Meta Gods War 3 by B. Miles (the ebook reader txt) 📕

finished their meal together, someone knocked at the door.

“I’ll clean up,” Felin said, hopping to her feet and grabbing bowls for washing as Cam went to get the door.

He opened it and found Galla standing in the hall, holding a lamp and wearing the same pretty cream-colored dress from earlier in the day.

“Hello, husband,” she said.

“Galla.” He stepped aside. “Come in.”

She gave him a sharp, wary look, but stepped through the door. Miuri stood and smiled at her, though Cam could see a hint of tension.

“Come join us,” Miuri said, gesturing at a chair.

Galla hesitated. “I’m guessing you’ve all been talking about me, based on the way you’re acting.”

Miuri tensed, looked at Cam, then nodded. “We have,” she said.

“So, Cam told you all what I did.” Galla’s back straightened as she walked to a wall hook and hung her lamp. She turned to them, hands in front of her, graceful and poised. “I’m not sorry for what I did.”

Cam cleared his throat and he saw Miuri’s smile falter.

“You’re not?” Miuri asked.

“I did what I thought was necessary to avoid more deaths,” she said. “And I believe it worked. Cam took control of the army this morning through diplomacy instead of through strength of arms, which is itself a huge miracle.”

“But an innocent man is dead,” Miuri said.

“And I’d kill another innocent man if it means saving hundreds more.” Galla’s eyes were hard and she drew herself up again. “I won’t apologize for what I did and I won’t act as though I think I made the wrong decision. But I take responsibility for that man’s death. His blood is on my hands, and it’s something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my days.”

Miuri stared at Galla, and for a second Cam thought she might pounce. He thought he saw a flicker of anger there, but it was gone a second later, replaced by something else. She shook her head and gestured at the chair.

“Please, Galla, sit down,” Miuri said.

“Do you plan on berating me?” Galla asked.

“No,” Miuri said.

“We don’t all agree with Miuri on this one,” Felin said, washing the bowls in a large basin.

Galla lingered, looked at Cam, and sunk down into the chair. She sat at the edge, back straight.

Cam hesitated for a moment, then knelt down in front of her. He reached out and took her hand, which seemed to soften her a bit. She chewed her lip, staring down into his eyes.

“We talked about it, and we came up with what I think is a reasonable solution to all this,” he said.

“Solution?” she asked.

“You misled us,” he said. “You used me.”

“I know, but—”

“Regardless of your reasons and regardless of the outcomes, I can’t have that. Do you understand?”

She looked away then nodded once.

“Good,” Cam said. “We want you to move in with us.”

She looked back at him, surprise in her eyes. Her mouth opened, then she looked up at Miuri.

“Is he serious?” she asked.

“He’s serious,” Miuri said. “We want you to live with us, in these rooms. You’ll be a real part of this family, Galla.”

“And you’ll be able to keep an eye on me.” Galla’s smile was sharp, but there was a playful tone to her words.

“That’s right,” Miuri said.

“And we want you here,” Cam said, squeezing her hand. “No more lies, no more games. If you have an idea, or a plan, or a scheme, you’ll include everyone in this room, no matter what.”

“I accept your proposal,” she said, grinning. “When shall I send over my things?”

“Whenever you want,” Cam said.

“Wonderful.” Galla dropped Cam’s hand and stood. Cam stood with her, standing close. “We’ll have to get some new rugs in here. Some tapestries for these dreadful walls. I suppose I could live with the furniture, but I’ve got better. And that bed—”

“You won’t touch the bed,” Cam said.

“We love the bed,” Key added.

“Fine, the bed stays.” Galla clapped her hands in front of her. “This is perfect, oh this is so perfect. I promise, no more games or lies. From now on, we’ll be a team.”

“Works for me,” Key said.

“Welcome to the family,” Felin said.

Miuri drifted over and stood in front of Galla. She was a head taller, slimmer, like a willow branch compared with Galla’s fuller, softer figure. She reached out, put a hand on Galla’s arm.

“We’re on your side,” she said, voice soft. “And you need to treat us like we matter.”

“I promise,” Galla said.

“Good.” Miuri dropped her arm then slipped past her, toward the door. “I’m going to get some training in. Excuse me.” She took a lamp from a hanging peg and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Galla stared after her. “She’s angry with me.”

“She has a right to be,” Cam said. “You put her in danger.”

Galla nodded and looked back at him. “We’ll do things differently from here on out. But you need to understand that no matter what I do, it’s all aimed to save every single man, woman, and child in this place.”

“I know,” Cam said. He reached out and touched her cheek.

“Now,” Galla said, taking his hand. “I have a lot of work to do. We need so many more lamps, and this place could use a splash of color. And oh, I wonder where I can put all my dresses?”

Cam shared a look with Key, but he couldn’t help the smile that crossed his lips. Bringing Galla into their world like this was going to be an adjustment, but he thought it would be good for them in the long run.

And he needed her, he couldn’t deny it. While he didn’t agree with her methods, he couldn’t ignore her results.

If he wasn’t careful, she’d end up the true ruler of the Mansion one day.

8

Cam found Theus sitting in the back of an improvised drinking den, which was just a large cavern off the main thoroughfare of the Mansion’s west wing. The space was filled with long wooden benches and lamps hanging by chains from the high ceiling.

The scars on