Page 81 of Vathia
“Oh shut it Rav, you have four males in your little harem. Yours is definitely more interesting than me fucking Rozen Stoll.” There’s the Ember I know and love. Although Frazzled Ember is certainly entertaining.
“To be honest, I was waiting for this to happen—you two have been eye-fucking since Phixmery. I’m surprised you held off this long,” I tease, heading over to the chairs nearthe balcony. Nero follows, perching on the stone railing while pretending to gaze out to the ocean.
“Ugh, Rav. I never wanted a partner. I was to go to Phixmery, become a top berserker and make my parents proud. Even though I can barely stand them. They’re like every other typical Vopn Fö parent. Violence is our way of life. Although I have to admit, mine are better in that aspect—but after meeting you and the others I realized I want more in life than just fighting because I can. Then feelings—” she shivers—“for Roz began forming, and I don’t know what I’m going to do about it yet. I promise to keep you in the loop.”
I don’t try to hide my smile this time. “That sounds like a plan to me. But you should tell Mel. She will be so excited to help you figure all this out. Not to mention she will have a thousand questions for you.”
Ember’s gaze widens. “Just give me a minute to wrap my own head around it. But yes, I will tell her. Now, why were you searching me out?”
I sigh and slouch back in my chair. “I may have exploded at Talyn. I just don’t know what to do with him anymore. He’s so hot and cold, and I just want to wring his neck while also wanting him to wring every ounce of pleasure from my body and…” I throw my hand in the air.
Her eyes somehow get wider as I explain the events since we arrived at the war camp, from the bone-melting angry kiss to me telling him that he can watch while I fuck his friends before flying off.
She clears her throat. “And you’ve bonded with Jesper? See, much more entertaining.”
“Ember,” I sigh, rubbing my brow. “What do I do?”
She uncrosses her legs and leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees, her bed-frazzled black bob falling slightly into her face. “Well. You could always duel him? Or you canwait to see if he comes to you? It seems like he’s almost there. Especially with you finally snapping back and shoving in his face what he can or can’t have. That would drive a male like Talyn crazy, I think. So when he comes to you, try not to be rash. Listen to him. Unless he’s a dick again, and then I’ll help you torture him.” She smiles mischievously.
I can’t help but sigh. “Hopefully I don’t need to take you up on that.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
SHE'S RIGHT. Even though I said I wouldn’t be an asshole to her, I still am. I don’t mean to be, and as much as I want to blame it on the trauma of what happened at my father’s estate, the truth is I am jealous. Jealous of every touch and kiss she gives the others. Fates. Even Killian lets her touch him. Which is something I never thought was possible after everything he has been through. Maybe she and I should get away, just the two of us. Somewhere secluded. The mountains maybe? She lived there for years, maybe she misses it.
“If you two were dragons, you would battle it out with claws and fangs until one of you submitted,” Zaddro adds.
My gloved hand grips the saddle. “I’m not battling it out with her, but I think it’s time we talk. She deserves better than me, and if she decides to send me away, I will deal with it. It’s not like I’ve done anything to deserve her, but I want her. Having her back healed something within our fractured brotherhood.”
Zaddro snorts. “None of you are broken or fractured. You were missing a part of your soul. She is the center of your group. And you need to pull your damned head out of your ass. I’m surprised you can smell anything with the amount of shit that must be lodged up your nose. It’s why your words are so vile. Just apologize and woo the female.”
Right.
Apologize and woo.
I can do that… Right?
Panic starts to grip my chest. No. I can do this.
Thankfully Zaddro stays quiet for the rest of the flight back to Kraryn while I sort out my thoughts. There’s only one way I can even apologize, and that’s to tell her everything. Every awful thing I’ve done and endured to keep the others safe. Maybe she will see for herself that I’m too broken. Even as mymind drifts to the thought that she would be better without me, my soul fractures.
The back-and-forth gives me whiplash, and by the time we arrive at the Dragon Keep, Ravina is nowhere in sight, but her raven is sitting on the fence post just outside, eyeing me down.
“Do not hurt her, Talyn Craven, or—forbidden or not—your eyeballs will become my most treasured possession,” he croaks out loud, shocking me before flying off.
I watch, stunned, as he disappears behind the rooftops. Jesper told me he can speak but chooses not to, yet I didn’t believe him until now. That bird really does have a penchant for eyes. A small shiver wracks through me.
Stalling, I walk along the coastal cliffs, letting the soothing smell of the salty sea air calm me. She’s probably inside venting to her friends about what an asshole I am, and really, I think I’m scared of her rejection. It’s time to male up and get it over with.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I force my feet into the direction of her room. I hear distant sneezing sounds from Jesper and his allergies to all the flowers Amethyst keeps here, but I follow the pull of our bond, knowing she isn’t with him. He’s probably off to medical to get a fresh tonic for this stay.
When I get to her door, I freeze with my fist only a slight movement away from the pale wood. My hand flexes and my breath hitches and before I realize what I’m doing; my knuckles rap twice against the door.
Maybe I should have waited to have this conversation, but tomorrow isn’t promised. I already lost her once, then almost again during the attack. My trauma shouldn’t be thrust upon her when she’s done nothing wrong, but admitting to things can be horrifying. Things you’d rather leave in the dark and keep buried with the skeletons of your past.
The door creaks open and wide blue eyes stare up at me in shock before they narrow. “What do you want, Talyn? Come to order me around again?”
I blow out a breath and scrub my hand along my dragon tattoos. “No. I want to talk to you about some things. Can I come in? Or would you like to come with me for a walk?”
