Page 26 of Of Blooming Embers
My pulse quickened under my jaw. Her fingers curled into her palms, and she spun toward the barrels, scooping water into a cup and staring out the window as she took deep pulls from it.
With a contained chuckle, I moved behind the privacy wall, pushing my breeches off, and then sank into the cooled bath water.
Progress.
10
THE FECKING SPIRIT
SERYN
Morning light rudely poured over my face. I blinked away my momentary disorientation, one arm falling over the edge of the narrow bed, the other blanketing my eyes. From under my arm, I peeked at Gavrel, his bare chest rising and falling with his gentle breaths.
A stifled groan of annoyance hummed in my throat. It had taken me entirely too long to fall asleep. Uninhibited images of Gavrel’s hot skin sliding over mine—his lips and hands and tongue all over my body—had scampered behind my eyelids well into the early morning.
I pushed my face into my arm, blocking out my view of him. Served me right, not being able to stare at his ridiculously honed muscles until my shameless eyeballs fell from my damned, drool-ridden face.
A sudden bang crashed against the front door, and I tumbled out of the bed in a heap, curls spilling over my face and shoulders haphazardly.
Gavrel lurched out of bed, his sword already in his hand as his gaze whipped to me and then the door as it slammed open.
“These are the slack-tits we’re here to find? Bloody fecking void, Rhaeg. A desert snail moves faster than these shite piles. I’m not mad at”—she wiggled her fingers at Gavrel’s body—“all this though.”
“Breena!” I leaped up and charged her. A look of utter horror raced across her heart-shaped face, and her crimson aura sparked around her as she held her hands up defensively. I slammed into her, hugging her tense body tightly.
“Who attacks a stranger with a hug?” she groused, patting my back stiffly a couple of times before pushing me from her at arm’s length. “You must be Seryn. I hear you killed me in the trials.” She tilted her head toward Rhaeger, who filled the space beside her with a sheepish smile.
My expression fell at the reminder. Her arms dropped as a wry laugh fell from her grin. “Eh, don’t get your panties in a bunch. If you bested me, then I like you already.” She winked, and I offered her a glum smile in return.
Rhaegar lifted his hand loosely, palm up, as the corner of his wide mouth hung up in a lopsided grin. “Morning. I’d offer apologies, but you know very well I had no control over her entrance.”
Gavrel sniffed, tossing his tunic on and then greeting his second-in-command with a brief squeeze on the shoulder before gathering his belongings. “It’s damn good to see you, my friend.” He nodded to Breena, and she smirked, dropping her arms from me and circling the small room. “Cordelya sends her greetings, by the by.”
Rhaegar grinned, his eyes raising to the ceiling as he rubbed his palm on his chest as if reliving a pleasant memory. “I’ll have to pay her a visit soon. Fine woman she is.”
I hugged Rhaegar, and he returned it in a tight embrace. “I’m pleased we found you here before you moved on. I hear you’ve met Yaya and Marek.” A wide grin spread across his teeth.
Gavrel strapped his sword onto his back. “I hear you are invaluable to the Korax,” he countered. I pulled my breeches on, readying myself as I watched their exchange.
Rhaegar lifted his chin, “That a problem, Commander?”
Gavrel approached his friend, assessing him as he paused. He inhaled, squaring his hips. “Not anymore.”
“New rebel in the making, eh? Welcome, Sir Grumbles,” Breena teased. I covered a snort behind my hand, the sound making me lighter.
Gavrel ignored us and nodded toward the exit. He sighed, clicking the door shut behind us as we stepped into the late morning sun. “We need more information about the Elders. More than what we’ve gathered over the turns. What their weaknesses are. How to dismantle and suppress their supporters.”
A look of pleased surprise rose across Rhaegar’s visage. “Glad to hear it. And might I say … it’s about time.” He slapped a palm on Gavrel’s shoulder and glanced at me. “We’ll request an audience with Yaya tonight. Although I’m certain she’ll find us first.”
Breena nudged my shoulder. “So, Ryn-Ryn.” I smiled and then remembered that this version of Breena didn’t know me at all. “Have you been to the bog fields yet? Navigating them really works the thighs.” She slapped hers for emphasis.
“Uh, no. We just arrived yesterday. Haven’t explored yet.”
Breena huffed. “And Marek was your tour guide. Pretty to look at, but what a salty ball sack.”
“Ah, so you two have a history then?”
Breena’s chin jutted to the side, her tongue poking at the inside of her opposite cheek. “We’ve crossed paths over the turns.”
