Page 90 of Cast By Flames (Dragon's Breath)
They hooted and howled, running for the entrance. Having them here felt good, and knowing they’d have our backs for this war gave me a boost. A glimmer of hope formed that we might be able to pull it off and win.
Chapter 26
Falcon
The stone floor was cool on Falcon’s feet as he got out of bed. He gazed around his private room in the castle, still amazed he had such a luxurious space for himself. Growing up, he’d lived in the poorest section of the keep with a roof that leaked over his bed. He’d learned how to patch it, but as a child, his repair job didn’t last long. Sometimes, he didn’t eat for days because his father had gambled away the little coin he managed to earn.
Falcon had sworn he would not live like that once he was old enough to move away from his family. He’d entered warrior training as soon as he reached the minimum age. That afforded him a bed in the barracks. It wasn’t luxurious, but at least the roof didn’t leak, and it was warm inside during the winter.
After he’d finished training, he was given a small stipend each month. Falcon had used that to rent a small room over a tavern. It was loud each night, but he’d had privacy. Over the first century of his life, he’d worked up the ranks so his stipend increased enough for a small townhouse near the blacksmith quarter. It was quieter there at bedtime, and while it wasn’t opulent, it was comfortable.
After that, Falcon could not climb any higher due to his family background. It didn’t matter how hard he worked toprove himself. He’d resigned himself to a position in the middle of the hierarchy, which was far more than any of his other relatives could claim.
He’d met Aidan when the shifter was young and liked him enough to assist him with his warrior training. Falcon supposed he saw something of himself in the pendragon’s youngest son. True, their stations were far apart, but the young male clearly suffered under abusive older brothers and a cold father. He didn’t help him with the expectation he’d gain anything from it. No, he’d done it because he could see the pain Aidan hid behind his aloof attitude. He was intelligent and compassionate for someone in his position, and he had such a strong will to survive no matter what it took. Anyone with sense could admire that.
Falcon still couldn’t believe Aidan had promoted him to be his senior advisor and given him a luxurious room in the castle. The new pendragon truly trusted and respected him. It was an honor, humbling him greatly. He would do everything he could to continue earning it.
He moved to the wide wash basin without a crack or hint of rust, splashing water onto his face and then cleaning his teeth. Falcon was about to get dressed when he heard a knock at his door. It wasn’t even noon yet. Who would be coming to see him at such an early hour?
After pulling on a pair of pants, he opened the door. Sabryn stood there. The beautiful female shifter had brown-black hair dusting her shoulders, light olive skin, and a toned body that made him yearn to touch her. He stared into her golden eyes, half covered by thick, dark lashes.
She studied him, beginning at his face before running her gaze down his bare chest and to the bulge in his pants he couldn’t help. He’d dreamed of her every night since they beganworking together, though he tried to put her out of his mind, and his body awakened hard and ready. It couldn’t be helped since, during the day, he had to listen to her sensuous voice and watch her hips sashay as she walked. It was torture, yet he dreaded when it would be over, and they’d no longer work together.
A smile quirked her lips as she lifted her gaze. “I’m glad you’re awake.”
He was uncertain which part of him she referenced.
“You’re early,” he said.
She brushed past him to enter his room uninvited. “I know.”
Sabryn inspected his quarters, having never stepped foot in them before. She noted the narrow window that overlooked the rear of the keep where the gardens lay if one opened the silky black curtains. Next, she saw his gilded storage chest, where he kept all his weapons. Aidan had given him that as a gift shortly after Falcon was promoted to his advisor.
His breath caught when she moved to his rumbled bed—twice as large as any he’d had before—and sat on it. She bounced on the mattress and murmured something about it being quite comfortable. Falcon did his best to push away images of what he’d love to do with her on that bed as he moved to another chest where he kept his clothes. It wasn’t as fancy as the other, and came with the room, but it was nicer than any he’d had before. He drew out a fresh, black camrium tunic that looked like most of the others he wore.
As Falcon moved to put it on, she moved in front of him. “No.”
“No?” he asked, confused.
Sabryn looked at him like she wanted to consume him. It wasn’t the first time because he wasn’t a fool and had noticed her interest before. The highborn shifter female desired him, but he was not mating material. While he had climbed to a high rank, no decent female would want him because it would mean being tied to his family. He didn’t go near his relatives unless absolutely necessary, but they sometimes hounded him for coin and favors. She didn’t deserve to put up with that.
She traced a finger down his bare chest, and his stomach muscles tightened.
“You’re too honorable for your own good,” she said in a soft voice, close to his ear.
Sometimes, he thought she could read his mind, though that was impossible.
Falcon offered her a bit of truth, hoping to put her off. “Having your body would never be enough. I’d want your heart and soul as well.”
Her amber gaze lifted to his, and surprise flickered there. “You mean that.”
“I do.” He would not lie to her.
She pressed closer, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I’ve been alive for more than six centuries, and I’ve never met anyone who draws me to them like you do.”
Her lips were mere inches from his, and he valiantly fought the urge to kiss her. She damn well knew it too. They’d been dancing around this subject since they started working together two weeks ago. Before, they’d hardly crossed each other’s paths, but it all changed once they had full days together. What had Aidan been thinking by pairing them? Surely, nopendragon would allow his highborn cousin to marry a lowly shifter—even one who’d risen to anadvisor. Generations of thieves, gamblers, and wastrels tainted his blood.
Yet, he couldn’t resist settling his hands on her hips. “You deserve better.”
