Read Online Aphrodite's Flame by Julie Kenner - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Julie Kenner
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clicked into place.
“Patel! I didn’t recognize you. You look great.”
“Thanks.” He held out a hand to shake, then, obviously remembering the rules and who he was talking to, awkwardly tugged it back and shoved it into his pocket. “Re-assimilation will do that to a person. I feel like a new man.”
“You look like one.” He did, too. Where once he’d been a bit amphibious, now he seemed lean and trim. He gave the appearance of a man freshly scrubbed, and she caught the scent of his aftershave: an odd brand that reminded her of newly minted pennies. Unusual, but charming in its own way.
His face, once sheltered, now seemed more open. Happier. There was still a shadow behind his eyes, but she supposed that living six years as an Outcast would do that to a person.
Patel had been her very first re-assimilation, and one of the first group of Outcasts who’d applied after the passage of the Outcast Re-Assimilation Act. She hadn’t been surprised that he’d slipped so easily through the system. He was the ideal re-assimilation candidate, the kind of Outcast for which the act was passed in the first place.
He’d broken the rule against public defamation of the mortal political process—an Outcastable offense but (in Izzy’s opinion, anyway) nothing to get too worked up about. He’d been repentant, but it was a third offense, and the Council’s three-strikes rule was set in stone. Examples had to be made, and Patel had been out.
“I’ve been assigned to Elder Armistand,” he said. “Personal assistant.”
“No kidding? That’s great.” They moved forward in the line. Only four people ahead of her now, and the muffin was still there. “I’ve actually got a meeting with him in a few hours. I’ve never met him. What’s he like?”
“Oh, he’s fabulous,” Patel said. “Efficient, organized, no-nonsense. I’ve been doing a lot of work toward the treaty renegotiation.” He shrugged. “The man knows politics.”
“I suppose so,” Izzy said. “He hired you.”
Patel blushed a little. “Well, I like to think my re-assimilation essay played some role, but mostly I think you’re right.”
Izzy shrugged. There really was no sense sugarcoating the situation. Armistand had supported the act from day one. What better way to prove it was working like a charm than to hire the re-assimilated?
“And I get access to the elder spa,” he said. “So that’s cool.”
Izzy bit back a grin. The elders and their staff had access to exclusive spa facilities on Olympus. She’d been there once, as Zephron’s guest, and it had ruined her for every other spa experience.
From what she could see, Patel was taking full advantage of the facilities. He’d lost at least fifteen pounds, had a tan, smelled faintly of massage oil, and had been thoroughly cut, styled, and blow-dried.
Jealousy crested, and she made a mental note to schedule an appointment to have her hair trimmed and her nails done at Frederic Fekkai. Not Olympus, but not shabby either.
The line moved. Two people ahead of her now.
Patel shifted backward, clearly about to take his leave. “Anyway, I saw you and I just wanted to say hi and to tell you that I’m doing well. And it’s all due to you. Thank you.”
And then, even though she knew she shouldn’t, she reached out and took his hand, hoping that the gesture looked casual, as if she was so moved by the spirit that she simply forgot the rules. But it was a stupid rule, and she had to know. Had to be sure. He was her first and now, with Hieronymous’s re-assimilation dogging her, she just needed to
know
—with absolute certainty—that Patel was doing right.
That
she’d
done right.
His thoughts filled her, spilling into her head so quickly that she almost stumbled under the weight of him.
Honor, commitment, honesty
. Those things pervaded his brain. He was walking the straight and narrow, all right.
Izzy felt her smile broaden as she pulled her hand away. “It was great to see
“Patel! I didn’t recognize you. You look great.”
“Thanks.” He held out a hand to shake, then, obviously remembering the rules and who he was talking to, awkwardly tugged it back and shoved it into his pocket. “Re-assimilation will do that to a person. I feel like a new man.”
“You look like one.” He did, too. Where once he’d been a bit amphibious, now he seemed lean and trim. He gave the appearance of a man freshly scrubbed, and she caught the scent of his aftershave: an odd brand that reminded her of newly minted pennies. Unusual, but charming in its own way.
His face, once sheltered, now seemed more open. Happier. There was still a shadow behind his eyes, but she supposed that living six years as an Outcast would do that to a person.
Patel had been her very first re-assimilation, and one of the first group of Outcasts who’d applied after the passage of the Outcast Re-Assimilation Act. She hadn’t been surprised that he’d slipped so easily through the system. He was the ideal re-assimilation candidate, the kind of Outcast for which the act was passed in the first place.
He’d broken the rule against public defamation of the mortal political process—an Outcastable offense but (in Izzy’s opinion, anyway) nothing to get too worked up about. He’d been repentant, but it was a third offense, and the Council’s three-strikes rule was set in stone. Examples had to be made, and Patel had been out.
“I’ve been assigned to Elder Armistand,” he said. “Personal assistant.”
“No kidding? That’s great.” They moved forward in the line. Only four people ahead of her now, and the muffin was still there. “I’ve actually got a meeting with him in a few hours. I’ve never met him. What’s he like?”
“Oh, he’s fabulous,” Patel said. “Efficient, organized, no-nonsense. I’ve been doing a lot of work toward the treaty renegotiation.” He shrugged. “The man knows politics.”
“I suppose so,” Izzy said. “He hired you.”
Patel blushed a little. “Well, I like to think my re-assimilation essay played some role, but mostly I think you’re right.”
Izzy shrugged. There really was no sense sugarcoating the situation. Armistand had supported the act from day one. What better way to prove it was working like a charm than to hire the re-assimilated?
“And I get access to the elder spa,” he said. “So that’s cool.”
Izzy bit back a grin. The elders and their staff had access to exclusive spa facilities on Olympus. She’d been there once, as Zephron’s guest, and it had ruined her for every other spa experience.
From what she could see, Patel was taking full advantage of the facilities. He’d lost at least fifteen pounds, had a tan, smelled faintly of massage oil, and had been thoroughly cut, styled, and blow-dried.
Jealousy crested, and she made a mental note to schedule an appointment to have her hair trimmed and her nails done at Frederic Fekkai. Not Olympus, but not shabby either.
The line moved. Two people ahead of her now.
Patel shifted backward, clearly about to take his leave. “Anyway, I saw you and I just wanted to say hi and to tell you that I’m doing well. And it’s all due to you. Thank you.”
And then, even though she knew she shouldn’t, she reached out and took his hand, hoping that the gesture looked casual, as if she was so moved by the spirit that she simply forgot the rules. But it was a stupid rule, and she had to know. Had to be sure. He was her first and now, with Hieronymous’s re-assimilation dogging her, she just needed to
know
—with absolute certainty—that Patel was doing right.
That
she’d
done right.
His thoughts filled her, spilling into her head so quickly that she almost stumbled under the weight of him.
Honor, commitment, honesty
. Those things pervaded his brain. He was walking the straight and narrow, all right.
Izzy felt her smile broaden as she pulled her hand away. “It was great to see
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