Chapter 27 #3
“How long have I been asleep?” she asked, her tone brash as always. So self-important and overconfident.
I missed that too. He also appreciated the complete opposite in Carwyn even more.
“Over a month.”
She tsked. “How pitiful of me.” She glanced at him from the side, and he was unsure if the flush in her cheeks was embarrassment, shame, or renewed anger. “To be brought to such a state for so long. To be taken in the first place.”
His wings drooped. “It’s not your fault, Selene.”
“I know it’s not! They are vile. It’s what they do.”
Her lips pursed as they descended further until they passed his hoard of books, where he found Carwyn’s scent to be strong. Her hiding place. A place her smell could wisely be hidden under the miasma of mouldy books.
He threw a wing tip inside it to let her know they were passing, and that he knew her to be there. Selene never noticed her presence.
“How many know?” she asked in an unusually small voice.
“Only Aysu. I knew you’d be infuriated otherwise.”
Her lips curled slightly. “Excellent.” Her appreciation fell swiftly, and she peeked at him once more, her gaze losing its harsh edge.
“Thank you, Kier. I know none of this would have been easy, let alone having to bring such a despicable creature into your lair for my sake. You’ll have to show me where you keep it imprisoned. ”
Something rather dark lodged its way into his gut.
He halted. “Selene...” He allowed his tone to hold a subtly displeased rumble.
Her footsteps came to a stop as she turned slightly to give him her attention. “Yes?”
“Speak ill of the little witch in my home again, and you’ll regret it.”
Her red eyes widened in disbelief. “I beg your pardon?”
“I mean it. She deserves no callousness from either of us. She has proven herself countless times in ensuring your well-being, and you would not be alive if not for her.”
She scoffed as she gestured with her right hand towards the tunnel behind him. “You sincerely cannot be threatening me over a fucking–”
He snapped his fangs forward with a snarl, and she quickly shut her lips. “Do not anger me, sister. We both know my patience, often unflappable, is not infallible. And I am cruel when I lose it.”
His own sister gazed at him warily, and a little paler than normal. He was calm on purpose. He was reserved and controlled as a need. Because when enraged, he was lethal.
He could become... crazed.
“You’ve befriended her,” she stated, her lips pursing. “She’s gained your trust.”
He rounded his shoulders back in answer.
“I see,” she murmured, sliding her gaze away. “Understood. I will attempt to be amicable.”
He snorted a definitive and satisfied huff before continuing their march.
Excellent. Now she won’t callously hurt Carwyn with her words.
Because although Kier had been mean when he’d first met Carwyn, Selene could be bitchy.
She’d make that female’s life hell in his lair, and he refused for Carwyn to experience such a thing.
He’d rather snuff it out before her flame could get any brighter, before Carwyn suffered from an oversight on his part.
Selene, now quiet, followed him. He peered at her pensive expression, even as he brought her into the one alcove he’d never shown Carwyn.
Similar to the first healing alcove, this one was designed to withstand the size of a dragon at their full might.
There was no altar, but the array of magical items, potions, and crystals far surpassed it.
The walls had been carved with symbols in multiple rings, each one designed to remove a certain kind of hex or curse.
This was where most of his healing took place.
The witch would be enraptured at such a sight. She might even caress her fingertips over some of those dragoncraft symbols, or want to touch every tool and instrument this alcove held.
It was a witch’s wet dream, even more so than his botanical alcove with the spring.
He trusted Carwyn... but to this extent was hard to overcome. Yet, he had the desire to see adoration and cute excitement fill her expression. He wanted to experience her joy and curiosity as he revealed the depth of his dragoncraft beyond what he could so easily conjure.
Such an art took years and time to learn. It was a point of pride for him.
Selene stormed to the middle of it and folded her arms once more. “Dragon form, if you so please.”
He huffed at that.
His relationship with his sister was balanced.
She had just enough fear of him as he did her, both strong in their own right, but commanding and superior when deemed necessary.
Although he deferred to her and her whims simply to keep the peace, she knew him to be the stronger and more domineering opponent.
Her shadows could blind him, and his illusions could dredge up her deepest terrors. Could conjure faces missed – those long dead and gone.
She might be willing to go for the eyes with her claws, but Kier had always gone for the heart.
“As you wish, Selene.”
One circular ring of symbols came to life, glowing like embers beneath crackling flames when he began to chant.