know.’ He said softly, gently tugging his arm out of her grip. ‘I haven’t been angry Ivyanne just…tired and frustrated.’ He looked away, raking a hand through his curls and exhaling through pursed lips and said: ‘You know my terms, and they haven’t changed. Just as I know that you’re being torn in two, and I hate that. But that’s the thing, you see-’ He slid his gaze back to hers. ‘I
understand
why you love him. I mean, that scene by the pool was something else. If it weren’t
my
girl he was kissing, Lincoln would have earned himself a high five.’ He pressed his lips together in a sad smile. ‘But every day, I’m finding one more thing to love about you, one more thing to fear losing if you walk away.’ His lip curled. ‘The way you creep downstairs for coffee when you think no one’s looking like you don’t realize that there are six people being paid to watch your every move. The way you sing T.V commercials under your breath. The way you sneak flowers into our rooms to make us more comfortable...and when you turn the page of a book you’re reading with the tip of your nose so you don’t have to stop patting the dogs…’ He shook his head, softly chuckling. ‘It slays me.’

Tears were running more rapidly down Ivyanne’s face.

‘But-the fact that you’re forcing yourself to feel that kind of certainty for me, that it’s not coming as naturally as swimming-’ his face contorted. He dropped his hand and looked away. ‘It’s tearing
me
apart. It’s making me see that Lincoln is more resilient than I. He’s wounded easier, but he heals faster. And maybe that’s the one thing he can give you that I can’t-he can accept what crumbs you can spare because he’s used to loving you from a distance. His ability to forgive is...limitless.’ Tristan smirked. ‘Which is a good thing, because if you turn me down, and Sahori gets a better offer, I might need Lincoln to turn a wife for
me
one day and I’d hate him to pick an ugly one out of spite...’

Ivyanne sniffled. ‘Sahori won’t get a better offer.’

‘Neither will you darling.’ Tristan said, his eyes soft. ‘And yet…’ he gestured to the space between them.

Ivyanne dug her nails into the door trim to stop herself from stepping into his arms and offering comfort she couldn’t freely give. ‘It’ll be over soon.’ She whispered, for lack of anything better to say. ‘The full moon...Ardhi…’

When Tristan smiled again, actual tears glistened in his eyes. ‘I can’t think of a single way this is going to have a happily ever after for any of us Ivyanne.’  He stepped up to her and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. ‘But I love you so much more for trying to find one.’

And then he walked away.

*

‘Would you like another cup of Chai?’ Pintang asked, getting up from her seat at the table. The sun was setting over the ocean, and as Garridan had left the doors open, the entire room was bathed in a rosy glow.

Ivyanne however, was
not
glowing rosily. She’d still been reeling from her conversation with Tristan when Garridan had burst into the library, announcing the new arrivals.

‘Oh... no thank you.’ Arundel and Ivor exchanged a glance, giving Ivyanne a glimpse of their twisted profiles, which would have been hideous on a human, but only served to enhance their dramatic beauty. Scar tissue ruptured the surface of their arms and legs and snaked up their torsos-giving them a tribal look, like the indentations on the body of seahorses. ‘We’ve spent long enough on the surface for now.’

‘Of course,’ Garridan said quickly. ‘We’ve kept you here for almost an hour-I apologize.’

An hour?
Ivyanne thought,
I’ve sat here in a daze for an hour?

‘Will you sleep? In the water I mean?’

Arundel fixed her navy blue eyes on Ivyanne. ‘No,’ she said with a smile. ‘We will swim for some time, and then take turns, napping-there’s always somewhere on land where we can fit ourselves into, away from the naked eye.’

‘Don’t you get cold?’ Adele asked, looking awestruck.

Arundel shook her head again. ‘Our scales have migrated quite high on our bodies over time. Mine keep me
very
warm.’

Ivor turned to Ivyanne with a gentle smile. ‘I was quite eager to meet the uh, well your…. suitors, before retiring. But I suppose they are quite busy at the moment?’

Ivyanne blushed. ‘Well Lincoln is having a rest-his painkillers make him woozy-and Tristan might be doing the same thing.’
Unless he’s wide awake with his future Japanese bride making perfect little babies!
She added silently.

Arundel covered her mouth and giggled slightly, her dark blue eyes dancing.

Ivor glanced at his wife. ‘What?’

But Arundel shook her head. ‘Nothing my love.’ She smiled broadly at Ivyanne. ‘I just remembered that I
have
met Tristan before-quite an affable young man, isn’t he? I imagine half-japanese, half-Loveridge children would be quite striking!’

Ivyanne’s mouth fell open. ‘Say
what
?’

‘Oh….’ Ivor chuckled and shook his head. ‘Honey don’t do that to the queen!’

Arundel turned to her partner. ‘She screamed it at me!’

‘Yes but it’s not polite to mention it, remember?’

Ivyanne’s clapped over her mouth. ‘You can read
thoughts
?!’ She turned to her bodyguard accusingly. ‘Why am I just only learning this
now
?!’

There were murmurs of alarm from around the table.

Garridan coughed. ‘Uh... yeah guys... forgot to mention that….’

‘Oh this is
illuminating
!’ Price shifted forward on his chair, his dark eyes glinting eagerly. ‘Who is she going to choose?’

‘Price!’ Ivyanne exclaimed. Her hands went to her ears, as though she could stop the thoughts from seeping out. ‘You don’t
want
to know what I’m thinking right now!’

‘That won’t help.’ Arundel reached across and pried Ivyanne’s hands off her ears. She was bare breasted, and once again, the lines of scars around her breasts only artfully enhanced her somehow.

‘Oh you’re a sweetheart.’ Arundel said. ‘I’m going to like being around
you
.’

Ivyanne’s hand went back to her mouth. ‘Oh my god!’

‘Why?’ Ivor asked quickly, looking intrigued.

His wife turned to him, squeezing Ivyanne’s hands. ‘She thinks our scars make us more beautiful.’ She turned back to Ivyanne and smiled beatifically. ‘So
pure
of heart….quite extraordinary.’

‘Just not so pure physically anymore.’ Bane cracked.

Ivyanne shot him a murderous look. ‘You looking to get pushed off a building again Londeree? Because I can pull you up to my balcony later.’

‘God no-not your boudoir!’ Bane shot back. ‘Any man who goes in there comes out with a bandage on a body part and a lobotomy.’

Ivyanne plucked a frangipani bloom out of the bowl of floating candles before her and pegged it at Bane’s head. He caught it deftly and stuck it behind his ear, wriggling his eyebrows and declaring: ‘The seduction has begun!’

Everyone laughed at that. Ivyanne couldn’t actually fight back a smile, even though she was imagining doing just that-what a coup it would be to make Bane fall to his knees, if only for a minute and a half!

‘Now
you’re
the one who doesn’t want to know what she’s thinking.’ Arundel joked, squeezing Ivyanne’s hand. ‘Though I must say, even your malicious fantasies are quite reserved.’ She raised an eyebrow. ‘Unlike your personal ones. I can see why you’re having such a hard time choosing between Tristan and Link. They’re both exemplary specimens, are they not?’

‘Amen to that!’ Saraya said lightly.

Ivyanne blushed and released her hands, stepping back. ‘Have you been doing this the whole time?’

Arundel shook her head. ‘No. I can’t make out everything-most of the time it’s all white noise I’ve grown accustomed to. But if I’m close enough and I pick up one conscious thread-say an unspoken thought like what you had when you thought about your prospects, it just jumps out at me.’ She bit her lip. ‘I’m sorry. I can see I’ve made you uncomfortable. It’s yet another reason why I shy away from mers and humans alike.’

‘But also why she’ll make a brilliant guard.’ Garridan interjected. ‘If Ardhi’s close enough, Arundel will hear him coming mentally before the water breaks around him.’

Ivyanne’s eyebrows lifted. ‘
How
close?’

‘Two hundred meters underwater, easily.’ Arundel said. ‘But only a meter or two on land-less if there are many people about.’

‘Wow.’ Ivyanne shook her head, making a mental note to stay at least ten feet away from Arundel whenever she was scoping out Tristan or Lincoln. Then no sooner had she thought that then she peeked at Arundel, mouth going dry when she saw her smirk knowingly.

‘Oh… crap.’

‘It’s a good idea.’ Arundel said reassuringly. ‘And don’t worry, I’ll stay in the water to give you some personal space.’ She turned to Price. ‘And to answer
your
question-’ Ivyanne’s heart sank as everyone turned their saucer-wide eyes to Arundel, even Garridan. ‘-when you asked who she was going to choose, Ivyanne thought:
“May as well tell me while she’s at it because I have no freaking idea!”

Bane’s face fell. ‘Oh man!’ He shot Ivyanne a dirty look, who’d actually found a smile by that point. ‘You’re just as messed up on the
inside
as you are on the
outside!
’

Ivyanne snorted. ‘You’ll never hear me say any different.’

‘No.’ Arundel said, turning to Ivyanne. ‘I know people, your highness-I know a lot of them better than their own parents or lovers
ever
will. And I can tell you right now that you are the most clear-thinking, honest young woman I’ve met in my life.’ She bowed graciously. ‘I am honored to serve you.’

Ivyanne leaned forward and smiled. ‘Could you serve me right now?’

Arundel hesitated, then straightened. ‘What would you like to know?’

Ivyanne motioned to Bane. ‘Has he had any more sex dreams about Lincoln this week?’

‘Bitch!’ Bane exploded.

‘Busted!’ Marcus spat.

‘Nuh-uh!’ Bane protested. ‘I haven’t! I swear it!’

Ivyanne grinned at Bane. ‘Arundel…?’

‘Sex dreams? About Lincoln?’ Arundel looked baffled, and Ivyanne supposed she’d never been called upon to use her gifts for entertainment purposes before. ‘Someone has but…’ her gaze shifted, and settled. Everyone turned to see Grace cradling her head in her hands and staring forlornly down at the tabletop.