Chapter 27
Having slept alone while Verus was gone, I was overjoyed to wake up in his arms again. He’d kept me up late, eager and demanding for more. I gave him everything he asked for, until he took me into his mouth again, and the guilt over not reciprocating made me hesitate. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust him. I was just afraid of the pain. When I finally explained to him my hesitation, he was angry. Not with me, though. He wanted to go after Richard immediately and cut him down. It took wrapping myself around him to keep him from leaving in the middle of the night.
Once I had him settled, he explained to me that the way I experienced it was wrong, it wasn’t supposed to be like that. And when I finally worked up the nerve to try it, he talked me through it and kept still, even though I could tell it was difficult for him. His thighs shook with the effort, and his fingers twisted in the furs so tightly his knuckles turned white. I would have felt guilty if he wasn’t moaning and encouraging me, his head thrashing as he fought his instincts. When he came, I swallowed his release and was so turned on by the act I had to jerk myself off to get relief.
I loved that Verus gave me the opportunity to reclaim that moment for myself. Now that the act was no longer tainted with the memories of Richard, I decided to wake Verus the same way, grinning to myself as he moaned and hardened in my mouth.
“Ravsol…” he breathed, his cock twitching between my lips.
I hummed, watching his face screw up with pleasure at the vibration. I was going to take him deeper when someone called out. Not to Verus. To me.
“Patrick?”
Releasing Verus’s cock, I sat up, my head cocked. Why was Saneth visiting me so early?
Verus growled, sitting up abruptly. “What does he want?”
I realized belatedly that I’d never told Verus that Saneth had made amends, and we were friends now. Putting my hands up to stall him from starting a fight, I explained. “It’s okay. He apologized while you were gone, and we’ve become friends. He isn’t here to upset me.”
Verus looked uncertain, but he trusted me not to lie to him. Pulling on trousers, I took Verus’s hand when he helped me to my feet, calling out to Saneth as I rushed to get dressed.
“I’m coming!”
Verus scowled as he jerked his trousers up his legs, muttering under his breath. “No you aren’t. We hadn’t gotten to that part yet.”
Snickering, I shoved his shoulder, tugging on my tunic. I looked disheveled and not very put together, but I figured Saneth would excuse me. He was the one waking me up.
When I stepped out of the tent, I stopped abruptly. Saneth was not alone. For a moment, I worried that Verus had been correct in assuming Saneth was here to cause trouble, since I hadn’t interacted with Tavik since the last time he confronted me in the cooking tent. Saneth was quick to reassure me, his hands lifted in a soothing manner.
“He’s here to apologize,” he rushed out.
Verus stepped out behind me, his expression dark. He didn’t trust Saneth’s words. I didn’t blame him. He hadn’t been here for all the progress we’d made as friends. I laced my fingers with his, squeezing gently as a reminder that we were together, and I was safe with him. He squeezed back, his eyes never leaving the couple in front of us. Jerking his chin at Tavik, he glared at him.
“Go on, then.”
Tavik scowled at him, but a sharp jab of Saneth’s elbow in his belly kept him from saying anything rude. He grunted, rubbing the spot, and frowned at Saneth.
“Ouch.”
Saneth rolled his eyes. “Don’t pretend it hurt. You promised, Tavik.”
With a long suffering sigh, Tavik nodded and turned to face me. “I wanted to apologize. I let my jealousies blind me from the truth and was unjustly cruel to you. Saneth told me what you did for us. Had you not befriended him, I might not have ever found my happiness. So I’m sorry. And thank you for hearing his words.”
I dipped my chin to acknowledge him. “Thank you for apologizing. Saneth is my friend. I’m glad he found the courage to tell you how he felt.”
Tavik turned a soft look on his friend, who rolled his eyes and elbowed him again. “Okay, we will leave you be now. I thought I would find you in the cooking tent since breakfast is soon. I’m sorry if I woke you.”
Surprised, I whipped my gaze skyward. The sky was bright, and the sun was over the horizon. I was late.
Sucking in a sharp breath, I whirled around, rushing back into the tent to grab my cane. Verus snatched me around the waist as I tried to hurry past him, tucking me against his side.
“Ravsol? Where are you going?”
“I’m late!” I screeched, wriggling free of his hold. “You kept me up too late!”
I heard his laugh behind me as I practically ran for the cooking tent. I would have run outright if the pain in my leg would allow it. Instead, I walked quickly with the help of the cane, and hoped Yamileth wouldn’t regret agreeing to adopt someone so careless.
Thankfully, Yamileth wasn’t angry with me. She did tease me mercilessly, pointing out a bruise on my neck that Verus had put there with his mouth the night prior. I took the teasing in stride, just grateful she wasn’t angry with me.
We got breakfast out on time and made preparations for lunch and supper before she dragged me from the cooking tent to meet her sons. I was nervous to meet them, worried they’d protest someone so soft joining their family, but they were a friendly bunch. The older two were warriors who had moved to another village to experience the world. The youngest was a scout and not with the clan very often. It was a matter of luck that he happened to be home in time for the adoption ceremony. I was apparently going to be the only son of Yamileth’s that didn't feel the urge to wander.
“So, Patrick. Our mother rarely compliments someone else’s cooking. It’s high praise that she’s willing to eat your food. Will you make us a meal?” Rheinris, the middle child, asked with a grin.
Yamileth whacked him across the back of the head, scowling at him. “He is not your personal cook. Behave.”
Rheinris rubbed the sore spot with a frown at his mother. “We’re to be his family. Isn’t it only fair we get to try this food you keep praising so much?”
I felt my cheeks flush as they continued to bicker. I had no idea Yamileth talked about me to them. I thought she would just tell them her intentions. That she would praise my cooking meant the world to me.
Daezal, the youngest, leaned to whisper to me. “If you wish to stay out of trouble, beware of Rheinris. He enjoys pushing our mother’s buttons.”
“Is there a reason?” I asked quietly.
He rolled his eyes, taking a sip of his ale. “He says it is because Father asked him to keep her on her toes. I think he just enjoys the attention.”
“Like you’re any better,” Jakr growled.
He’d been a little intimidating when I first met him, easily the same size as Tavik, but his handshake had been gentle and he yanked Rheinris away when he tried to wrestle with me upon our first meeting. He was protective by nature, and that seemed to extend to me now.
Daezal pouted at his eldest brother. “I am. I do not purposely irritate her.”
“No, you just do it without thinking about it. You are the reason she has gray hairs.”
Pursing my lips, I fought back a snicker. Orthorr had been right that they were a rambunctious group, but despite the frown on Yamileth’s face, she was pleased to have her sons with her.
Verus poked his head into Yamileth’s tent, his eyebrows raised. “Are you ready?”
Sucking in an unsteady breath, I nodded. Yamileth refused to leave the ceremony to adopt me into her family until a later time. She wanted me brought into the clan as soon as possible. Which was why she gave control of the cooking to someone else. She was the head of her family, so she needed to be there. She was none too pleased about not being the one to cook dinner, and I got the feeling after the ceremony was over, she’d be back in that tent to watch over things.
Yamileth and her sons left the tent first, each of them patting Verus’s shoulder as they walked past. They knew who he was to me; I didn’t hide it when I met them. I told them of my intention to bond with him. They were looking forward to that ceremony. Apparently, there was a lot more alcohol involved in that one.
Verus offered me his arm when I finally came to stand beside him. I took it, leaning into him when he kissed my temple.
“Relax, ravsol. The clan already loves you. I’ve heard nothing but praise about your cooking and your kindness while I was away. This is just to make things official.”
“You promise?” I couldn’t help but ask, my voice unsteady. Even when my business was doing well in my old town, I wasn’t well liked. People put up with me because my food was good. They never would have had a celebration for me, no matter the occasion. And no one would invite me into their families willingly. My own wanted little to do with me. And I wasn’t unaware that none had come looking for me since I ran away. Finn told me his brother came to fetch him; I knew it was possible for them to figure it out. They didn’t care enough to do that.
I wouldn’t have gone with them even if they had. This was my home now. After this ceremony, I would have a family who cared for me, a clan who would protect me, and the man I loved at my side. If there was a better recipe for a happy life, I couldn’t think of one.
“I promise, my Patrick. Are you ready?”
“I’m ready,” I agreed, squeezing his arm as he led me toward the village center where the ceremony would take place.
It turned out running away from my home was the best decision I ever made.