Page 49 of A War of Embers

Innocents, my mind reminds me. Lady Cirilla wouldn’t die, it’s the sole reason I chose her to commit my crime against. “I don’t need shelter.”

“You realize you’re out here in the beginning of the Haze, right?” Kennedy asks. “Some people become mindless during it. I doubt Lord Rowan would want you wandering around out here by yourself.”

Annoyance flares in my chest. I don’t care what Rowan would want right now. Especially after our tiff. “Believe me, Rowan knows I’m out here alone. I don’t need his protection.”

The woman gestures towards my neck where the tattoo is at. “Something tells me you have his protection whether you want it or not.” She waves her sons off. “Aren’t you two supposed to be heading towards the mating festival?”

“We got sidetracked.” Kennedy pointedly looks at me. “Are you okay to stay here? We or Ma can escort you back towards the guards.”

That is the absolute last thing I want to do. Seeing as my options are limited here, wandering around where creatures can find me, or going back to the camp, this seems like the lesser of all evils. Letting out a deep sigh, I head towards the open doorway. Normally I would be questioning their motives, but it seems I’m too emotional to make clear decisions.

Their mother props open the door for me to pass, gesturing with her chin towards a nook next to the door to place my sword. Doing so, I let the heavy weight of metal drop from my hand as I rest it, feeling a slight disconnect as I let go.

“Thank you,” she murmurs. “My name is Verity. Those are my sons, Ethan and Kennedy. My husband is tinkering around here somewhere, you may call him Calix.”

“My name is Keres.”

Verity frowns as she gestures for me to move into their living quarters. Large, deep couches line two walls facing an enormous rock fireplace. The stone here is black instead of the smooth gray of Rowan’s. “You are not in trouble, are you? I do not hide criminals.”

I suppose that depends on who’s looking for me. “Rowan isn’t going to cause a stink for you helping me, if that’s who you’re worried about.”

“You do not address your Lord as such?”

“He’s not anything but a pain in my ass.”

Verity's eyes widen, clearly taken aback by my comment. Her mouth opens and closes several times, trying to find the words, no doubt, on how to address my disrespectful tone for her fearless leader. “I suppose this shouldn’t surprise me with you wearing his mark. Men can be such fickle beings sometimes when it comes to our needs, don’t you think?”

My brow furrows as I wipe my hand over my jaw where the tattoo is currently at. “You mean this mark? The snake?”

Verity shakes her head. “It’s a root, not a snake. Though I know it changes forms so maybe it is a snake at some points. But it is a root. An extension of our expansive realm. It is an honor he bestowed it upon you.”

I don’t think somehow making another bargain with me in the throes of passion is considered to be an honor. At least not to me. I’m sure once we reconvene, he’ll remove the snake or root, whatever it is. “It’s an extension of this,” I say, raising my hand where the bargain tattoo remains in white ink. “It’s not anything special.”

“That,” Verity points to my hand, “is not anything special. The ink moving on your skin is different.”

Doubtful, but I sigh instead of responding. She can think whatever she pleases. It’s not my place to tear down all her beliefs about her precious Lord Rowan. Deciding it’s better to change the subject entirely, I ask, “What is the mating festival? Is that close to where the guards are stationed at the village?”

Verity quietly assesses me before choosing to let go of our previous conversation. “Yes. The festival is done to celebrate those who wish to bring new life into this world. The guards stand by, ensuring no one attempts to intervene or steal another’s choice for the night. Some wedded creatures go to the festivals to aid in their births since the magic is meant to ensure the survival of our species.”

Our species? “What are you?”

“A dragon. One of the few families left after many were killed during the Province Wars.” She pauses as an older man enters the room. He doesn’t even blink at me, but walks over to his wife and offers her a quick kiss. His white hair is well maintained as he settles next to Verity on the couch. Though the man is sporting gray hair, he looks just as fit as his sons do. “Calix, this is Keres. The boys found her wandering around outside lost.”

Holding in an insufferable sigh, I grit my teeth together to keep from snapping at her wrong assumption. Instead I lift my hand to shake the elder man’s politely.

“Keres, huh? Come down from the city with the rest of your folks?” Calix asks.

“I came by myself actually.”

Verity and Calix share a confused look. It’s Verity who addresses me. “You came by yourself? Not with the rest of the guards? I assumed with the sword you were a newer guard who got lost.”

Technically, I am lost, but I refuse to admit it aloud. “Zeke and Rowan are aware I’m here. I just didn’t come with the intent to guard during the Haze.”

I came to kill someone, though it’s not something I wish to share with strangers.

“I’m sure if the boys run into Lord Rowan they’ll explain where you are,” Calix says, like it’s something I might enjoy hearing.

“He’ll probably send Zeke.” Someone whom I would much prefer to deal with right now than the antisocial bastard.

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