Page 76 of Wings of Cruelty and Flame

“You’ll like the reward, I promise,” he said, his voice lethal in its husky softness, his hands wandering down my back and over my ass. “I’ll make the trainingsoworth it.”

I pretended to consider it. “I suppose you do present a compelling argument.”

“I’m willing to provide additional evidence for you to consider.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And what would that be?”

He pressed his hips to mine, grinding his erection into me. A hot throb of sensation went through my clit, my eyelids drooping instantly. They sprang open again when his hand came down on my ass in a hard clap.

“Thirty minutes, menace.”

“Bastard,” I muttered, shoving away from him. The throb between my legs was impossible to ignore as I strode over toRaheema again, my wyvern pointedly looking away from us, like she was afraid to glimpse even a second of kissing. I snorted. She was such a child.

“Alright, Raheema,” I breathed. “Ready yourself for the most skilled mount you’ve seen in your life.”

No rope, no straps or seat, no spikes to grab like I could with Mak. I could do this. Easy.

I took a running jump, gathering momentum, and vaulted up her leg, running as fast as I could, following Varidian’s instructions and—

One slip was all it took.

I landed on my ass. Again.

“Don’t even say it,” I grumbled, glowering at the sky above.

“Again,” Varidian ordered.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

AMEIRAH

It was getting ridiculous now. Two more days had passed, and Varidian’s mood had soured after whatever was said at the meeting. He hadn’t told me the council’s exact words, only that we were all to carry on as normal and wait for Kalder to reveal their plans. I’d tried to ease his anger in my favourite way—flirting, bickering, then extremely satisfying sex—but the tiny niggle of discomfort

that had been growing for days expanded into a knot in my chest.

He hadn’t removed a single item of clothing around me in days. He even fell asleep fully dressed. When my hand snuck across his chest this morning, my eyes bleary with sleep, the room still dark around us, his hand had snapped out and grabbed my wrist, halting any exploration I planned. He took me so hard my eyes rolled back and I forgot how to breathe but—I was starting to feel like he was keeping distance between us,pushing me to arms length even when he was inside me, and it hurt right behind my breast bone.

Thus, I was in a fierce mood when I stomped out to the lawn at the back of the Diamond, taking great pleasure in trampling the grass. Yesterday I’d fared better mounting Raheema, and I’d drilled myself over and over until I managed to run up her leg and throw myself onto her back, even with my ribs throbbing and my ass blazing with pain. Progress.

Today, I wanted to practise with the seat straps until I could fasten and unfasten them in seconds, until the motion was so automatic that my fingers could do it themselves, and I didn’t particularly need my husband’s input for that.

I tried to remind myself he was grieving, and processing everything that happened at the Last Guard and Wyfell, but I was too irritated. Too hurt.

I sucked in a slow breath laced with humidity from the desert over the mountains, flicked a glance at Raheema who dipped her head to say she was ready, and leapt into a sprint. My feet slammed into the ground, getting my heart pumping, and I drew in slow measuring breaths to settle myself, fixing my stare on the place where I’d jump up and grab the curve of Raheema’s leg.

It wasn’t easy, and I still felt like my ribs were going to break at one point, but hand by hand I pulled myself up. Her scales were too fine to get a good grip, but she was smaller, so I could stand on the arch of her thigh and propel myself high enough to flop belly-first over her back. It wasn’t graceful, but I made it. Winded and groaning, but I made it.

Raheema flicked a look over her shoulder, her soft laugh speaking volumes.

“One day,” I panted, pulling myself into the leather seat, “I’m going to mount you like a real rider, and make you regret ever laughing. Or maybe I’ll make you climb a mountain and laugh atyou.”

Try it,her sassy growl dared me.

I snorted, catching my breath.Okay, let’s do this.I grabbed the first strap and reached for the buckle, biting back a hiss of frustration at how awkward it was to fasten, then reaching for the next, and the next—

“Ameirah!” Varidian yelled, and I snapped my head up to see him racing from the back door across the lawn.

“I’m not in the mood, Varidian,” I sighed, not that he’d hear me. We’d argue, he’d let me close then push me away, and I’d just end up feeling worse. I just needed a day to clear my head and appreciate what I had—freedom, affection, and my life. I was alive, and I needed to remind myself of that.

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