Page 44 of The Wrath of Ashes
“You can show me your gratefulness once you’ve seen your gift. I have other things on my mind. I’ll be away a few days. Know I think fondly of you and when I return, we will wed.” Rath kissed his hand and walked away to ready his men to visit the King of Monsmount and lay waste to Tippen Valley.
Chapter Eighteen
Asha
Asha’s stomach knotted at the thought of what Rath could have waiting for him. It could have been anything—gold, a new servant, clothes. His were still being made with the tailor’s, but Slath was such a close fit to him that it mattered not. And his soon-to-be brother-in-law didn’t mind sharing.
For good measure, and because nobody told him he couldn’t, he brought a book with him, clutching the tome under one arm while his tail swished idly behind him. Walking with it got easier by the day, pleasant, even. He could only wish for more of his draconic features to come in as easily. Even in his sleep, he dreamed of more of his dragon self to come. And he yearned to see Rath’s dragon, though Slath had shown him paintings of all the brothers. Even with his considerable skill, Asha couldn’t imagine what it would look like in person.
When he approached his room, he tapped on the door, peering in uneasily. Jeron sat in the window well with a book reading idly and glanced up with a smile. “Pardon. I should be—”
“Should you be? I don’t need for anything. Feel free to relax.” Asha offered a smile before taking a seat by the window, too. He liked seeing the sky, all blue and near cloudless. Looking down only gave him view of mists and peaks of the mountainous valley below. The window would be shuttered in a few hours to prevent Asha from seeing the moon, but until then—one did as they pleased.
Jeron eyed Asha uneasily for a moment before placing a bookmark in his tome and clearing his throat.
“I’m aware Rath has a surprise for me.” Asha tried to focus on his book but couldn’t. He found himself trying to read the same sentence a half dozen times.
“I’m not sure I would call it asurprise, but it is rather shocking—if not scandalous.” Jeron snorted and stared at the book in his lap before leafing through to his bookmark once more, feigning reading.
“It was shocking enough that Rath thought to tell me I could send it away if I didn’t care for it.” Asha frowned. “It’s not another servant, is it?”
“I’m afraid so. Once Nadi has them clothed—it’ll be up to you to keep them or not.” Jeron wrinkled his nose and resumed his fake reading.
“Rath hasn’t shared a bed with this one, has he? No offense.” Asha held up a placating hand as Jeron gave him a soured look. “I meant nothing by it!”
“I’m flattered you feel so threatened by me, my lord, but what I did for Rath versus what you will do for him are twoverydifferent things. I was a necessary evil, and I enjoyed it. I chose to, and Rath picked me for the role. I no longer am needed.” Jeron waved a hand dismissively. “But no, Rath most certainly has not lain with this woman.”
“Meh…” Asha sighed. “I apologize. I shouldn’t be so defensive. I feel this need, like I want to crawl out of my own skin. And the one thing I very-much-so want, I cannot have. And you already have had it. I’m jealous, and I apologize.”
Jeron gave Asha a sharp stare that melted after a few moments. “I’ve not known many nobles to apologize. Dragons are piss-poor at it, but they do, and it’s a sign of good character and leadership. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I hope we can continue to be candid with one another.” Asha wasn’t certain if Jeron was allowed to be so forward, but his worries were cinched when he tossed the book aside and sighed.
“I’m not supposed to be so forward, but I was trained as a bedservant. I’m a glorified dragon nanny and I know a thousandways to curb a dragon—amorous or no. They’re also training me to deal with hatchlings, so that will be fun. Little lizards will be so full of themselves and prideful from birth.”
“They are very full of themselves,” Asha said before halting. Jeron gave him a long stare that conveyed his point.You are a dragon.
“Uh—huh.”
“I’m not full of myself!” Asha huffed indignantly.
“Yet.” Jeron enunciated thetwith too much enthusiasm.
A polite knock interrupted their banter, a curt tattoo of sound that Asha recognized as Nadi. “Come in!”
Asha turned his head toward the door in time for Nadi to step in, chin held high, as a ghost stood behind her.
“I’ve been instructed to bring thiswomanto your chamber, my prince.” Nadi flinched as Lyss balked.
“Prince? That’s Asha! Less’n he’s one of them dukes now…” Lyss, hair much shorter than Asha recalled, stood in the dimness of the doorway and barged in, halting as she laid eyes upon him.
“You… What did that flower sniffer of a dragon do to you, Asha?” Lyss, a head shorter than Asha, bowled forward, wrapping her arms around his chest with a crushing squeeze.
“Oof! Nothing. I’m—” Asha wheezed and patted her back, his heart swelling with happiness. He missed her so sorely. “I’m a sort of dragon.”
“Sort of? Youarea dragon. You are an Ashen, born of man,” Jeron said, standing to attention before Nadi and the guest. “And you should address our prince as such.”
“I’ll address him how I see fit. I didn’t scour chamber pots ’n sew wounds closed for as many years as I did without getting to be familiar. Now why didn’t you tell me you was a dragon?” Lyss shoved at Asha and glared.
