Page 102 of Elas

Occasional short snippets of conversation interrupt the scrape of forks and knives over ceramic plates, but everyone is concentrating on their meal. August lets out a positively sinful moan when he bites into his first piece of meat, and it’s so obscene that I almost drop my fork. He’s oblivious, chewing his food with his eyes closed, and Cameron smirks beside him while he stifles a laugh.

Gods, he’s so fucking sweet, smiling to himself as he sips his water and scoops up a forkful of rice. His contentment causes a physical ache in my chest.

He takes another bite of meat with that same lewd moan. This time, I can’t help it as I snicker. “Hey, baby,” I murmur, and he glances at me in question as he finishes chewing and swallows. “You keep making those noises and we’re going to have to excuse ourselves from the table, yeah?”

“Noises?” he asks, and Cameron imitates him in a loud, drawn-out moan. August’s face flushes pink and he gasps. “Was I?” he asks in horror as we all laugh, and I throw my arm around him as he laughs with us.

A lightness I haven’t felt in decades settles over me as I bask in the cheerful sounds that fill the room. Glasses clinking and laughter and stories being shared. I kiss the top of August’s head before releasing him to finish his dinner.

Sans the moans.

Tension creeps back in once the food is gone and the cleanup starts. Ronan scrubs plates in the sink as Cameron reclines and pats his stomach. I chuckle as I bring the last ofthe dishes over and place them on the counter. “Someone’s whipped,” I tease in a mutter, and Ronan shoots me a fanged snarl.

It’s really hard to take him seriously when he’s wielding a sponge with soap on his chin, though.

We settle into the living room, and I'm thankful to be out of my armor with my deliciously full belly. August settles beside me, resting his cheek on my chest as I drape my arm around his shoulders. His hand covers mine, and the slow, deliberate trace of his fingers brings me a deep sense of calm.

Reyes reclaims the chair he used for dinner, pulling his feet up underneath him. Ronan drops into the other armchair and leans back as Cameron climbs into his lap. Tranquility settles upon Ronan’s features before he notices anyone is watching. It’s a peace I’ve never seen in him, and my heart squeezes for my friend.

My eyes dart away before he catches me staring. He would only turn growly again, and I don’t want to steal these serene moments he’s found.

After everyone is comfortable, the room grows expectantly quiet. I sigh, meeting Ronan’s eyes as I ask, “Do you guys want to go first, or should we?” Ronan’s face settles back into those anxious, hard lines, but he nods and begins to speak.

He tells us about Commander Bravis following him to the house Cameron was hiding in, and how he wanted Ronan to bring Cameron to base with him. August and I exchange a glance, knowing exactly where that would’ve landed them, but we don’t interrupt.

Cameron jumps in with a very animated retelling of the fight that led to Commander Bravis’s death, arms swinging. Ronan jerks his head back to keep from being elbowed in the face. “He didn’t tell anyone he was going after you,” I say, and Ronan nods, unsurprised.

“It was personal. When he was dying, he… said some things,” Ronan says, his eyes growing distant. “Made it sound as though he’d been the one responsible for the attack on my village. Like he’dtakenme… like it was his goal.” A century-old memory flashes through my mind, and my eyes momentarily go wide. Ronan’s face darkens, his nostrils flaring. “What is it?”

I swallow, guilt clogging my throat as I dig out the ancient conversation. “The day we met… the day Bravis brought you in and made me fight you… he said something to me. I’d forgotten until now.”

“What did he say?”

I stare into the deep brown eyes of my lifelong friend. “He told me your mother had been one of the best fighters he’d ever known.” Ronan’s brows pinch, his head tilting in question. “She was military, but she disagreed with the direction they were going. According to him, she deserted… ran with you and your father.” Ronan gulps, giving a single dip of his chin for me to continue. “He said they caught up to her, but your father got away with you. If he said he attacked your village, it’s probably true. They’d probably been searching for you for a long time.”

“Bravis never knew how to let go of a grudge,” Ronan says quietly, and the room falls into a heavy silence. Cameron snuggles closer to him as he sighs. “My whole fucking life has been a revenge story.” His voice is thickwith grief as he meets my gaze, and I manage a faint, sad smile.

“But not anymore,” I say, and he takes a deep breath, his eyes going distant for a moment as he nods.

“Yeah… not anymore,” he agrees.

Ronan clears his throat and continues their tale, some levity returning to the room as he recounts Reyes stabbing him and attempting to run off with Cameron while he laid unconscious on the ground. Reyes jumps in, describing how Ronan bound his entire body like a rope-covered mummy before Cameron came in and put a stop to it. Everyone laughs, though a heaviness remains in Ronan’s demeanor.

We’ve all heard the story, but Reyes recounts his experience at the camp alone anyway. He tells us again of the military convoys coming through with the bound sets of mates, and the discussions he overheard. Cameron smiles when he says he packed his notes, and leaps from his seat to hug Reyes when he tells him he brought him more books.

Ronan picks up the narrative after they left Reyes. We’re on the edge of our seats as he shares how the soldiers caught up to them and insisted Ronan and Cameron join them at their camp. My pulse thumps as Cameron nonchalantly tells us how they tossed him into a cage, and subconsciously, my fingers drift over the scar on my lip. August notices, pressing a soft kiss on my pec as he stares up at me with an understanding smile.

“Your bloodlust triggered?” I ask in surprise as Ronan skims over the fact that he slaughtered eight soldiers—including a fuckingBhotan—with nothing more than his sword. He nods, a satisfied smirk pulling on his lips andflashing his fangs. Smug retribution flares in his eyes, a revenge that says he’d happily revive them just to kill them all over again.

“It was fuckingamazing,” Cameron gushes. “He wasn’t even bothered by the rest of them. Was just like, ‘Yeah, I’m here, bitches. What of it? Give me your head.’” Cameron grimaces as he twists to glance at Ronan’s proud face. “It was pretty gross when he chewed up Brukduuch’s neck.”

“Brukduuch?” I ask, and Ronan gives a casual shrug.

“The Bhotan.”

Somehow, my brows climb even higher on my forehead as Ronan’s smirk turns downright villainous. “It was gnarly,” Cameron continues, wrinkling his nose. “Although his giant knot made up for it.”

I choke on my drink, water threatening to come out of my nose as I cough. August thumps on my back as I force the liquid down my throat. “Fucking gods, Cameron, really?” I rasp, and Ronan’s grin is wide as Cameron sinks into his lap, curling into him. “I didn’t need that visual.”

---