Page 39 of Born of Blood and Ash

“Hungry?” I asked.

He shook his head.

“Damn.” I sighed. “I was hoping I would get to teach you howto use a fork.”

“I know how to use a fork.”

“You sure?” I grinned as he glanced over at me, and I couldsee through the strands of his blond hair that his brows were furrowed. “I’mexceptionally skilled at teaching one how to use utensils.”

Those serious, now-jewel-blue eyes met mine. “I can pretendI don’t know how if you’d like.”

I laughed. “That won’t be necessary.”

“Good,” he said, shifting his stare to his hands and thenback to me. “I really didn’t mean to interrupt you two.”

“It’s okay. I’m glad you did. I missed you all—” My chesthitched as I remembered standing in the Bonelands,thinking I might die before I got to see them again.

Reaver wiggled closer. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Clearing my throat, I glanced at Ash. He was fillinga glass of water as Jadis, now draped over his shoulder, chattered in his earabout something to do with… “Grass—green grass.”

“You can understand her now?” Curiosity filled Reaver’svoice.

“I…I think I can. I swore I heard her earlier, and thistime, I just kind of have a feeling about what she’s saying.” I sent Ash a smuglook. “Either that or I’m hallucinating.”

“Likely the latter,” Ash teased.

I snorted. “Someone sounds jealous.” Wanting to distractReaver and brag, I said, “Did you know that it took Ash actual daysbefore he could understand the draken?”

Reaver looked between us while Ash raised a brow. “Ididn’t.”

“Apparently, it’s not taking me that long,” I boasted.

“You’re such a quick learner,” Ash stated dryly.

I grinned. “I actually thought Ash was lying when he said hecould understand you all.”

“He never lies,” Reaver replied solemnly, and Ash’s grinspread. “She’s really excited about the grass. She’s never seen it greenbefore.”

I focused on Reaver. “You haven’t either, have you?”

Reaver shook his head. “It’s different.” He sat back alittle. A moment passed as he looked between Ash and me. “Did you really missus?”

“Very much so.” I pushed the now-even-more-tangled hair backfrom my face. “And I was worried about both you and Jadis. I…” I swallowed,dropping my hands to my lap as I whispered, “I was also afraid.”

Mashing his lips together, he blinked damp lashes. Chestsqueezing, I extended an arm. After a second, Reaver closed the distancebetween us and pressed himself against my side.

Folding my hand under the soft strands of hair at the backof his head, I closed my eyes. “But like Ash said, we’re safe. We’re good. Allof us. And we’re going to stay that way.”

“Promise?” Reaver asked in a rough whisper.

“Promise,” I swore, kissing the top of his head.

Tension eased from Reaver’s thin body as he relaxed againstme and quieted as I idly ran my fingers through the soft strands of his hair.Some time passed, and the release of all the emotion that had been building upin Reaver must’ve exhausted him. He fell asleep and ended up using my leg as apillow.

I kept threading my fingers through his hair, worried thathe’d wake up if I stopped. Sleep was always best after a good cry.

My mind wandered over everything it would take to make thepromise Ash had made to Reaver happen as I listened to Ash’s footsteps andJadis’s waning chatter. Even without the prickly sense of knowing, I feared Iknew where this was headed.

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