Page 40 of Vathia
“I’m just nervous for dinner.”
He brushes a strand of loose hair behind my pointed ear. “Does this have to do with why you were looking for Amethyst before?”
My head dips hesitantly. “Yeah, but also finding out whatever she was planning to tell me when I got my memories back.”
He leans down and gives my nose a quick kiss. “I’m sure everything will be fine. But I’m starving, so if you don’t move those short legs, I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you there.”
My eyes narrow into slits as I glare up at him. “You wouldn’t—”
An embarrassing squeak exits my mouth, betraying me, as he does exactly what he said he would. “Jesper! Put. Me. Down!”
His thumb rubs the inside of my thigh as his hand settles under my ass. “Not a chance. I have such a great view here. Plus it was like you didn’t hear my stomach wilting away. I could have died if you’d taken any longer.”
A deep groan settles in my chest. “Fucking fates, you’re nearly as dramatic as Nero.”
His thumb makes a pass again and it takes everything in me not to make a noise or clench my thighs together.
“I am not dramatic,” Nero states as he lands on my back. “But I do agree with the crazy mate. I’m starving.”
We turn down another corridor and the smell of cooked meats, bread and seasoning wafts down the hall.
“Can you at least put me down before we enter? I’d like to walk in on my own legs, thank you very much.”
I can practically hear his smile. “Nah, I don’t think I will. We have to remind your mates what they’re missing out on.” He sighs. “Because this ass is delectable.”
Using my hands I push up on his back. “Amethyst and my friends are also going to be in that room, Jesper. Don’t make me make you put me down,” I growl which only makes him laugh.
“I’d like to see you try, Little Mouse,” he purrs back, smacking my ass.
A grin spreads on my face as I remember something. My hands snake up, aiming for his armpits and he nearly drops meas he squirms to get away from my touch. I use that moment to escape his grasp, landing on my ass, my chest heaving with laughter.
“No, Ravina. Bad. Tickling is not fair! We’ve been over this!”
I rise up on my feet, grinning in triumph as I take off down the rest of the hall to the dining area while throwing over my shoulder, “Neither is picking me up because you’re impatient and I’m smaller than you!”
As I slip inside the doors, Aemon raises a brow at me as I go to take my seat between Mel and Ember. I ignore the silent question as Jesper bursts into the room, pouting at me like I betrayed him. I know it’s just a matter of time before he tries to get me back for that.
Nero dutifully sits on his perch at the table, waiting for his food, and when I glance around I don’t see Amethyst. Just as I’m about to ask where she is, she comes through the door, exhaustion written all over her face like she’s been traveling for ages with not much rest.
“Mother,” Aemon smiles at her as she takes her seat at the head of the table.
“I’m so sorry, I’ve been away longer than I expected,” she starts, glancing at each and every one of us. “My trip was only supposed to be a short one to check on the troops at the border and make sure things are running smoothly, but things became complicated.”
“Complicated how?” Talyn asks. His voice is firm, like the leader I’ve seen in him during my year at Phixmery. There’s no trace of the young male I remember.
Amethyst glances between her son and I with something akin to hesitation. “The Lords are pushing back harder, and there’s been rumours of a stone. One that I thought was longdestroyed during the last great war, or so we all believed.” She cocks her head to the side as she stares at me.
My hands become damp with moisture as I swallow hard and whisper, “The Soul Stone.”
She dips her head. “Precisely.”
Aemon clears his throat as he peers between the two of us. “The stone you told us stories about as fledglings? I thought that was just a cautionary tale. You’re telling me it’s real?”
“The shadow wraiths,” Talyn whispers.
“Fuck,” Killian grumbles, and I swear I can feel the timbre of his voice shoot through my body.
“Can someone elaborate a bit more? What shadow wraiths?” I ask, placing my fork down. Food can wait. Next to me, Nero doesn’t share the same qualms and digs into his meal like it’s his last.
