Page 63 of Vathia
“She’s magnificent,” Jesper murmurs.
Aemon nods, sipping on an ale. “You have no idea,” he mutters, his eyes heating, and a sharp pang of jealousy hits me.
“Nothing to say?” Jesper pokes me. “You haven’t taken your eyes off our pretty Little Beastie since we got in here.”
He’s partially right. I haven’t removed them from her since she’s been in my presence. Like some part of me is scared she’s going to slip away. I grunt at him which makes him laugh.
I turn my attention to Aemon. “Did you bring the gems?”
He pats his pouch at his side. “Of course.”
Nodding, I focus my attention back on the female who stole my heart, even if she doesn’t know it yet. Even if I can’t act on it.
My mind trails back to that kiss I shared with her on the library floor—how soft and small she was in my arms, how her kiss tasted like storms. My cock begins to thicken but I will my mind away from her soft lips. It can’t ever happen.
The blacksmith’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. “Okay, you can stop. I can handle the rest. I’ve sketched somehilt designs. I just need you to choose one, and then once that’s finished we can add the finishing touches.” He glances over at us. “I’ll need one of you to mold her hand so I can customize it to her grip while I do this, since we don’t have much time.”
“I’ll do it,” I find myself piping up.
Ravina’s big sapphire eyes widen in surprise, and a small tilt to her lip makes my heart stutter.
I clear my throat. “Weapons are my specialty,” I add for some reason, even though they all already know it.
I rise to my feet and walk over to the smith who’s holding a thick block of moss that holds imprints when squeezed, and take it from him gently. We turn and watch Ravina as she looks thoughtfully at the three sketches placed in front of her.
Finally after a few moments she turns to us. “I really like the design on this one, but this hilt… is that something we can combine?”
The smith takes a moment to consider her request and then nods. “We can make that work. I would be honored to make the adjustments to the designs.” He takes the paper and heads over to his workspace, leaving the four of us alone for the first time since we got here.
Aemon excuses himself for a moment, following after the smith.
I move slowly over to Ravina. “Okay, Little Warrior, I need you to squeeze this gently so I can work on the handle.”
She eyes the moss block curiously. “Is there a reason for this? Other than it fitting to my hand?”
“If anyone else tries to use it, it wouldn’t feel comfortable or balanced in their grip,” I explain.
Without saying another word, she keeps her gaze on me and places her hand on the block, squeezing it. When she pulls away, I can’t help but smirk at the small print that’s there.
“What’s so funny?” she asks, crossing her arms across her chest.
I try to run my hands through my hair but my fingers get caught in the braids. “Nothing, it just amazes me how small you are. It’s cute.” The last part slips out and I inwardly curse. Being around her makes my tongue loose.
She scoffs and smiles. “It’s not my fault you’re abnormally large,” she states, gesturing to my height before wiping sweat off her brow.
I smirk. A comment pops into my mind but thankfully I have the sense to hold my tongue. “Come on, let’s get you some water.”
Jesper laughs before whispering something in her ear, which makes her gaze widen, darting to my crotch, her cheeks turning a dark shade of pink before she whips her gaze away and clears her throat.
My lip twitches—it’s clear that Jesper did the commenting for me.
Aemon passes her a canteen which she chugs back greedily. “I got her a room at the inn around the corner. I’ll take her to get cleaned up and rest, because as soon as the sword’s done we are heading out.”
I dip my head and go to move away to get to work with the moss, but a small hand grips my arm.
My body freezes reflexively and then relaxes almost instantly.
“Thank you for helping with this, Kill. I really appreciate it.” She covers her mouth as she lets out a huge yawn.
