Page 43 of Bargain with Fate
The healer made no attempt to disengage. He was too smart for that. “Yes, ma’am,” he said.
“Nobody says no to Joan,” I told Vale.
“I can see why. They’d be endangering their lives.”
“More like a body part, but you get the idea.”
Vale observed her from a safe distance. “She’s a one-woman mafia.”
“Not quite. All her actions have been retaliatory.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Murder?”
“Absolutely not. Murder isn’t Joan’s style.”
“Too risky?”
“Too easy. Insufficient suffering.”
Admiration twinkled in Vale’s eyes. “A shame she’s committed to Evermore. We could use someone like her on the mainland.”
“Joan isn’t going to torture someone on your say-so. Besides, you shouldn’t be running the Protectorate that way.”
“It was a joke, Maya. I don’t operate like my brother or my father. It’s one of the reasons I didn’t want the role in the first place.”
“Because you knew you’d have to commit unsavory acts?”
“Because I knew I’d need to do things my way and that some people wouldn’t like it.”
“And?”
“And I was right. It’s been an uphill battle.”
“Why not pass the torch to someone else?”
“Because I’ve been given an opportunity to leave the world a better place than I found it, and I’m not going to give that up just because it’s hard.”
I expected him to throw out words like “duty” and “honor,” so his answer was a welcome surprise. “I guess that’s something we have in common, then.”
Vale gave me a curious look but said nothing. “We look awkward standing on the perimeter while everyone else is dancing.”
“Then let’s get back to the golf cart.”
“Or we could dance.” He let the suggestion linger between us.
“Your feet are on vacation, remember? Besides, I don’t know the steps.”
“But you can follow instructions, can’t you?” He squeezed his eyes closed. “I forgot who I was talking to. Never mind.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? You think I can’t follow orders?” Boy, would he be wrong about that.
“Not that you can’t follow commands, but that you’d rather give them. Because not so deep down, youliketo be the one in charge. I don’t know why you deny that part of your nature, but I sense it—that need to make the decisions. To control the outcome.” His voice grew huskier the longer he spoke.
I cleared my throat. “I need to be careful,” I said, trying to erase the sound of that husky voice from my mind. It was having an effect I didn’t like.
Vale edged closer. “Do you?” His voice dropped an octave lower. “Why?”
“Because other people’s lives are at stake where I’m concerned. Many, many lives.”
