Page 14 of A Broken Ember

Moments later, he was gone, leaving me alone to watch over Hariasa and my Selected . . . well, most of them. My thoughts wandered again to a man with pale hair, impossible purple eyes, and a body that exuded strength. My deflated cock stirred again, pressing against my thigh. I squirmed again and again but found no relief no matter how I sat.

Eventually, I couldn’t stand it anymore and abruptly stood. Suddenly, I had all four sets of eyes on me. “I’m going to check in with Thyia.” I mumbled the excuse and hurried off before they could question me. I couldn’t sit around any longer.

Chapter 13: Claeg

I spent the day exploring, getting used to my surroundings. The man from last night followed my every move at a distance, watching as I observed the people interacting. Those that noticed met my gaze with curious eyes but no fear. Anastasius hadn’t revealed my true name. They didn’t know I was the Ruptor, or they didn’t care. Or maybe they only saw a shadow of who I once was. The thought made me restless, and I flexed my fingers over and over. It did little to relieve my uneasiness.

I hadn’t come across any Circulus-born thus far. Maybe Thana was wrong and the De Vita draconis were innocent. I pushed the thought down with a scowl. Of course, they weren’t. They were just hiding their truth well. Just like I was.

At dusk, I found myself in a dining room filled with draconis. There were rows and rows of tables where many sat, ate, and spoke with friends. As I entered the room, a hush fell over the area, and many eyes found me before excited whispers overwhelmed the air. I found a seat at a table where less than half of the chairs were occupied. The table was covered with extravagant dishes, none of them like the practical displays I was used to. Elaborate vases, colored with drawings, contained flowers that could only be found in the Circulus territory and… weren’t in season. Puffy loaves of bread, roasts nestled in fruit puddings, sliced vegetables roasted and coated with unfamiliar spice. Many hands grabbed at the jugs containing fermented liquid. The smell informed the Ruptor of its power—to weaken and inebriate even the most intelligent. Those within the Circulus occasionally indulged in mind-altering substances for pleasure, but not me. The Ruptor left no allowance for such vulnerability

My stomach grumbled, having missed the meal last night. I had been too preoccupied with everything today to seek out food. But now, with a feast laid before me, I felt a flicker of confusion. My enemy wasn’t as I had expected. I didn’t know what to think of them. I met the eyes of the man who hovered around me like a shadow. His sneering smile and missing fingers contrasted the jubilant activity around us. He poured a mug of the drink everyone seemed to have in hand and held it out to me.

“Drink.” His dark eyes challenged me with a cocked eyebrow, daring me to refuse. The Ruptor dictated that I refuse, but I also knew I had to blend in. Had to act cowed by them. Maybe the drink’s power would aid me in the task of deceiving them by dulling the Ruptor. I took the glass and swirled the liquid inside. The potency of the spice made my eyes burn. I set the drink down without indulging in its contents.

“I have never defiled myself by entertaining substances that lessen me before, and I certainly won’t start for your vile pleasure and attempt to dominate me,” I growled. The man’s smile grew eerie as he leaned back in his chair to study me, hands clasped behind his head.

I grabbed a bun and some sliced fruits that looked familiar. I took a bite of buttered bread, which was so moist that it melted in my mouth. My eyes fell closed as I savored the taste. It was so delicious. When I opened my eyes, a woman sat across from me. “Enjoy it while you can, Circulus. You won’t be Chosen.” I blinked at her, refusing to show my surprise at her presence. I didn’t even care about what she’d said. I wouldn’t be here long enough for it to matter. The woman had a shock of curly red hair and bright green eyes. Her features were soft, but the look she gave me was filled with a disgust so strong it felt out of place on her face. I recognized her as the woman who had been fighting the prince’s mother when I arrived. Oriana.

“If you survive the Selection, you will be Saved. Oh, I will love to watch as your wings—” Her eyes flicked behind me, widening. Her mouth slammed shut, and she bowed her head. “My Prince, I did not expect—”

“You are dismissed, Calian, Oriana,” Anastasius said from behind me. Heavy hands fell on my shoulders, giving them a light squeeze.

“But my Prince—”

The hands on my shoulders tightened ever so slightly. “Oriana.” He spat the name like a mix between a curse and a warning. She blanched and quickly abandoned her tray, leaving it half uneaten. The former wasn’t so quick to obey. The man, Calian, stared down at his prince with a jaw tighter than the vise-like constriction of a snake within the Circulus swamps.

“I won’t be far,” he promised and stood. When he at last left the immediate vicinity, Anastasius’ grip softened and he slumped into the chair beside me.

“Apologies, Eleos. She had no right to speak to you like that, and Calian…” he huffed. “That bastard can go deep-throat a cactus.” His tone had lightened slightly, but there was still that dark edge to it, like the end of a storm. I chuckled humorlessly.

“I can handle myself, Prince.” I couldn't keep the sneer from my voice. There was only so much acting I could do. Pretending to be weak wasn’t something I excelled at or enjoyed.

Anastasius stiffened. “Such a stubborn, Circulus thing to say . . . So fiery. So resistant…” His eyes searched mine, but I refused to react to his words. I couldn’t show him how much those words . . . my actions . . . everything affected me. “So . . . strong.”

I almost winced. “I’m not strong,” I denied, breaking his stare as if I were humiliated. In truth, I was, but not for the reasons I hoped he thought.

He hummed. “If you say so,” he replied, his tone making it clear that he didn’t believe me. “Come. I want to reapply that salve.” He stood and looked at me expectantly.

I didn’t move from my spot, remaining seated and waiting to see what he would do. Whether he would demand I come with him.

“Eleos,” he growled, the dark cadence of that name on his lips sending a shot of lust through my core. I sighed, took one last bite of my meal.

When I stood to pursue Anastasius, Calian noted the movement and followed.

Chapter 14: Anastasius

I had thought he wouldn’t follow me at first, a flare of his stubborn Circulus pride flashing in his eyes. But then he stood and followed me to my room, Calian never far from us. We went through the motions of dressing his palms and neck again and now sat in companionable silence before the fire. Claeg yawned, standing and stretching his arms above his head. The action drew my eyes to the muscles in his forearms and shoulders. The firelight highlighted the curves of his body and the sharp edges of his jaw. My lip found its way in between my teeth as it often did. Claeg’s eyes heated as they snared on the simple movement of my mouth.

Our eyes slowly met and locked for a few moments. Lust was evident in his eyes, a mirror of mine. My cock swelled. There was no point in hiding it: my body craved him. I wanted to touch him like I had never touched anyone other than myself. Just as I was about to stand and act on the feelings raging within me, Claeg tore his gaze from mine.

“I should go,” he said, the way the words came out clearly indicating the war within his own mind. I stood and reached for his hands but dropped them at the last minute. He was healing. Physically and mentally. It wasn’t fair of me to push myself upon him when he was obviously still struggling with . . . everything. Only he knew the horrors that had led him here. I nodded, stepping out of the pathway to the door. My heart ached to stop him, even when he didn’t look at me as he shuffled away. I stared at his back, willing him to turn around and stay.

“Eleos…” I trailed off when I sensed him hesitate at the door. “Stay,” I pleaded quietly. He sighed.

“I want to,” he murmured, exciting me, filling me with hope even though we played a dangerous game with Calian just outside the door, waiting for any shortcoming to whisper to my father.

“Then do it,” I invited, closing the distance so that my shadow encompassed his. He would have to either open the door and leave or face me. His breath hitched. “What are you scared of?” I whispered, brushing his hair away from his neck to reveal the healing skin there.

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