Page 31 of The Wrath of Ashes
Kensing nodded and jogged off while Rath folded his arms and glared. “See, Asha, this is why unmated males need bedservants. Keeps them in toe.”
Pryd showed no sign of concern over the matter but grinned all the same. “Not for much longer. Kensing is heading off. He’s helping me pick my next servant.” Pryd waved his hand dismissively but kept staring strangely at Asha. “But maybe my mate is out there, too.”
“Then wait for their call and don’t scare my mate off, please.” Rath hissed low and Asha patted his arm, the strange burn of cold still in his cheeks. Rath turned his head to stare down at Asha, and his anger faltered.
“He was sweet to me, Rath. I enjoyed him bickering with Slath, and the wyverns are so lovely.” Asha offered his best smile, but concern still simmered in Rath’s dark eyes.
“You could have been hurt. You could be pushed into something you’re not ready for.” Rath placed his hand gingerly over Asha’s, refraining from touching more than Asha would have liked.
“Oh yes, elders forbid we want to see our new brother’s scales.” Pryd rolled his eyes.
“That takes time.” Rath tensed like he wanted to hit Pryd, and Asha glanced over his arms as he lifted his sleeves and tilted his skin. It felt rather like a layer of frost over him, a glimmer of sweat, just a slight sheen that Asha squinted at. He tugged Rath’s sleeve and held up his arm.
“Are you hurt?” Rath took his hand and studied his skin for a moment before his eyes went wide, pupils blowing out. “Oh.”
“Is that scales?” Asha stared at it and as Rath touched, they grew a little more discernible, pale, not like Rath’s dark blue but a powdery sort of reflective white, caught with a glow of fire like dawn.
“Anyway, young one. It was a pleasure to meet you. I’ll go harass my attendants and see you once again at dinner.” Pryd waved his fingers and halted.
“Lapryda!” The fierce shriek of Slath’s voice shot across the courtyard, and Pryd flinched.
Kensing trotted out, arms crossed, smirking.
“Slath! My brother dearest!” Pryd turned just in time to be tackled to the ground, fists flying as Slath did his level best to blacken both of Pryd’s eyes.
“After what happened to Galatan and Circe? You’d put him at risk like that? Fuck you!” Slath struck home and caught Pryd’s nose, hissing sharply, his teeth and reddened scales coming into view, making Pryd toss his hands up in defense.
Asha was no stranger to fights among the stable boys or brawls amid the drinking men and had barely a thought before he dove atop Slath and pulled his arm back, rolling him off Pryd and leaping back to avoid the disoriented swings. “Alright, lads, fun’s over!”
“Stop!” Rath rubbed his palm over his forehead and snatched Asha up before he could even settle on his feet, holding him bridal style and glaring at his brothers.
“It’s over. Asha is fine.” Rath sighed heavily as Asha struggled in his arms.
“I’m fine, Rath. I promise. Fight’s over.” Asha grinned up at Rath, showing as much excitement as he could.
“Fight may be over, but you’re going back to your room for a bath and a lie down before dinner.”
“I’m fine!”
“For the moment.” Rath kept his brow furrowed but walked past his brothers, Pryd in disarray and Slath still blinking up in confusion.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Asha squirmed, but Rath only held him tighter.
“It means that you’ve had contact with too much magic today and are damn near about to crawl out of your skin, literally.” A predatory noise curled in Rath’s throat.
“Is it about that full moon thing? I’m fine, a little sweaty, but fine.”
Rath kept silent until he ascended the stairs to his quarters and absconded him into his bedroom where he hesitated, pivoting on one foot and the other, and part of Asha hoped Rath would take him to the nest, but the other part remained equally fearful. It all got so much better when Rath went neither and guided him into the bathing chamber and set him onto his unsteady feet, twisting the taps to warm the pool more.
“Rath?” Asha gasped when Rath pursed his lips and glanced back toward him, his eyes dark and predatory but fearful all the same.
“Clothes off. Get in.” Rath stared him down, working the buttons of his own breeches to slide them and his underclothing away to reveal the mystery behind them.
“Rath… I don’t…” Asha stepped back and the fire in Rath’s eyes made him tremble, tugging at his clothes lamely.
“Jeron!” Rath approached Asha, still focused as he wrestled him from his clothes with frustrated noises and swept him up once more, his sharp fingers squeezing his thighs before they descended into the hot water together, Asha’s cheeks on fire.
“Sire?” Jeron appeared in the doorway panting, staring down at the two sinking into the heated waters and swore beneath his breath.
