46. CHAPTER 46 #2
Trays clattered. Voices overlapped. Laughter rang sharp, more relief than joy. Training was done. Saddles fitted. Departure close. Feather Wing grabbed a table at the center. Micah piled his tray so high it hid his face—until Lorenzo “accidentally” jostled his elbow and half of it toppled.
“You menace!” Micah wailed, clutching his bread roll like it was his last meal.
“You’ll live.” Lorenzo grinned, snagging a potato while Micah was distracted.
Akira groaned, shoving her tray between them. “If you two start another food war, I swear by the God of Wymond I’ll throw you both out the window.”
Sadie lifted her goblet high, smirking. “To Wymond—may they save us from Micah’s whining!”
The table howled. Even Thora cracked a smile before hiding it behind her mug.
Around us, chaos spread. At Eagle Wing’s table, someone pounded a rhythm, cadets slamming cups in time. Dragon Wing roared back with a call-and-response that rattled the hall until even the professors gave up silencing it.
Esme rumbled in my chest, amused. “Your kind sings like carrion birds fighting over scraps. Yet… it stirs something.”
“It’s called tradition,” I thought back, grinning.
Zane slid onto the bench beside me, his arm brushing mine. He didn’t join the shouting, but the corner of his mouth curved faintly as he watched.
“Enjoying yourself?” I teased.
“Not really.” He dropped his voice so only I heard. “But I like seeing you laugh.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. I ducked, spooning stew before anyone noticed. For a heartbeat, tomorrow didn’t exist. Tonight, we were loud. Reckless. Alive.
***
The noise still rang in my ears when I closed my chamber door later. I packed clothes beside the med bag my mother had given me. My body ached, my stomach was too full, and my head still buzzed with laughter. Esme was already settled in the vale. I collapsed onto my bed with a groan.
“You look dead.”
I nearly jumped out of my skin. Zane sat at my desk, shadows clinging like armor. Far too comfortable for someone who’d broken into my room.
“You could warn me,” I hissed, hand on my chest.
“I could,” he said flatly. “But this was priceless. I’ve got a dark streak.”
“You’re insufferable.”
His smirk softened as he leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “Tomorrow,” he said quietly. “You’ll meet my family.”
My stomach clenched. “Ashwynd. The duke. Your siblings. Fuck, that’s a lot. I might need a refresher.”
“My father’s informal with family. My mother will love you. Names are Aeliana, Theodora or Thea, Arkin, Helena, Adrian, and Elizabeth. Don’t be nervous. I’ll be holding your hand.”
I laughed harshly. “Nervous? Zane, your father is the Duke of the Veil of Vultures. Your family lives in a city named for ash and wind. Mine lives in secrets and lies. Meeting them isn’t going to be easy. ”
His expression softened more, shadows yielding to warmth. “They’ll see you as I do.”
“I hope so.”
He leaned closer, voice dropping low, the bond carrying it like a vow. “Tomorrow they’ll know. You’re mine. You belong with me.”
My breath caught. For once, I didn’t argue. I only whispered, “And if they don’t approve?”
Zane’s jaw flexed, storm-dark eyes steady. “Their approval doesn’t matter. But I doubt it’ll be an issue. One last thing…”
“Yes?”
“There may be… possibly… a painted picture of you in my room.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Don’t panic. My aunt had precognition. She knew you were coming—knew I had a mate. She drew what she saw. I kept it as a reminder that my true love was out there, waiting.”
“I… don’t even have words.”
“You just spoke some.” His laugh was nervous, boyish.
I stared at him, floored. Why hadn’t he told me before? Not bad—just overwhelming.
“Do I get to stay in your room?”
He held my gaze, sharp as steel. “Do you not want to?”
“No, I do. I just didn’t think it was allowed.”
“We aren’t married, so technically… but my whole family knows about the vision and the drawing. They’ll know who you are. They won’t object.”
“They’re going to recognize me?”
“Very likely.”
“Oh, this is going to be weird.”
“It won’t. They’ll be glad I found you. My greatest fear was finding you too late—when we were old.”
I snorted. “That’s funny.”
“You and Aeliana will have plenty to giggle about. She’ll arm you with stories about me. ”
I laughed softly, easing. “Back to what I was getting at… if we’re in the same room—”
“I’ll be fucking you. Every. Single. Night.”
“Is the picture going to be staring at me?” The ridiculousness broke me into laughter. Tears streaked my face. He laughed too, harder than I’d seen.
“We’ll turn it around. Or move it elsewhere.”
He chuckled, then pulled me into his lap, kissing my hair and cheek. The simple gesture melted me further.
“I want more,” he whispered, “but we need sleep. Tomorrow will be long.”
“Would you have normally roved?”
“Actually, yes. But not the full distance. I have destinations I can rove to, like the cavern outside Blackmere.
“Then why not—”
“If I can’t take you, I’ll fly beside you. Esme wouldn’t approve of flying alone. And it would expose my ability too easily.”
“He is right—that would not happen.” She purred. Always interjecting.
“How long is the flight?”
“Eight to nine hours. Mixed group means we fly at the slowest pace—probably Sadie’s griffin. After six hours, even Remus and I will slow. Blackmere’s about five hours in. Your Wing Commander’s dragon is fast, but he’s used to pacing mixed groups.”
“Got it. Long day. We’ll get there around two or three.”
“Enough time for a nap.” He winked. “And a shower.”
“A nappp and a showeerrr,” I repeated, mocking his emphasis.
He laughed, which made me laugh harder. He lifted me to the bed, and we curled together, my ear on his chest, memorizing every beat of his heart.