Page 193 of Upon Buried Embers
He pauses for a moment. “It was in jest, but I won’t do it again.”
I nod. “The other Masters would do that. Loan out slave women and men for repayment in the underground.”
His fists clench in my lap. “Tell me what you can about it.”
“Why?”
“Because they will all die.” I jolt, taken aback as his eyes turn deadly. “And your Master is first on the list.”
“I… I didn’t ask you to do that.” His eyes are serious. “Rohan, you can’t.”
“You gave yourself to me, I don’t take that lightly. You’re mine, but now, I’m yours. You think those who hurt you will walk the lands much longer? No.” He shakes his head slowly, deadly, like a predator. “They’ll die forevertouching you, foreverdimming your fire. They will feel the wrath of a Dragonbond.” His hand comes up to my throat, gently stroking over the abused flesh before bringing us just inches apart. “I would burn it all to the ground and I wouldn’t let a single flame touch you, Little Whisperer. Do not doubt what I would do for you, for it would be everyone’s undoing.”
My breath hitches as his words send fear through me, but most of all, safety. I have someone who will protect me, and most of all, someone who’ll keep me.
Because that’s what he said. I’m his, not because he took me, but because it changed into something so much more between us. Something I never thought possible and it drives away those ugly thoughts I have sometimes.
“Why Little Whisperer?” I question, leaning forward to boldly place my lips on his. It’s soft, gentle, conveying my feelings and he encourages it, a hand on the back of my neck massaging softly.
It’s freeing to touch him like this, and I want to do it as much as possible with The Games looming. We may never get anotherchance, and for once, I’m taking instead of having things taken from me.
“You whisper to my dragons, to my horse, even to yourself, though sometimes I’m not sure you notice.” He runs the tip of his fingers against the point on my ear. “You should have a name. A proper one,” he breathes. “One that is meaningful to who you are. You may be small, but you have fire inside of you. I told you I will breathe life into it and I meant it, so let’s start with a name.”
My heart flutters, emotions welling up inside of me.
“Rohan.” I whisper, just as a sneeze comes from my lap, followed by a small stream of fire.
“Fuck,” Rohan shouts, shaking his hand out as Sparks stands and stretches, his tail up in the air.
I laugh, covering my mouth. “That’s the second time you’ve been burned by a hatchling now.”
“They’re all conspiring together, trying to take me down,” he fumes.
“What?” I splutter, giggling at the ridiculousness of it.
“They are!” he growls, glaring at Sparks. “They’ll all burn me alive one day.”
I fall onto my back, unable to keep my laughter in, my happiness as Sparks crawls up my chest, sitting there and looking down at me.
“It isn’t funny,” Rohan grouches, but as he turns his head away, I catch the small grin on his face.
Forty five
Elf
“When will it begin?” I ask Tofa, wrapping a blanket around my shoulders. I’m wearing a simple black dress underneath that Rohan gifted me.
He said he had it made before we left for The Glade.
I couldn’t keep the smile off of my face. It’s simple, but I love it.
“Soon,” Tofa replies. “We just have to keep watch.”
I nod and look at the treeline. We’re sitting on the hill that overlooks The Glade. It’s the day of the Blessing, and those who want to watch sit upon the hill, while those that want to try and become a Dragonbond, enter.
I look at the young kids. Rohan is scolding Lykke, his mother, Maery close by.
Rohan did warn his mother that he would sneak here, but it seems she didn’t heed it.
