Page 28 of Phoenix's Fire

"IsaidI'd talk to her," I insisted.

"I know," Zasen promised as he carried both glasses back to the table, passing me one. "Sit."

Okay, this felt serious. We usually drank morning tea in the living room. The table was for evening meals. Not that it couldn't be used for other things, as Rymar was currently proving, but a talk? Here? Like this? Had something already gone wrong?

I pulled out my normal chair and sat. Zasen took the one between me and Rymar. First, he lifted the glass and took a big drink, but when he set it down, Zasen's eyes turned to me.

"Meri isn't immune to Dragon venom," he said. "I'm not sure she even knows we're venomous, or if that would scare her more. Ayla, this means I will need to make sure Jeera has enough meat that is killed cleanly."

"I can help," I offered.

He just lifted a hand. "I've already planned on that, and I'm not trying to make you feel guilty or like you aren't doing enough."

"Then you started wrong," Rymar said, his eyes still on the page. "Ayla, what he's trying to say is he's helping to take care of your friend too. He just isn't sure what she'll need."

"And that she'syourfriend," Zasen quickly clarified. "You know Meri the best. You know what she'll be able to handle, and I know we didn't do very well with you."

"But you did," I insisted. "You made me feel safe, and you fed me, and even when I tried to run away, you made sure I didn't. You weren't even mad when I slapped you!"

"No, because you were scared," he agreed. "Scared enough to run towards theforest, which could've killed you. But that's the thing. What are the chances Meri would do the same?"

I paused, realizing what he was getting at. I'd been up here long enough to get used to everything about the Dragons. I no longer saw them as strange, and the men didn't scare me the way they used to. No, I didn't know all the rules or polite ways to behave, but I also believed Rymar, Zasen, and Kanik would make sure I didn't mess up too badly.

I'd learned to trust them. They'd learned to trust me. Meri didn't have that yet. She barely knew Jeera or Brielle, and everything she'd been told about the surface was a lie. What she thought was true was more likely to get her hurt than the reality.

While I was thinking about that, Kanik made his way in, but he paused at the archway separating the kitchen from the living room. "This looks serious," he muttered.

"Not too bad," Zasen promised. "Just figuring out what to do with Meri."

"Thought we'd decided that last night." He started walking again, clearly going to get his own tea. "Rymar?" he offered.

"Yes, thank you," Rymar said. "At least someone is willing to pour a glass for me."

"I was going to," I insisted.

He looked up and smiled at me. "I know, but Zasen didn't."

"Asshole," Zasen teased.

"So, have you asked Ayla what she wants to do?" Kanik asked as he came over to claim the last chair.

"I hadn't yet," Zasen said, looking over at me.

"What?" I asked. "What do you mean? Do what?"

"For a job," Kanik clarified. "Or even for a life. A purpose, I suppose. You've said you don't want to be a wife, and you don't want to have children, so housewife and mother are out. But whatdoyou want to do, Ayla?"

"I..." I looked between the three men.

My entire body felt like it had paused. The question was too big! I'd left the compound because I'd wanted more. I'd longed for a purpose, but getting here had changed that. There were so many new things to learn - never mind stopping the Moles!

But Kanik was right. Everyone else had jobs. They had dreams much bigger than simply reading books. And now these men were implying I could do the same? It was so mind blowing that I didn't know how to answer.

For my entire life, I'd been taught women helped their husbands. They bore children. Our purpose was to care for our families. Nothing more and nothing less.

Kanik had just made it clear I no longer had those limits, and my mind immediately spiraled. So many options and possibilities whirled through my thoughts, but they were going too fast to grab any.

So instead, I asked. "What can I do?"

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