Chapter Twenty #3
“You know...” I joke, my gaze trailing after her before dropping to the chaos of half-erected tents and scavenged building materials scattered across the ground in front of us.
“If it wasn’t for the fact I need the leadership practice, and that our patchy Veils mean we need somewhere to hide from Serrane’s dragons, I probably would’ve kicked a few of these poles over in the middle of the night if it meant I could delay teaching for another week or so. ”
Neeve nods along beside me like she’s listening even though it’s obvious her mind is somewhere else, her posture tighter than usual, but the second she spots Darren and Lucien heading toward us, her entire face lights up.
“Stars, I’ve missed you,” Darren breathes out, sweeping her off her feet and wrapping his arms around her.
“You were only gone for three days,” Neeve laughs softly before pressing her lips to his.
“Three days too many,” he murmurs against her, not breaking the kiss.
They stay like that long enough for Lucien and I to start throwing glances at each other, then Neeve giggles again, kicking her feet lightly.
“Okay, you can put me down now.”
Darren finally obliges, setting her back on the ground, and she instantly starts scanning him.
“You’re hurt.” Reaching up, she brushes a finger over a fresh slash across his cheek, red and swollen.
“You should see the other guy.” He tries to make light of it, but the tension in his jaw says otherwise.
Neeve grumbles something at him but he only leans down to press another kiss to her forehead before straightening and dragging a hand through his wavy blond hair.
I can’t help the curve that pulls at my mouth when I catch the softness in his eyes as he looks at her, his features so painfully similar to Rowan.
But my grin quickly fades when his attention shifts to me.
“Lee says teaching’s been going well.” His head tilts as Nex, his brown dragon, swoops down and lands on his shoulder, her tail curling around his neck.
Neeve’s elbow moves, digging into Darren’s side.
“What?” he huffs back. “Wasn’t it you who said last week you wished I was teaching instead of Lyra?
So I could be here with you more instead of out flying evacuation runs and risking my fucking neck every day? ”
The comment sinks into my chest like a stone dropped into deep water.
Neeve said that?
Until now, I’d never even connected the two, that me teaching means Darren is out flying more runs, more time near the Northern Peaks, more chances for something to go wrong.
My head jerks toward Neeve to apologise, but she’s already moving away toward the others working on the Briefing Tent—
“And where have you been all week?” Darren's focus snaps to Reya as she storms up to us.
“Nice to see you too, Daz.” She bites back, ignoring Lucien and turning to me. “Hey Freckles. Been sleeping well?” Throwing me a wink, I notice a strange touch of green flashing in her grey eyes.
“Yeah, fine,” I reply flatly.
Her flirting barely gets a reaction out of me now. I’ve not even thought about her dream all week. No, now the only thing that heats my cheeks is the memory of Talen’s body grinding over mine while his fire rages around us. And how badly I want it back.
“Sorry I missed training this week, I had someone more important to visit.” She glares at Darren, scratching at the fire tattoo on her neck.
He raises a brow at her as a small smirk slips across his face, but before he can respond Magda calls his name, beckoning him over.
Nex launches from his shoulder toward the sound, while Darren just shakes his head at Reya before following after his dragon.
“It’s okay.” I shrug. “Magda’s had me flat out on the expansion and I don’t think the training will make a difference at this point anyway. No offence, your fire is fucking scary, but it’s the dragons I still have an issue with. My Threads keep messing with Ahria’s every time JC opens her mouth.”
Glancing at the blue dragon curled up napping on Lucien's shoulder, my teeth clench. I’ve tried to convince her to blast flames at me like Dave, but so far I haven't had any luck. Safety or some stupid excuse like that.
“Well, maybe take a break from me and get some more flying in with this guy then.” She nudges Lucien who stiffens beside her. “Stars, what’s wrong with you?”
His dark eyes narrow on her as his fingers restlessly fiddle with the dull gemstone around his neck. “Who were you visiting?”
“Oh, come on, don’t get jealous.” She runs a hand over the flexing muscles above his elbow. “She’s just a friend, you know nothing could ever happen. Even if I wanted it to.”
Lucien jerks back, pulling his arm free from hers. “I’m not in the mood for your games Reya. Talen’s been out of action all week and it’s fucking hectic at the Citadel without him.”
“Out of action, what do you mean? Is he okay?” The questions rush out before I can stop myself.
Lucien's mouth pulls thin as he turns to me. “Cal took a hit on the way back last week. Three of Serrane's dragons. When I asked Talen why he was even out this way, he just muttered something about you and a cage...” He crosses his arms. “He’s pretty messed up.”
He’s hurt?
I don’t even wait to ask more, I just turn and bolt.
Cold air tears through my lungs as I race for the tent and the second I get there, I shove the flap aside and reach straight for the notepad and pencil with shaking hands.
I’m sorry, I didn’t mean what I said. I don’t hate you. I’m not angry at you, I’m just so wound up in my own shit. Are you okay? Please be okay.
— L x
The words come out messy and rushed across the page, but I don’t try to stop them.
I’m done pretending I don’t care.
Fumbling, I yank open the Letter-threader and shove the note inside, staring at the empty stem while I wait until the flame finally catches and burns it away.
Time seems to stretch endlessly as my knees bounce while I wait and watch, desperate for a response, then just as the last thread of hope fades from my body the fire swells and a small folded note floats out.
Snatching it before it can hit the ground, I turn it over so fast my fingers nearly crumple the paper, and my heart practically stops the second I see Talen’s elegant but shaky handwriting.
I am now.
— T x