Page 77 of Born of Blood and Ash

Reaver nodded.

“Well, I hope he’s done helping,” Ash replied. “I would liketo speak with my wife before supper.”

My wife.

Those birds turned into giant, carnivorous-but-happy hawks.

“We were just finishing in here.” Rhain rose, and Reaverlooked up at me. I nodded, and he lifted into the air.

“Oh! I almost forgot,” Aios said.“I ran into Erlina earlier. She wanted to come see you, but with everythinggoing on, I told her you may be a little busy.”

A bit surprised that the seamstress wanted to see me, a warmglow filled my chest. “The next time she comes by, I would like to see her.”

Aios nodded. “Until tomorrow,then.”

“Wait,” I called as Aios passedAsh. “Will you all be having supper in the dining hall?”

“We normally do,” Rhain answered.

“Since it’s later, Bele and I will likely have our supperhere,” Aios said as Reaver hovered by them.

“Can we have supper in the dining hall?” I asked Ash.

“If that is what you’d like,” he said.

“I would.”

Ash turned to Rhain, whose eyes were slightly wide. “Whenwill dinner be ready in the hall?”

He blinked. “In about an hour.”

“We will see you three there then.” Ash turned back to me.

Rhain was still standing there as if stunned. “Let’s go.”Grinning, Aios gave Rhain a light shove. “We need tomake sure there are enough chairs in the dining hall.”

“There are more than enough chairs,” Rhain argued as Aios opened the door.

“Let’s double-check,” she suggested, following Reaver out.

“Was it just me, or did Rhain seem really surprised by thatrequest?” I asked after the doors had closed.

“We haven’t joined the others for many suppers,” he said.“And before you, I didn’t do so often.”

Sadly, the last part didn’t surprise me.

Ash plucked the hanger from my grasp and tossed the tuniconto the couch.

“I really don’t need that wrinkled.” I started toward it butdidn’t make it very far. Ash snagged me by the waist and turned me back to him.“Rhain will be very displeased if that ends up wrinkled—”

“He’ll get over it.” He tugged me to his chest.

“I’m not so sure about that,” I protested, my gaze liftingto his. The heat in his molten-steel eyes sent fine tremors radiating throughmy limbs. I immediately stopped thinking about Rhain and the state of thetunic.

Clasping the back of my neck, Ash brought his mouth to mine.I was at once completely enraptured by how he kissed like a man starved andwasn’t aware of what he was up to until he lifted me. His tongue delved deep ashe stepped onto the dais and carried me toward the table, setting me down onthe edge. I tasted whiskey on his tongue as he deepened the kiss. His fingerstraced the outline of my collarbone before moving slowly downward. His touchwas electric, sending jolts of pleasure throughout my body.

He nipped my lower lip, then lifted his head from mine. “Whywere you surprised that Erlina wanted to see you?”

I sighed. “Was I surprised enough that I projected?”

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