Chapter 45
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
PHOENIX
Daegel takes me to the forest behind the monastery. Until we disappear between the trees, I keep looking around to make sure nobody sees us. After that conversation with Jax, I want to be extra careful.
The forest here is dense and lush. So much life rustles in the bushes on each side of the little narrow path we take leading downward, and above our heads. I want to pause and really take in every moment it. But that feels too intimate, so I follow Daegel in silence.
A few minutes into our walk, a voice at the back of my mind screams for me to turn around. I’m alone, in the middle of the forest with my enemy. What if he’s taking me here so he can kill me before the trial? What if the food in the picnic basket is poisoned?
I roll my shoulders and push those thoughts away. For the love of the gods. Has my mind gone completely insane? It’s Daegel. The man I love. The man who said he won’t stop at anything to protect me.
“How far are we going?”
Daegel glances back at me over his shoulder. “We’re almost there.”
“And where is that?”
I can’t see his face, but I can hear the smile in his voice. “You’ll see. Patience, princess.”
I roll my eyes. If I had a dime every time someone said that to me, I’d be richer than Wetra’s king. And that bastard is loaded.
A sound of running water reaches my ears. The air cools even more, and a few moments later, we emerge into a little clearing next to a beautiful clear river and a rocky waterfall. I’m mesmerized by the untamed beauty of it. The rustling water calms my rage, and I feel much more at peace.
“Here we are,” Daegel says. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Stunning,” I say, taking in my surroundings.
He places the basket on the grass and pulls out a blanket. A damn blanket. This man comes prepared. I hate to admit it, but…it makes my insides melt.
I help him lay out the blanket and then unpack the food from the basket.
“Where did you get the food?” I settle down in front of him. “This is freshly made.”
“I know where the kitchen is.”
I blink. “Did you steal the food from the monks?!”
“They won’t notice. And there’s plenty of food left for others.” I shake my head in disbelief. “I figured because we probably won’t be back in time for dinner, we might as well get our share.”
An alarm bell rings in my mind. I pick up a piece of hard cheese from the paper box. “We won’t? Why’s that?”
Daegel takes a bite of grilled asparagus.
He chews on it, taking his time. Finally, he swallows and says, “While I enjoy your company immensely, princess, and all I want to do right now is fuck that awful attitude out of you, I didn’t bring you here for that.
I brought you here so we can’t train before tomorrow’s trial. ”
My heart drops.
“I thought we put that behind us,” I say. “Are you in the mood to reminisce about my Ezkai Academy days?”
Daegel smirks. The look he gives me makes heat curl low in my stomach.
“Maybe I am,” he says, teasing. “If you’re a good girl you may even get rewarded.”
“Fuck off,” I say, but there’s no heat behind those words.
I’m all for it, the rest of our troubles all forgotten.
The humor evaporates as quickly as it appeared from Daegel’s face.
“All jokes aside, though…I need you to stay alive tomorrow. While you might be the master of the bow and a skilled Decarios, fighting dragons is a completely different ball game. If you’re not going to drop out, at least let me help you in whatever way I can to keep you safe tomorrow. ”
How can I be angry at that?
“Fair enough,” I say. “You know how to fight dragons?”
I pop a piece of apple in my mouth. It’s crunchy and juicy as I chew.
“In theory,” he says. “Ezkai bond dragons. We don’t fight them.”
We eat in silence for a while. Daegel gives me time and space to mull things over, get my thoughts in order.
“You didn’t mention that Ezkai Generals are not supposed to have romantic relationships,” I say.
Daegel goes still as a statue. Fae can feel so…unnatural. I sometimes forget our ears are not the only difference.
“If I were to accept your offer to drop out and serve you as the Taaslord, that’s all we’d be,” I say, a bitter taste filling my mouth. “An Ezkai General and a Taaslord.”
“Ezkai General is allowed to have romantic and sexual relationships,” Daegel says. “They only are forbidden to marry, and have a family.”
I scoff. “So I’d be your mistress, then? A secret to keep? Once again, we’d be hiding and sneaking around, just like when I was your student?”
“It doesn’t have to be like that,” he says with a sigh.
“And who says I can’t change the law? Kitajo had plenty of ideas that were controversial, and he managed to implement them so they’re the new norm.
If you agree to my plan, and drop out, I will make you my Taaslord.
Fuck, I will make you my damn queen. As Ezkai General, I’ll have the power. ”
He speaks passionately, with such conviction it’s hard not to believe him. But something deep inside my stomach twists into a knot.
Pretty words coming out of his pretty mouth. What if he’s willing to tell me whatever I want to hear, just so I would relent and go with his plan?
I don’t know who and what I can trust.
Appetite lost, I rise to my feet and crack my neck. “Shall we train? It’s getting late.”
From the way Daegel eyes me, I can tell he senses my apprehension and sour mood. But he doesn’t pry, nor does he argue. He simply sets the food aside and stands. “Let’s do this.”
Daegel is an excellent fighter. Of course, I already knew that.
We go through various Ezkai drills, most of them familiar to me from our Ezkai training. But he also shows me some of the routines he practices himself in the morning. By the time we’re done, a thin layer of sweat coats my skin.
I’m definitely warmed up.
Lucky for us, Daegel knows how to build a fireplace. He gathers the branches from around us, and even finds the stone that sparks when you rub two of them together.
I plop on the blanket and take a piece of bread. “You know, I always wondered how come you haven’t bonded a dragon yet. A young, prominent Ezkai Major like you should definitely have a dragon.”
Daegel joins me on the blanket. The flame from the fire dances in his dark eyes. “You’re not the first to ask this question. Many people wonder the same.”
I pause mid-chew. From the way Daegel’s muscle ticks in his jaw, I can tell he’s not pleased about my question. How did I miss that it bothers him that he hasn’t bonded a dragon despite his station, rank, and abilities?
He looks away, focusing on the flame. After a long pause he says, “Even prominent Ezkai don’t always get to bond with a dragon.
It’s so rare, and so complicated, it’s not a guarantee.
Of course, throughout the ages, we came to believe that the strength of an Ezkai is what determines whether a dragon chooses them.
But there are plenty of Ezkai Majors, and yet, very few of them have bonded a dragon. ”
The haunted look in his eyes makes my heart sink in my chest. I can’t tell if it hurts him truly, or it’s his pride and ego that’s bruised that he hasn’t been chosen by one of the most beautiful creatures in the realm.
I reach for his forearm and squeeze it gently in hopes it can offer some sort of assurance.
I change the topic. “You haven’t told me yet how can I fight and fend off a dragon, and it’s almost bedtime.”
“How rude of me.”
Swiftly, Daegel gets on his feet and offers me his hand. I take it without a beat of hesitation. He pulls me to my feet. We stand so close, our chests almost touch. The scent of him overwhelms my senses and for a moment, I can’t think straight.
He circles me. My heart thrashes against my ribs. Daegel comes to stand behind me. The heat that radiates from him warms my back. When he speaks next, his words reverberate right through me and send a shiver down my back.
“There are two things you have to know when fighting a dragon. First, they are extremely agile and quick. One moment the creature can be three miles away.” He snaps his fingers on the left of my head.
“And in a blink of an eye, it’s right next to you.
” Another snap on the right side of my head.
Goose bumps skitter all over my skin when his hands both land on my hips.
“Make sure you never turn your back on a dragon, or else you’ll die before you know it. ”
His grip tightens and he whirls me around to face him. Despite the cold air around me, I’m hot all over. His palms rest on my hips, his skin scorching hot even through my leathers.
“Got it,” I say, a little breathless. “Never turn my back to a dragon.”
“Now, the second thing you must know is that there is only one way to kill a dragon,” he says.
His voice is rough. He quickly wets his lips and leans down as if he wants to whisper the next words into my ear.
“Behead the creature, and pierce their heart.” I shiver when his hot breath tickles me ear.
“If you aim anywhere else, it will slow a dragon down slightly, but it won’t kill it.
If you forget to pierce their heart after you behead it, it will grow a new head, and you’ll have a dragon coming after you seeking vengeance. ”
Daegel’s lips brush my earlobe, and my breasts grow heavy. I bite the inside of my cheek to stop any sounds coming out of my mouth. When he takes my earlobe between his lips and brushes a tongue over it, I inhale a sharp breath. Finally, our chests touch.
He pulls me into him by the hips and his lips slide down to my neck. I grab his shoulders and dig my fingers in to keep myself steady. Daegel inhales deeply and hums with pleasure.
“You smell so good,” he murmurs against my neck. “It’s hard to keep my head straight. But we’re not finished yet.”
“Oh? There’s more?”
My hands travel up his shoulders and neck of their own accord. His dark hair is soft as silk between my fingers.
“There’s always more.” I can’t read his tone of voice.
But it doesn’t matter. I’m too busy, anyway.
“From the moment the trial starts tomorrow, you’ll be in deadly danger.
All of us will be. The dragons won’t wait for us to attack—they’ll strike first because we’re in their territory.
” His hand at the base of my neck grips my hair and he angles my head so that we’re looking at each other now.
“Don’t hesitate. No matter what happens around you, don’t hesitate even for a second. Can you promise me that?”
I nod. “Yeah. I won’t hesitate. I know.”
“Good girl.”
He lets go of my hair and brings his mouth to mine, so close we share a breath.
Daegel is in no rush to kiss me. He enjoys the tease, the building tension, and keeping me on the edge. I’ve had enough of it.
I fist his hair at the back of his head and pull him closer. When our lips finally meet, it’s like a catharsis.
His kiss is sweet as honey, and I want to drown in him. Daegel’s hands are confident as they hold me close to his body, and his mouth is just as eager as my own. The moment we pull away from each other, panting, the spell breaks, though, and reality sets in.
I take a step back, startled at what just happened. No matter how complicated our relationship is, or how angry I am at him, we just can’t stay away from each other.
He rubs the corner of his mouth and then says, “Stay alive, Phoenix.”
By the time I make my way back to my room at the monastery, the full moon is high in the sky, lighting up my path. I stand in the side garden, outside the sliding glass door, for a long time before I finally peel it open and slip inside the dark room.
I pause, afraid to even breathe while I assess the situation. Jax’s gentle snore reaches my ears. Vera doesn’t make a sound, but she’s in her bed nestled under a huge pile of blankets. I stand, waiting.
Nothing. Both of them are fast asleep.
I exhale with a little bit more ease. I fucked up. Tonight, I may have avoided Vera’s wrath, but tomorrow she’s definitely going to want to know where I’ve been and what I did…
Quietly, I strip out of my leathers and dive under the covers on my bed. I expect to toss and turn restlessly, but the moment I lay my head on the fluffy pillow and close my eyes, sleep conquers.