Page 89 of Vathia
I try to relax and enjoy the wind and the view from up here but the closer we get, the more my nerves keep amping up. At least we figured out a plan for the shadowfire. The last night we were in Kraryn, I remembered the device Amethyst used to remove the necklace from me. How it could hold the flames until it was ready to be used.
Killian and I tore the castle apart looking for it when Aemon found us and asked what we were doing. Turns out it was in his office the entire time. Amethyst gave it to him while I was unconscious. If we need it, we will be able to light our blades on fire, so at least that’s one less concern I have.
Vasari begins her descent and I open Nero’s cage. There’s no point now in keeping him enclosed in it. He’ll probably enjoy stretching his wings before we land anyway.
“You’re the best,” he sighs before shooting himself out of the ‘prison-like torture device’ as he tends to call it.
As we land, Vasari turns her snake-like head towards me. “Be careful in this forest tomorrow Ravina. Something feels dark about this land, and it has my scales crawling. Get in, get what you need and get back. Do not make me burn down this forest to get to you. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal clear,”I tell her. She’s a dragon I do not want to be on the wrong side of.
I slowly shimmy off the saddle and groan as my muscles begin to shake and loosen before climbing down her leg. My leg locks and I slip; not even a scream leaves my lips before I’mtoppling towards the ground. My body tightens as I brace for impact, but instead, two solid arms cradle me.
I stare wide-eyed at Talyn who’s smirking. “You better be more careful, Princess. You wouldn’t want to make this a habit.”
“Yes she would!” Nero chips in as he flies into the field.
“Shut it, Nero,” I mutter.
Jesper bursts out laughing. “I think you’re right, Nero.”
Talyn glances at him and Nero with confusion. “You can hear him?”
Jesper smirks and crosses his arms. “Of course I can, when he lets us, which isn’t often. I’ve completed the bond with Ravina. Aemon can hear him too. And the dragons. She’s the center of us. Always has been.”
Surprisingly he doesn’t say anything; he just seems thoughtful as he places me back on my two feet. “We should set up camp. Lennox and Roz, can you two have a look around and report back to me on any findings? Ember and Mel, do you want to set up tents or cook?”
Mel bursts out laughing. “We will set up tents. Ember couldn’t cook if her life depended on it.”
Talyn nods before turning to me. Out of habit, I cross my arms and narrow my eyes. “I want you to get Aemon or Jesper to give you a massage tonight after helping around camp. I don’t need you hurting yourself tomorrow because you’re too stiff.”
My brow arches. “Are you not going to offer yourself?”
His golden eyes darken and he takes a step forward. “Oh princess. When I first get my hands on you it isn’t going to be for just a massage,” he purrs before heading back to Zaddro to unload him.
I blink. Did he just flirt? Did I just hear him correctly?
Nero lands on my shoulder, snickering. “Sounds like he wants in your leathers.” I swear if he had eyebrows he would be wagging them.
Shaking my head, I move toward the packs strapped on Vasari and begin unloading her. I’m exhausted, and honestly a massage sounds wonderful, but first I’m going to pull my weight and help set up camp. The last thing I need is Talyn finding something to be pissed off with me about.
I HEAR BIRDS chirping as the first beams of morning sunlight stream through gaps in the tent canopy. I stretch, my body feeling much better after the massage last night.
Roz and Lennox confirmed that the forest is far too dense after their investigation last night. According to them, the gryphons might be able to fit, but with their wings and the branches we aren’t going to risk that today, so they’ll be waiting with our dragons.
“It’s too early for your mind to be thinking about the day ahead,” Jesper grumbles, nuzzling his face into my hair.
I run my finger along his freckled, naturally tanned skin. “It’s hard not to over think when everything feels like it’s riding on our success today.”
“That’s the thing, Ravina. You just need to trust that the fates wouldn’t have led you all this way for you to fail. If anything, they seem to be rooting for you. You have survived so much and you will get through this too. We all will. Now, should we get out of here and get some food in you before Talyn starts barking orders at us?”
A small chuckle leaves my lips as I nod. Jesper wastes no time pulling me on top of him and kissing me thoroughly. “It’s already tempting enough to keep you in here, but I don’t thinkthe others would be happy to listen to me ravishing you over and over again while they eat their morning porridge.”
I sigh, pouting. “When we get home, I want you and Aemon together in my bed. If I’m being forced to wait until after, then I want double the fun,” I compromise.
I did everything to tempt him last night, but he was determined to wait until I wasn’t in as much pain. I think I almost had him though, but then he went and switched out with Aemon, who gagged me with his tendrils until he finished giving the massage. It was the best and worst torture ever.
“Anything you want, Beastie.”
