Page 41 of Oathborn
Only weeks ago, he’d bemoaned the lack of action in his chosen career. Now, he found himself on a manhunt for the nurse who had saved his life, while his commanding officer was off chasing down a mythical monster.
This week was decidedly not going the way Tobias had planned.
Chapter fifteen
Tivre
With Hazelle and Zari off gallivanting, doing who-knew-what and talking to who-knew-who, Tivre closed the cabin door once more. He ran a hand through his hair, raking the white locks into messy peaks. Time to salvage what he could of this mess. As a Godspeaker, he could see the future… Sometimes… Occasionally. When the divine wanted him to, but not always, which meant surprises like this one served to annoy him greatly.
Meanwhile Daeden studied the room with a warrior’s intentions, checking for escape routes and threats, classic Oathborn behavior. Daeden tugged on the small lamp, which didn’t move, and turned to examine the wash basin next before Tivre caught his arm. “Enough, Dae. We’re safe.”
The nickname slipped out, revealing that affection Tivre still had yet to master.
Daeden made a noise of slight disagreement.
He supposed Daeden was right to doubt the statement. So, he adjusted his topic. “You two came all this way to give Zari a sword?”
“It was Hazelle’s wish,” said Daeden, then added, “I am glad to find you alive, Tivre, no matter how we parted.”
“Mm.” Tivre ignored the comment because Daeden would disapprove of the con that Zari represented. In fact, Daeden would disapprove of just about everything Tivre had done since leaving the isles. Attempting to smooth things over, Tivre tried for the smile that always made his lovers blush.Something about the way it leaned. People were always thrown off by tilted things. Always wanted to fix them.
“Miss me?” Tivre asked softly.
“I could ask the same of you, for all that you have ignored me these past months.”
“I do not enjoy watching you take Oaths.” Tivre offered him the rare truth.
“It is my destiny to do so!” Daeden snapped. “And if you are so opposed to the life of an Oathborn, perhaps you should refrain from continuing to take them as lovers.”
Tivre raked his hands through his hair, then realized the verb Daeden had used. “Wait. Continuing to take…”
“Sen Zari,” Daeden ground out, though he retained his manners by affixing the Oathborn honorific to Zari’s name.
Of course. Daeden had noticed the single bed and jumped to the same incorrect assumption as Zari. Really, did no one realize that a bunk bed cabin would simply be a nuisance? Tivre considered explaining those details, then considered explaining a great deal of things, then everything he couldn’t tell Daeden, and decided a far different course of action would take precedence.
One that he was far better at than providing explanations, if he had to rate his skill at both.
Beside, Daeden was still standing there, arms folded, golden brow arched, looking unruffled and calm. Tivre preferred him in the opposite of both states. He’d said so, more than once. But again, words. So useless, so clumsy, and so often unnecessary.
Tivre tugged on Daeden’s collar, to make him bend. Their lips collided in a mix of frustration and hunger.Let that action speak for itself, he thought. While it was rather nice to see his ex-lover a little jealous, Tivre didn’t need to deal with an envious Oathborn in addition to everything else.
Daeden growled, low. “Do you think kissing fixes everything?”
“It certainly is a more enjoyable method than many others.” Like being honest. Or communicating.
“You hold no affection for her?” asked Daeden.
Tivre wished they’d stuck to kissing. Even if he wished to be truthful, which he absolutely did not, he couldn’t describe his feelings regarding Zari Ankmetta. Affection? No, he didn’t think so. Even though she was rather plain by human standards, and incredibly so by fae’s, she was not unappealing to look at. Nor was she uninteresting to talk to, which was always an important element in a lover. Still, she was Zari Ankmetta, the girl he’d seen in a thousand visions, all of which had made one thing clear; Any fondness for her would end in destruction of all Tivre held dear.
Besides, Daeden was here, and smiling at him, and very, very handsome. “None at all,” Tivre finally answered.
Sighing, Daeden pulled him close, a low growl escaping and betraying his hunger.There. This was easier than talking. With one hand stroking down the curve of Daeden’s neck, Tivre pressed a kiss to the bit of collarbone exposed, enjoying how easily Daeden’s expression turned languid.
“You’re doing that thing.” With impossibly fast reflexes, Daeden caught Tivre’s wrist, “Where you kiss me right out of my reasonable thoughts.”
“I like your reasonable thoughts,” Tivre murmured. Other lovers before Daeden had been sparks in the night, momentary attempts to ward off the darkness. Daeden was like the dawn. Brighter than any before, more hopeful, more wonderful. “And I’d like more time to focus on kissing you out of them.”
“As you have fulfilled the Queen’s wish, perhaps she will permit you respite from your duties.”
