Chapter 5 #2
Her eyes shone with tears she held back, but a small smile toyed at the corners of her lips.
“I am. He talked to me. He came to me because he was hurting. Maybe . . .” She shook her head, handing me a heavy paperback novel with an illustration of a wrecked ship on the cover.
“Here. Try to read something fun for a change.”
I turned the book over to read the back cover.
It spoke of perilous journeys and hidden treasures, but it was the swordplay I was most eager to read.
“Do you want me to take to the seas? I thought the days of Captain Jack Sparrow were gone.” If ever there was a fictional character brought to life in pure perfection, it was him.
“Only take to the seas in your imagination.” She tapped her knuckles against the book. “Read it, enjoy it. Next time I see you, I want us to talk about how awesome the story was. There’s this one scene I can’t tell you about, but I almost died.”
Curious, I tilted my head to the side. “You’ve already read it?”
“Yeah.” She grunted the single word. “I’ve gone through three terrible books to find one I thought you’d like.”
Something inside me warmed while peace hummed through my veins.
It was something small, perhaps foolish, but Teddy hadn’t just picked out a book for me to read but had actually read it herself to see if I’d enjoy it.
In all my life, I couldn’t think of a single time anyone had done something, big or small, for the sole purpose of bringing me joy.
Mainly, I enjoyed reading for knowledge, but even I could admit that trying to find something, anything, about the gods we’d forgotten thousands of years ago was starting to get tiring, if not unproductive, given I’d discovered nothing.
I tugged her to me, putting her in a gentle headlock. “How much romance am I going to suffer through?”
“None.” I let her go when she poked my side and quickly got to my feet to help her up.
“You read an entire book without any romance?” I couldn’t keep the disbelief from my tone.
She laughed. “The story was great. I added my own romance and happily ever after in my head.”
“Of course you did.”
“Do you think you can behave and stay out of trouble while you’re gone?” she asked, her brows quirked up.
“You underestimate my love for shenanigans.” I grinned. “It is eternal.”
She huffed out a laugh. “That’s what I’m afraid of. You’re going to a new realm. We don’t know, well, we don’t know anything about it. Nalari has been suspiciously quiet about it.”
So had Hoshiko, but I hadn’t really asked many questions either. I simply knew he and the other dragons from his realm needed our help.
“I’ll watch over Elias and Javi,” I promised, covering my chest with an open palm.
“I know you will. Look out for yourself too. Okay?” She tapped a single finger over the hand I still held over my chest. “Take care of your heart. Put yourself first.”
I stole a glance at Finley, who quickly looked away, but she’d been watching me. Had she been listening too?
“I’m like the Tin Man,” I said, my tone airy and light. “No heart.”
“More like the Scarecrow.” Elias came up from behind us and tapped my temple. “No brain.”
“Ah!” I grinned, pointing my finger up. “Except he was announced as the wisest in all of Oz. Call me Scarecrow all you want.”
“You two need to lay off all the movies you watch,” Teddy said with a quiet grumble.
When Zayne toddled toward us, I picked him up before Teddy could, shooting her a wry grin when she glared at me.
“You were the one who wanted to bring movie nights to Niev,” I argued.
“For a once-a-month movie night,” she retorted.
I soaked in Zayne’s giggles when I tickled his pudgy belly.
“Not a few nights every week.”
Grumble as she might, she loved our movie nights just as much as the younglings did. We still had the once-a-month tradition with the others, but the three of us, and the children, watched movies an unhealthy amount more frequently, usually with pizza, fizzy drinks, and too many snacks.
It was one of the reasons I was their favorite uncle, beating Alastor and even George. Okay, maybe not George, but I was close.
My heart pinched at the thought of missing my weekly movie night at the orphanage. I doubted we’d be back in three days’ time for me to make it.
“What movie were you planning on showing at the orphanage?” Teddy asked. “I’ll show it and take some pizzas for the kids.”
Although Teddy lost her mind-speak magic, she could still feel my emotions with our sibling bond intact, just as I could feel hers.
It was both convenient and annoying. It made it so that I couldn’t hide my emotions from her after I’d spent a lifetime concealing them from everyone.
At this point, she knew me better than anyone else.
There was comfort in that.
We continued speaking until Sama announced it was time to go. Then I clung to my nephews for a few extra beats before I passed them to Elias, who reluctantly let Teddy go. Teddy’s hug was familiar and welcoming, like a warm embrace that hummed in contentment.
“Promise me you’ll take care of yourself,” she whispered.
I nodded, wanting to mean it. “I’ll guard my heart.”
Four words that held little validity when I saw Elias guiding Finley to Nalari.
I stalked toward them, ignoring the way Etienne’s gaze stayed trained on me. I cared little what he thought, but nearly tripped when he tipped his head in what I thought was encouragement.
Which was madness, unless he no longer wanted Finley as his intended. Gods, if that were true, if he hurt her . . . Was that why she’d been crying?
From the corner of my mind, Teddy called my name, but even if she barreled into me, she couldn’t stop me.
“You’re riding with me,” I said when I reached them.
“Brent,” Elias warned at the same time Finley snapped, “Excuse me?”
My heart thundered in my ears, blood heating in my veins, but when I touched her back, I kept it gentle. Just enough pressure to guide her if she allowed it from me.
“Let’s go.” It came out more controlled than I felt.
She hesitated, and that split-second pause speared straight through my heart, right where our bond lived and breathed. Fool. When would I learn she hadn’t chosen me? She’d never choose me.
Her attention turned to Etienne as if she needed his approval on what should’ve been solely her decision. With my hands fisted, I dug my nails into my palms.
“Etienne is your intended, not your keeper,” I said, my words a thick snarl. “You make your own decisions.”
She splayed her hand on her waist, her chin tilted up, defiant and confident and so fucking beautiful. “Yet you’re demanding I go with you.”
“That’s right, pet.” I winked, and when her cheeks flamed red, not from embarrassment but our argument, my dick stirred.
“I’m not your pet,” she shot back. “I’m not anyone’s pet.”
“Then act like it.”
She threw her shoulders back, righting herself to her full height, and curled her lips at me. Vith, this female knew how to put on a show, leaving me as her enraptured audience.
“Then leave so I may ride with our king.” Her jaw tightened as her magnificent eyes blazed into mine.
I rubbed the stubble on my chin, doing my best not to show how much she affected me. But gods, if she asked it of me, I’d strip myself bare with only my tattered heart for her to see.
I took a long step forward, invading her personal space. I touched her chin, not needing to tip it up very much. She took in a shuddering breath that I inhaled. I licked my lips, tasting her breath that was a satisfying mixture of spice and sweet.
“What do you really want, Lolli?”
Something like despair fell from her parted lips. I understood that anguish. I hadn’t called her Lolli in such a long time.
Before our worlds were divided and we’d broken each other’s hearts, she’d been my Lolli because of the endless supply of lollipops she carried with her, while I’d been Squishy, a name she’d given me because of my chubby cheeks.
With maturity, my face had thinned, but not enough. Teddy loved nothing more than to pinch my cheeks, and while most times it didn’t bother me, other times, when this untethered bond with Finley roared through my veins, the single act felt like a lance through my chest.
Finley’s features softened, and while I missed the fire that flamed behind her eyes, I also knew I’d won.
She squared her shoulders, her body still close to mine, and her attention on me.
“If I may, Your Highness, I’d be more comfortable riding with Brenton.
” It didn’t sound like a request so much as a command.
Like the goddess my heart claimed her to be, and whose vibrant soul was as incomparable and special as hers.
Since we were younglings, I’d always been able to light that fire in her soul. I loved it when she didn’t shrink who she was to fit into society’s mold. My own fire responded to her each time she unapologetically took up her space.
I knew her well enough to know how much it bothered her that others feared or were uncomfortable around her. It was their loss, though. If they knew who Finley was, they’d trip over their feet to be in her presence.
When Elias nodded, I guided Finley to Hoshiko, who curled his lips back to show his large, sharp teeth. I patted him between his flaring nostrils, watching a muscle that twitched just below his right eye.
Just as I motioned for Finley to draw closer, a vicious snarl rumbled from his throat.
“Hoshiko,” I warned, his name coming out wild with sudden fury.
Finley took a retreating step, her head turning toward Elias, who was already atop Nalari.
“She’s riding with us,” I told him as if I were his charge and had any right to give him orders. “I don’t trust anyone else.” Because me? Despite my promise to Teddy, I’d always put Finley’s well-being first.
“Maybe I should ride with someone else,” she said when his growl grew louder.
“No.” The single word thundered from the deepest cavities of my chest and came out as a growl.