Page 43 of A Love of Wrath and Rapture

Xeros’s body is tense, his wings shuddering lightly. I can sense that he’s ready to rip open Jeremiah’s throat. And I wouldn’t blame him, but that won’t do my situation any good.

“I can guarantee that nothing of that sort will happen. I’m willing to bet my life on Xeros’s cooperation.”

I glance at Xeros and he gives a reluctant nod, still bristling with anger and a clear lust for blood.

He’s so hot when he gets all worked up. Wait, no. Now is not the time for that.

Harold holds up a hand, his eyes on Jeremiah. “Perhaps we should discuss this matter further in a more suitable place.”

He turns to me. “Allow us some deliberation time. This is not a decision to be made lightly.”

I nod, choosing to say nothing further.

The council members leave quickly, muttering amongst themselves.

As the crowd around us slowly backs off, I let out a sigh, relaxing after the tense situation I just faced.

Xeros grunts. “I think we’d be better off bashing their heads together. They can’t argue if their teeth are in the ground.” He smirks, enjoying the thought of getting blood on his hands.

I give him a wry smile. “As tempting as that may be, we need the council unharmed. Save your bloodlust for the waira.”

He scoffs and kicks at a rock. It rolls away, landing at the feet of a little girl. She can’t be older than four, her eyes big and brown.

She picks up the rock, staring at Xeros in awe. There’s no fear in her eyes, only wonder and amazement, in stark contrast with the rest of the villagers’s expressions.

Her dirty little face is brightened by her big, toothy smile.

I watch her as she walks up to Xeros, her fat little hands holding out the rock for him to take.

He gives me a quizzical look. “What does it want?”

I cover my mouth with my hand to hide my smile. “She wants to give you back the rock you kicked.”

Xeros looks down at the tiny child, dwarfed even more by him. He reluctantly takes the rock from her and stiffens when she jumps once before running to her previous position.

The girl stands there excitedly, balancing herself on her toes, her smile wide and happy.

Once again, Xeros looks to me for advice.

“I think she wants you to play with her.”

He pulls a face that could either portray annoyance or discomfort. Or both.

To my surprise, he lets the rock fall to the ground before gently kicking it. It rolls and stops against her bare feet.

She scoops it up and brings it to Xeros, who, despite his stern expression, seems to enjoy the girl’s attention.

For a few minutes, I watch the two of them play this game of fetch before I notice a woman running towards us.

Oh no, that must be the girl’s mother.

I grab Xeros’s arm and start dragging him away, but it’s too late. The woman shrieks when she sees what her child is doing.

“Sasha, no!” She picks up the child and starts briskly walking away with her. This results in a loud wail and many protests from Sasha.

Ignoring the screaming, the mother rushes away, taking her child to safety.

Xeros looks perplexed. “But it was having fun.” He shakes his head. “You humans are way too complicated.”

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