“Yeah, but in case you haven’t noticed, all this civility is fake.”
Maris arched a haughty brow. “Fake is pretending to deliver flowers to someone and then shooting them in the face when they answer the door. It’s smiling at someone while listening sympathetically to their problems and pretending to be their best friend and then doing everything behind their back to ruin them. Taking that gleaned confidential information and turning it against them. Exposing their personal secrets to others for no other reason than sheer meanness and cruelty. Or even worse, lying about them after they’ve done nothing but try to help you because you’re jealous and know you can never accomplish what they have.”
Maris indicated the people they’d left with a thumb over his shoulder. “Everyone knows the aristos are out for themselves and are ruthless. They don’t pretend to care about you and you know not to tell them anything you don’t want made public. We make no bones about it. Yet we still respect each other and all the political machinations that go on. It’s honest treachery in my opinion. No one is ever surprised when one senator ns another. Or one emperor orders the death of his rival. Yet people are always stunned when their best friend talks about them behind their back or tries to ruin them for no real reason other than petty jealousy or just sheer meanness.”
Now Caillen was actually scared as he realized that Maris was right. “You know in a fucked up way, that makes sense. Only you could put it all into perspective.”
Maris shrugged. “It’s all about perspective, my friend. That and the ability to duck fast when life throws excrement at you.”
Caillen laughed at his unexpected comeback as he entered his room and his guard remained in the hallway. It was extremely out of character for Maris to talk like that. “I think we’ve finally corrupted him, Darling.”
Before Maris could respond, Darling cut him off. “You want us to stay or do you need some downtime?”
“I need some time.”
Darling gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. “It will get easier. I swear.”
Caillen didn’t believe it for a minute. But he appreciated the kindness. Then again if anyone knew about leading a double life, Darling was it. “Thanks.”
He waited until they were gone before he jerked the robes off and let them fall into a heap at his feet. He had a childish urge to kick them. Saddest part? Those damn things cost as much as his ship and would have fed him and his sisters for about six years back in the day.
Raking his hands through his hair, he headed for his closet where he had his backpack stashed. Black and worn, it’d been his security blanket for years. A gadget for every occasion. This was his magic sack that had seen him through many a hairy ordeal.
He smiled as he opened it and rifled through the stuff that belonged to his past. Weapons, dehydrated food, garb…
And finally…
“There you are.” He pulled his old link out and cradled it in his palm. This was what he needed…
Exchanging it with the one in his ear, he called his sister. He was still mad at Shahara and the others for never telling him he was adopted, but he understood.
To them he was family. It didn’t matter how it’d happened. The moment their father had shown up with him in his arms, the three of them had welcomed him into their hearts and never looked back.
“Cai?” Shahara had a deep, husky voice for a woman, which had been great as a kid ’cause she hadn’t been able to scream at him in shrill tones—unlike Kasen and Tess. “Is that you, pook? I’ve missed you so much! Why haven’t you called and updated me on what’s going on in your new life?”
He smiled at an endearment only his oldest sister could get away with. “Hey. I’ve been busy as hell with all the… stuff my dad has been strangling me with. So what’s up with you?”
“Nothing.iv heig A clipped response that quickly led to her voice dropping two octaves. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
He licked his dry lips as his gut knotted even more over the sound of her sweet voice in his ear. Gods, how he’d missed her. “Who says anything’s wrong?”
“Honey, I know you. I know that tone. You’re sad and hurting. What’s going on, baby? You need me to come and kill someone for you?”
He smiled at his sister’s not-so-empty threat. As a former bounty hunter, she’d probably killed more people than he had. “I don’t need you to fight my battles. I just wanted to hear a friendly voice.”