Page 60 of The Wrath of Ashes
“And like that, your pesky virginity is no more.” Rath watched with half interest as Asha picked his hand up and brought it to his lips for a kiss.
“Poor thing never stood a chance.” Asha drew Rath’s hand down his neck, chest, and lower to rest over his navel. “Do you promise?”
“Promise what?” Rath rubbed the firm flatness of Asha’s belly, relishing the magic and heat that flowed there so purposefully.
“That we’ll have children?”
“I cannot promise that, but I promise I’ll keep trying. Though, you were receptive.” Rath couldn’t be certain, but all the right things had happened. It’d be a shame if they didn’t, but such was life. So much magic flowed through Asha, and as if fate and glory rode him, Rath channeled some of his own life into Asha. With but a gentle push, their souls preened against one another, and if it was fate to happen, Rath accepted.
“No complaints.” Asha laughed and shuddered, stretching out so languidly atop Rath. His bare body, new scales and gorgeous tail all that Rath could ask for.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Asha
Being mated and wed was an interesting experience. After ridding himself of the shame of everyone knowing that he’d been recently deflowered—he found that nobody made any qualms about it. It was business as usual as Slath took over his magic training and introduced him to matters of state befitting a bearer. Asha expected paperwork or something mundane, but Slath was more of a face to the kingdom. He visited people, used his skills as a painter to gift noble houses with his art, and taught Asha the craft. He had a talent for it to begin with, so it was no surprise when Slath and Asha were invited to a garden party not a few weeks after the mating. Rath had been invited too, but he so seldom went. His time was better focused elsewhere.
In the cool mountains, it was a mark of pride to afford the greenhouses and servants to tend plants that otherwise couldn’t grow so high.
In the Saurian estate of some duke that Asha missed the name of, he and Slath sat side by side with sketchpads and watercolors, painting the flowers and rather free-handed interpretations of the evening on fine linen parchment. Asha rather liked having something to do at an event rather than standing around conversing about mindless drivel.
For his base layer, he used a fine charcoal pencil, making use of the poorer tools he’d grown up with. When the earl’s staff could afford an artist, Asha had been permitted to use scraps and unconventional tools that Rath had praised his skills with. Though, compared to Slath, he was still a novice. “I think you’ll outpace me in a dozen years, Asha. You’re balls at color, but your linework is impeccable.”
“I doubt it. It’s a passing hobby.”
“Still,” Slath said, leaning over to smudge at some excess charcoal that had broken and rained onto the edge of his paper. “It’s pretty. Let me paint it, okay?”
Asha stared at it then glanced over toward Slath. “Sure. I needed a break, anyway. I’ll need to be home before… Wait, do you need to as well?” Asha gestured toward the sky where the rising moon would be sooner than later.
Slath gestured for them to swap seats and rested a hand on his shoulder. “I’ve not met a dragon or Ashen that matched me. So, I do feel the pull of the moon as many dragons do, but I don’t go into estrus quite yet. If it were so, many dragons would know their designation before mating.”
“Lucky, you and I have our colors to vouch for that.” Asha rubbed at his temple and swapped seats, settling down with a long sigh.
“But I don’t feel like we need to rush out of here this evening. Have Heckle take it easy on your way back, yes?” Slath squeezed Asha’s shoulder and smiled.
“I’d rather not have to chase Rath down when we got home. I’ll spare you the details.” Asha jolted when Slath leaned over, a cloth in hand.
“You smeared charcoal all over your forehead.” Slath’s lips turned up at the corners in a wicked grin that reminded Asha that he and Rath were indeed born of the same stock. “Headache?”
Asha nodded sagely. “Malingering at best. Nothing for it but perhaps some water and a rest before Rath spirits me away.”
“I doubt my brother will have that on his mind if I’m right.” Slath daubed at his palette and smiled as he swathed down a light layer of palest blue with his fine brush.
Asha, for his part, dabbled with another sheet of paper and sketched a rather somber-looking woman—a high dragon’s daughter as she sat staring out at the guests with a fecklessexpression. It was rather adorable, and overall candid, which is what Slath said Asha did best. “You’re always right, but what about this time?”
“I would wager my favorite brush that the moon comes out and you feel nothing but a yawn come on.” Slath daubed at some of the pooling water on the page, careful not to disturb Asha’s light sketch.
“Doubtful. Last time was so intense that—” Asha’s cheeks burned and he settled down.
For his part, Slath seemed unbothered. His keen eyes flicked about before he made eye contact with a rather severe-faced male with a shock of hair such a vibrant red that it couldn’t have possibly been human. When Asha noted a set of equally red horns entwined with his hair in a windswept way, it confirmed his species. “Well, you were also in a stupor of lust from your mating and aphrodisiacs. But I’d like a second opinion. Graylan! Sir, if you wouldn’t mind.”
The male turned a kind eye to Slath and sauntered over, his scarlet nails tapping a little tattoo on the rim of a delicate glass in his hand. “Slath. It’s lovely to see you here. Your renditions are always a treat.”
“You’d say anything to charm me. We both know it, Gray.” Slath gave the male a stern glare that made him look away almost sheepishly. “But I called you because I wish to ask a favor.”
“Always with you, my prince. You call on me only when you need things.” He sighed in an overdramatic huff and batted thick, red lashes over completely black eyes. The pits of them were eerie, and Asha found it unnerving that he was unable to see where the male looked.
“Our king consort here is feeling under the weather. Would you have any insight? My theory is rather amateur at best.” Slathdaubed at a bit of yellow on his palette and blended it into the blue, creating a green transition.
