Page 58 of Upon Buried Embers
Calian said to see her first.
“Sorry girl,” I whisper softly. Her tail swishes, but otherwise she stays still as I groom her how Rohan showed me. “I was supposed to do you first. I’ll do better next time.” I look down. “And see to your leg. I hope it doesn’t hurt as much.”
I let the soothing sound of bristles through her hair wash over me, getting lost in the repetition until I sense eyes on my back.
It feels annoyed, hardened.
I slowly peek over my shoulder. Rohan stands outside the stall, arms folded, leaning against the wood.
Saying nothing, I go back to grooming her.
It’s unnerving, his attention. It sears me.
Scares me.
“Do not forget her mane.” His voice makes me startle.
Right.
Wiping my hand down my cloak, I gather pieces of her mane as close to the skin as I can. Separating into three strands, I try to remember the order Rohan showed me.
Right over middle. Grab the middle too and twist, left over middle. Twist.
I lose some hair in the process, some get tangled and I lose two strands all together at one point.
But he doesn’t berate me, just watches quietly until he speaks.
“Who braided your hair?”
“Tofa helped me. It was getting in my face while working.” A horrible thought hits me. “I—I told her to do it. It was me.”
I don’t want to get her into trouble, she’s been nice to me.
The heat of him envelops my back, and my hands still in Serah’s mane, waiting for the inevitable.
He tugs at my hair, and I hold my breath. It isn’t until thicker, loose curls fall on my face that I realize he undid the braid.
“As someone I claimed, no one is to touch you that closely without permission.” I breathe out harshly. “And no one should be touching your hair.” He growls, and my body trembles. “Hair is a sacred thing amongst the Dragorie, you will not let another touch it. Understand?”
I nod.
“Words!”
“I understand!” I shout.
He stills at the loudness of my voice, and I’m sure I hear a rumble, this one amused.
It couldn’t have been.
“I didn’t tell you to stop.”
Oh. Right.
I look at Serah’s mane and continue to braid. Unexpectedly, he picks up my hair and begins to braid it.
This scary man is braiding my hair so softly, like it’s something precious.
I didn’t think he was capable of such a thing.
