Page 67 of Dark Gambit: The Play

Marcel nodded.

"Is he angry at me?"

"Not at all. He's a grumpy fellow, but he's not a bad guy. He knows that you had no choice, and he doesn't blame you."

Sofia let out a breath. "That's a relief. Isn't Eleanor teaching a class today, though?"

"Not until later in the day. She can come down and spend some time with you." He cupped her cheek. "She's not the friendly type either, but she seems to really like you. I think the two of you could be friends."

"I think so too. She's a little bit like the Kra-ell females. She's no-nonsense, assertive bordering on aggressive, and she looks like a hybrid Kra-ell. Well except for the eyes. They are the right color but the wrong size. The Kra-ell and the hybrids have big eyes."

He smiled. "Emmett doesn't."

That was a shock. "Emmett? What are you talking about?"

"I'm surprised that you haven't figured it out yet. Emmett is a hybrid. He used to be a member of Jade's tribe, but he left many years before Igor attacked her compound. Jade must have recognized him from his picture."

"Dear Mother of All Life. How could I have been so blind? It's just that he's so not Kra-ell in the way he acts. They are all so macho and severe and all about honor, while Emmett is a performer who lives for drama." Her hand flew to her mouth. "It would have been a real disaster if he told Igor his real name. His Kra-ell name. It would have been the end of Jade. Igor would have killed her."

Marcel nodded. "That's why I didn't tell you before. But since I trust you, and since we both know that you can never go back, I figured you would feel a little less homesick knowing that there is a hybrid Kra-ell right here in Safe Haven."

"I need to talk to him. Maybe he can tell me more things about the Kra-ell. They told us so little in Igor's place. Perhaps Jade was more forthcoming."

Marcel shook his head. "He doesn't know much either. Jade was just as tight-lipped, and I'm starting to wonder what they were hiding from their own people."

"They don't consider humans their people, and they consider the hybrids a necessary evil. Not that anyone has actually phrased it like that, but it's evident from how they treat us."

"I need to ask you something." Marcel took in a breath. "And I need you to answer it truthfully because it's important. Have you ever had sex with a pureblood or a hybrid male?"

She'd told him about her boyfriends. Was he doubting her again? He'd just told her that he trusted her.

So much for that.

"I didn't." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Why is it important to you?"

"I can't tell you yet, and I don't want you to feel embarrassed if you did. I know that you were not free to reject unwanted advances."

So that was why he was asking.

Marcel wanted to find out how highly she was regarded as the human granddaughter of a pureblooded male, and that would tell him her grandfather's position in Igor's organization.

Valstar being Igor’s second-in-command was one of the few pieces of information she'd withheld from him.

"Rape is not condoned in our community. I didn't have to accept anyone's invitation if I didn't want to."

51

SYSSI

"Good morning, Syssi," Turner said as she opened the door for him. "I'm sorry about conducting business in your home on a Saturday.”

She chuckled. "Being married to Kian, I'm used to that, and I prefer him being here than in the office. That way, at least I get to see him." She closed the door behind him. "I hoped Bridget would accompany you. Okidu prepared breakfast for four."

"Then I shall call her and ask her to hurry over. I thought it would be just Kian and me."

Syssi let the unintended insult slide.

"Allegra is at Annani's this morning, so I figured I would join your breakfast meeting."