Page 30 of Of Withering Dreams
“I didn’t mean to pry.”
He exhaled for three heartbeats. “I don’t mind you prying, but her attention is something I don’t want …” he muttered, glaring at the palace. “And I can’t seem to escape. Let’s leave it at that.”
I leaned into his side for a moment as we continued in silence.
“Oh, I’ve also been thinking …” I hesitated and looked at Kaden, who was sparring with a guard. His sword furiously slashed and parried against his opponent’s, a clover-colored glow pulsing around him.
“Yes?”
“Would you spar with me?” I asked, a blush spreading over my cheeks. “I’d rather not take up your or Kaden’s time during the day when everyone is milling about.”
His eyes softened. “Of course. I think it’s a brilliant idea. It never hurts to learn how to defend yourself.” He crinkled his brow briefly. “Let’s start later this week. I can meet you on the training field shortly after sunrise. Agreeable?”
“Absolutely.”
During dinner,I shared what had happened in the Reverie Weald with Letti, Breena, and Rhaegar. Kaden had eaten his meal in grim silence. Gavrel never came to dinner. I wondered if he had gone to see Melina.
Later, after hours of failing to sleep, I went to Kaden’s room to check on him. I figured he’d had enough time to stew.
“Kaden, it’s me,” I said, knocking on his door.
The door creaked open as he stepped aside and let me enter. His room was decorated similarly to mine, but the bed was drenched in shades of emerald and bronze instead of pewter. His bare chest was on full display, his white breeches hanging low on his hips. I swallowed, dragging my gaze to his.
“I wanted to check your bite wound,” I blurted when he didn’t speak.
A tired smile spread across his face. “Thank you.” He waved his hand, a current the color of soft grass shimmering toward his chest. Only a rosy patch of sealed skin rested. “Healing ember, remember?”
“Oh, of course. It looks like your skill is improving.” Without thinking, I skimmed my fingers over the mended mark on his strong pectorals, and we both inhaled at the contact. I pulled my hand to my collarbone as if I’d been burned. I rambled, “I, um. Are you all right? I know today was unnerving.”
He rubbed the spot my hand had been near his heart. “I’ll get through it. I’m out of sorts.” He paused, shrugging and dropping his hand to his side. “How are you holding up?”
“I can’t stop thinking about my mother, but what’s new?” A weary sigh fell from me. The air buzzed with the sound of our gentle breaths.
“Well, I’ll let you get some rest.” I turned to leave.
He gently grasped my wrist. “Sleep here tonight?”
My breath hitching, I studied him with an arched brow, biting my bottom lip.
“Just sleep … I promise,” he drawled.
I hesitated as warmth spread over my skin. “All right.”
“But stop biting your lip, or you’ll make me a liar.” He smirked, wiggling his brows.
A breathy, high-pitched laugh left me as I followed him. We settled under the soft bedding. No further words were needed. His arm was a comforting weight around me, soothing my pounding heart. I let myself mold into the cradle of his body, his heat and solid mass blanketing me. I drifted to sleep in moments, all thoughts of the day whisked away into the haze of a dreamless sleep.
The next daywas a tedious blur of shelving books in the library. When I finally made my way to my room that night, I had hoped to rest soundly, but my mind had other plans. My bed was a heap of crumpled blankets wrapping around me. Restless thoughts bounced around my skull, twisting and turning with the rest of my body. Mama. Kaden. Mare wyrms. Shades. Ember. Kaden.
Kaden’s lips.
Eyes.
The hollow that dipped beneath his throat.
Sitting up, I huffed and pushed wild strands of hair from my cheeks. Soft rays from the harvest moon of the autumnal equinox scattered about the room, casting halos around the solid objects strewn about.
I slid off my bed, pushing my feet into the slippers next to it. A sardonic chuckle stuck in my throat.Who needs a harvest moon when we’re not harvesting anything?
