Page 95 of Born of Blood and Ash

“Trying to,” he mumbled, kicking feet that didn’t reach thefloor.

I peered down at the paper. He’d captured the leaves on theivy-like vines that adorned the throne room doors and decorated my tunic. “Ithink you’re doing a good job.”

“Thanks.” Another splash of pink traveled across his cheeks.“I don’t think Liora will be happy, though.”

“Liora?” I sat beside him.

“She’s like me,” he said, shading a tiny leaf. “But older.She doesn’t leave Mount Rhee much, but she did come by while you were asleep.All the draken did.” He frowned, appearing to searchfor a word. “We all felt you rise as the true Primal of Life,” he said,speaking as if that were something entirely normal.

And I guessed it was since I had basically felt Kolis do thesame.

I clasped my knees. “Is Liora who watches you and Jadissometimes?”

He nodded.

“Maybe you should finish the rest of your letters for her,”I suggested. “You’re almost halfway done.”

“I will.” Dragging his lip between his teeth, he glancedover at me. “Do you want to draw? It helps me when I’m anxious.”

“Drawing makes me anxious,” I joked. “But thank you.” Mygaze flickered over him. “Why are you anxious?”

“I’m not.”

I raised my brows. “You just admitted to drawing when you’reanxious,” I pointed out. “So, why are you anxious?”

His little nose pinched as he looked away. “I’m anxiousbecause you are.”

I drew back. “What?”

“You’re meyaah Liessa. I…I can sense it,” he said.

“Oh, gods. I didn’t know that.” Uncomfortable, I shifted inmy seat. Actually, I did know that. It was just lost in all the otherstuff I suddenly knew. “The notam.”

Reaver nodded.

It was the bond all draken hadwith the true Primal of Life. “So, all the draken canfeel when I’m anxious?”

Swinging his feet, he nodded. “The older ones know how toblock it out. I just haven’t learned how to do that yet.”

“What about Jadis?”

“I don’t think she can feel anything yet,” he answered.“She’s too young.”

That was kind of a relief, but not really. I didn’t want myalmost constant state of anxiety affecting Reaver. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” He tilted his pointy chin up. “It’s not realbad.”

I wasn’t sure I believed that, which meant I needed to getmy anxiety under control.

“I think you’ll do fine today, by the way. The peoplealready like you, and after what they saw this morning? They have to love you.So, you have no reason to be anxious,” he said earnestly and with a seriousnessfar beyond his age.

“Thank you.” I ran my hands over my knees. My anxiety at themoment had little to do with the speech, but I was sure that would rear itshead sooner or later.

Once Reaver finished his letters, we moved out to the daybedon the balcony. He was telling me about Mount Rhee and some of the draken I hadn’t yet fully interacted with when I feltAsh near the bedchamber.

He joined Reaver and me, striding out onto the balcony, thehair at his temples damp.

“You two kind of match,” Reaver said, kicking his feet offthe base of the daybed.

---