Even so, her smile had the faintest bit of surprise in it as well.
“Thanks, worm...I accept.”
Her choice of words hit me strangely. Still, I didn’t speak as she rose to her feet. She walked out of the room, not bothering to close her robe as she brushed by me on her way out. The African-looking seer left too, but her eyes held as much puzzlement as Ullysa’s, and it didn’t feel as though she were following Kat.
Ivy stayed.
She and Ullysa remained silent as they piled eggs and toast on a plate for me and poured me a cup of coffee, shoving cream and sugar within my reach.
Ivy finally broke the silence.
“He might not like that,” she said tentatively. “Even if the two of you have decided to wait to complete things...he still might not like what you did.”
I halted a forkful of eggs halfway to my mouth.
“I just meant...” Ivy looked at me apologetically, shrugging with one hand. “You offering him to Kat. Even if you are trying to be generous, he might take it...wrong.”
She hesitated, looking to Ullysa for help.
Ullysa was more direct.
“Ivy is right,” she said. “It is rejection. More than that...for a seer, it is overt insult. Are you angry with him?”
I stared between them, gripping my coffee mug. I cleared my throat.
“No,” I said.
Ullysa finished pouring herself a glass of juice. Not doing a very good job of hiding her puzzlement, she clicked softly, exhaling in a sigh.
“Alyson, perhaps the circumstances are not clear to you. Males are quite vulnerable after. Given his history, Revi’, in particular, will have trouble with this...even without Kat there.” She studied my eyes and face, and her expression softened. That same softness reached her voice. She clasped my arm warmly. “Please do not take him personally right now, sister...or do anything rash. He agreed, the same as you. There are no ‘mistakes’ with these things. Give him time to adjust. He is perhaps not reacting to this in the way you imagine...”
At my silence, Ullysa glanced at Ivy.
Gesturing delicately then, she added, “If he has asked to wait to complete things, as Ivy said, it is likely logistical only. He may wish for a construct in a more secluded location, away from other seers. Revi’ can be quite traditional, in his way.” She exchanged a wry smile with Ivy. “In any case, be assured, sister...the delay won’t be for long.”
I looked between them again, feeling my sense of unreality worsen, even as my pulse turned rapidly into a hummingbird’s.
Ullysa’s smile faded.
She and Ivy exchanged another glance, this one worried.
Ullysa said, “Surely you must sense some portion of...what occurred?”
I felt my face redden, wondering again if Revik and I had had sex in some kind of seer-induced coma. I was about to ask, when Ullysa cut me off.
“No,” she said decisively. “You must speak to Revi’.”
“But you just said—”
“It is absolutely not our place to explain this. He would be furious with us, if the two of you have not spoken of it yet. And rightfully so.”
I looked at Ivy, who only nodded, eyes serious.
“You should do it soon,” Ullysa added. “No matter what he says.” Her violet eyes met mine, hardening as her voice darkened. “Kat will not be able to help him with this for long, sister...and I won’t have you retaliating, not in my home.”
She gestured sharply, as if in judgment.
“...It was an open offer. We both saw it. If you let it happen now, you have absolutely no recourse if he accepts.”
At the serious look in both women’s eyes, a kind of fear grew in me, but not one that impelled me into movement, even though they both seemed to be waiting for me to leave. I had no intention of chasing down Kat.
If he didn’t want her there, he could damned well tell her himself.
What I hadn’t wanted to think about, though, was the other reason. The one where if I did go into that room, I’d have to explain to Revik why I didn’t want Kat there. I’d sworn off the jealousy thing after Jaden...and the possessiveness thing, and the trying to control what other people did thing.
As I pictured Kat in there with him, though, the pain came back in a sharp swell...along with fear, a sudden realization that I didn’t really want to think about why I’d decided not to take him up on his offer of sex before breakfast. For that’s what it had been, I realized blankly. He’d asked me back to the room for sex...and he’d barely had the self-restraint to be polite about it.
When I didn’t move, Ullysa sighed again.
That had been over a week ago.
When I’d finally returned to the bedroom with the orange walls, later that same day, Revik was no longer in it. No one came out and said anything, but it was pretty clear I’d committed some kind of major faux pas.