Page 78 of Wrath

I greedily chugged down the water, blinking away the final remnants of sleep. Through the tent flap, I could just make out the sun playing a game of peek-a-boo with the horizon. Purple and green streaked the gray sky here and there. It must’ve been six or seven in the morning.

Once I felt as if I had some control of myself, I told Dair about my dream…my nightmare. Dair listened silently, one of his hands inching up to stroke my back.

When I finished, his brows drew together, and he sucked in a sharp breath.

“You don’t think it was real, do you?” Dair asked, concern tightening his expression, causing his lips to curl downwards.

“Maybe?” I scrubbed a hand down my face, feeling exhaustion settle marrow-deep in my bones. “I don’t know. But if it really was Aaliyah, then she’s becoming more unhinged.”

“More dangerous,” Dair agreed with a decisive nod. He continued stroking my back, his heat migrating through my clothes. “We can talk to the mages in the morning. See if they have anything that can keep Aaliyah out of your dreams—out of all our dreams. Maybe there’s a way to ward the camp.”

A companionable silence settled between us, both of us lost in our thoughts.

Dair broke it first. “What do you think my trial is going to be?”

“Huh?” Out of everything I expected him to say, it wasn’t that.

I twisted so I could see his face better—all chiseled lines, soft lips, and guileless blue eyes, framed by the softest blond hair imaginable.

“My trial.” Dair’s eyes briefly dipped to my lips before refocusing on my own. “What do you think it’s going to be?”

I gently placed my palm in the middle of his naked chest, the skin hot beneath my touch. He flexed slightly, a shudder reverberating through him, but never pulled his gaze off of me.

“I honestly don’t know,” I confessed. “Every trial has had to do with the nightmare’s sin, right? Bash had to free me without using his magic—or choose to use his magic and risk hurting me. Jax had been starved and then was forced to hunt me down. Killian had to resist the temptation of his perfect woman.” My lip curled at the reminder. “So my guess is your trial will have something to do with envy.”

Dair’s lips firmed, and he turned his head away, focusing on the tent wall. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

I opened my mouth to respond but quickly shut it when the flap opened, and Ryland stepped inside.

He volleyed his gaze between the two of us, and one of his dark brows arched. “Am I interrupting something?”

“Yes,” I responded at the same moment Dair said, “No.”

I shot him a glare, but he simply shrugged unapologetically, offering me a sheepish smile.

“I’m fine, Z. Promise.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “Now get off of me for a second so I can get in my chair.”

I scooted to the edge of the bed as Dair reached for his wheelchair. His strong, golden arms flexed as he heaved his body up and then repositioned himself in the chair. I’d never get tired of watching him do that. There was something so inherently sexy about seeing his muscles ripple.

Dair caught me staring and offered me a shy smile. “What?”

“You’re just sexy,” I responded bluntly.

The color in his cheeks heightened. “W-what?”

“You heard the lady,” Ryland said with a smirk. He folded his arms over his chest and leaned against one of the pillars keeping the tent upright. “Our mate wants to fuck you in the chair.”

“I didn’t say that,” I protested…albeit half-heartedly.

“You implied it,” Ryland countered.

I flipped him off.

Dair seemed at a loss for words. He sputtered something inarticulate as the red in his cheeks crawled down his neck.

“I…um…” He brushed at a strand of golden hair.

“You can have kinky wheelchair sex later.” Ryland gave the mermaid a wink before turning towards me. “We need to talk.”

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