Page 140 of Upon Buried Embers
I slowly shake my head.
His nostrils flare, and he looks away for a moment, the air stifling.
“I understand you feel like you can’t trust me after what I did, but you will tell me one day. I’m already punishing the clan for it and looking for the one responsible.”
“W-what?” My eyes widen, heart hammering. “What do you mean?”
“No one owned up to it, to what they did to you and I know it’s one of my people, Elf. So they all are to train one-on-one with me until you tell me.”
“But no one can beat you.”
His tone is deadly. “Exactly.”
I war with myself on what to do.
I don’t want to put a bigger target on my back, but if the whole clan is being punished…
Rohan grabs my chin gently. “I’ll wait for your answer.”
I nod.
“Am I to stay here?”
His eyes sharpen. “This is the only place you belong.”
I bite my lip. “Are you not angry with me anymore?”
“I’m not angry with you, Little Whisperer.”
I purse my lips. Then why did he treat me so coldly, like I didn’t exist? I understand the braid now but everything that happened before?
He lifts my chin, thumb stroking my cheek.
“Dragorie pride themselves in strength, and it’s you who makes me weak.” My breath catches. “But I don’t seem to care anymore, and that is trouble for us all.”
Thirty Four
Rohan
I watch her with my dragons as they eat out of the palm of her tiny hand.
They’re all lined up in front of her, and to my astonishment, she asks them to sit.
I shake my head at her, she must be out of her mind if she thinks—
They sit.
My dragons.
Sitting like fucking dogs.
Do I go over there and tell her to stop? No, of course not.
Instead, I lean against the wall, like I have done over the last two weeks, and watch in complete fascination as she wrangles my dragons like cattle.
Even Drogonah, though he remains in his bed, peeks at her—listening, watching, eyeing the wrist that is almost fully healed thanks to Asseya.
Guilt spears through me once more. There’s no satisfaction in seeing her so hurt and ill, especially not because of me.
