Page 125 of Wrath of the Dragons
I laugh and follow it up with a cough in an attempt to cover it up.
Ryder tugs his shirt over his head and throws it to the side. “I’m not a soldier. I’m a general.”
Zarius says something under his breath that I’m not able to hear as he mirrors Ryder’s actions, removing his shirt to expose panes of lean muscle and a tattoo of a roaring snow leopard that takes up the entirety of his back. The tail coils around his waist, and its front claws are raised as it stands on its legs. This must’ve been his familiar. It’s a memorial of what he lost forever inked on his skin.
Rhys steps forward as Zarius grabs a practice sword, as do the six guards who swore to Zarius in the prison. They were of higher rank and are now his king’s guard, which is why they’re sailing with us. They’ve had to take up bunks below decks where the crew rotates sleeping, but they’re making it work. So long as nobody knocks on my door and asks to sleep in my cabin, I don’t care how they sleep.
I glance between Rhys and Zarius, the older knight staring at the prince with unabashed pride. It’s the look I’ve seen countless fathers give their children. Sometimes it’s easy to identify an emotion when you’ve never known it. It stands out more, perplexes you. There’s a nagging sensation to identify what it is so you can decipher why you’ve never experienced it or if you ever will.
Zarius’s hair is white, wavy, and cropped beneath his chin, though he always pulls the top half back and leaves two pieces to frame his crimson eyes. Rhys’s hair is shorn close to his scalp, but from the black undertone to his gray wisps, it’s obvious he once had a full head of dark hair. I suppose their eye shape is similar, both deep set and angular, but not identical.
I just can’t shake the way Rhys not only looks at Zarius but treats him.
I wrap my arms around Cayden’s shoulders and press my chest to his back to lean close to his ear. “Rhys and Zarius…do you think…”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “I knew you’d realize it.”
“Cayden Veles, did you know a secret and not tell me?”
He smiles over his shoulder. “I was waiting for you to figure it out.”
I glare at him. “I’m going to light the lavender lingerie you wanted me to wear on fire.”
His eyes narrow. “I’ll put it on a shelf you can’t reach.”
We face forward again as steel collides, and the two men begin circling each other. Ryder’s sword shoots forward, but Zarius blocks it. Ryder has more power behind his swings, but the prince is swift. It’s clear Rhys trained him and catered to his strengths. If Ryder could go for the kill, Zarius would’ve been dead already. He has the battle experience that Zarius lacks, but sparring is much more drawn out.
“I was waiting for this to happen,” Zale mutters, cocking a hip on Finnian’s barrel.
“I think we all were.” Finnian answers with a chuckle. “They’ve been at each other’s throats since they met.”
“Why?”
“He drunkenly complimented Saskia.”
“I have sisters.” Zale cringes. “I can’t blame Ryder.”
“I got over it.” Finnian pats Cayden’s shoulder and is quickly swatted away.
“All of my compliments to Elowen were made while sober,” Cayden states.
“You drink whiskey like it’s water,” Finnian answers.
“I wish you would. Maybe you’d pass out and stop talking.”
I roll my eyes. “You all make me look forward to battle just to get a break from this incessant bickering.”
Zarius locks his blade with Ryder and darts his eyes to Saskia. A rare smirk forms on his lips as he says something that makes Ryder growl and shove him back. A sword drops to the deck, and Ryder’s fist slams into Zarius’s mouth.
Zarius wipes the blood from his lips. “For such a dignified general, I didn’t think you’d resort to such a juvenile response.”
“Fuck you,” Ryder grits out.
“There’s that sparkling eloquence.”
Finnian sighs, shoving himself off the barrel to step between the two. “That’s enough. Go take a walk.”
The pair of them continue glaring at each other as they stalk off toward opposite ends of the ship. Saskia sighs while shaking her head, muttering about stupid men. I can’t say I disagree. This vessel feels a whole lot smaller than when we first set sail.
