Page 50 of The Anointed's Paladin

She pulled a wooden instrument from her pack; it looked like an egg, with holes and pipes sticking out.

She started playing a tune, the peaceful melody reverberating through the cold dankness of the cavern and making it feel a little cozier.

“I think it’s your turn,” I said to Kaine after we’d unpacked.

“My turn for what?”

“To tell us a story.”

He snorted. “Neitherof you wants to hear any of my stories. They’re boring and horribly depressing.”

“You must have some from before,” I said.

“Before,” he mused, a sad smile on his face. “That’s a longtime ago. I don’t have anything from before. Just memories of memories.”

“You have to have at least one story, Kaine,” said Nidori, pausing her tune to look at him. “Pretty please, can you tell us one?”

“How about a bit of advice, instead?” he said lightly. “Don’t trust anyone who doesn’t wear shoes.”

“What are we supposed to do with that?” I asked.

He shrugged, standing and stretching. “Whatever you want, darling.”

With that, he vanished, conveniently taking his leave of the conversation.

22

Lakeside distractions

Kaine

Nidori was playing her ocarina, and she and Talon were settling into his evening routine. I had stayed, fiddling with my necklace for a while. I saw that Talon had started his nightly clothing and equipment scrub. It was kind of cute how lost in it he got, laser focused on removing every speck of dirt, then folding the clothes into a perfectly neat pile. I’d even restrained myself from going in and sabotaging it, despite being tempted, because his face was just so pleased as he admired his work.

I stood, stretching, and slipped into the ancient hallways. I needed some space. The part of the building we occupied now was open to the musty air above, the roof having crumbled some time ago.

I saw a flicker of colour out of the corner of my eye and turned to see a glowing light dancing on a wall, reflected through a window.

Spotting a balcony, I ducked under the beam that had fallen across the doorway.

It must have been a grand balcony once, with delicate pillars adorned with intricate patterns and stairs that led to more balconies further down. There was a white marble table on this level, with stone benches on either side, but I was drawn to the landscape beyond.

I let my mind wander, imagining living here when it was in its prime. To be a lord of this castle, able to adorn every inch in decadence. To invite people over and enjoy their envy as they saw everything I owned. I hummed as I thought. I’d get Nidori her own gown, whatever she wanted, and throw her a ball. I pictured her, walking down the steps to the balcony, full size and absolutely stunning. One of her arms would raise to wave at me as she grinned, and the other would hold Talon’s as he escorted her down the stairs. I’d dress him up in a silver suit and get him to tie his hair back. My fantasy fell apart as I pictured him there, leaving me with a painful hollowness. Just because I’d decided not to kill him—yet—didn’t mean there was a future that could include him and us. Iwantedto make him mine, but it would be hard ensnaring him in a trap he could see.

I walked forward, leaning on the balcony railing and trying to distract myself with the view.

An inky black lake stretched in front of me, illuminated by bioluminescent flora that grew along the shore of the water. They cast an ethereal glow, painting the scene in a pattern of light and shadow. Vines grew along the walls of the cave, adorning them with luminous streaks of colour.

Bursts of light bloomed within the depths of the lake as creatures stirred beneath, something in the water responding to movement and with bright, enchanting light. Seemed like as good a place as any to think.

I climbed up to a ledge and lay back, settling in and taking in the view. How long had it been since I’d gotten to enjoy something like this? And, less pleasantly, how long did I have left?

Staring out at the lake, a morose mood settled over me.

I heard footfalls; Talon doing his daily perimeter check, no doubt. He did like routine. He seemed drawn to the balcony as well, coming out and resting a hand on the railing as he watched the movement down below.

He was a welcome presence here, with only his thin night clothes on. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing off his thick forearms. He shuffled his wings, leaning forward and giving me a nice view of his ass. My cock twitched as I took him in. Nowthiswas a welcome distraction.

My mind turned to last night, to running my fingers along his thick body. What his magnificent tongue had done to my cock. The sight of him kneeling in front of me, holding my gaze, clinging to my every word. And how he had felt inside me, filling me as he took me completely. My cock hardened, and I felt a low flutter in my belly.

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