1. Kiera
ONE
KIERA
N yx pushed into the tavern and waved at the server. “A full round. No, make that two.”
“Is the general paying? Okay.” Luka smirked, settling onto the bench seat beside Zaria.
I took the bench across from them, observing the busy tavern. The whole city was busy today. Everyone had turned out for the memorial service for our dear friend, and Nyx’s twin brother, Kol and no one seemed to feel like returning to work. It felt like a day of celebration for the whole kingdom, and I loved that for Kol. Perhaps we could make it an annual thing?
The wounds of the tragedy that befell the First Flight were still fresh, but the knowledge that the one ultimately responsible had been dealt with had eased some of the pain. Octavian had been the right hand to General Asra, Nyx’s father, and had temporarily filled the role of general after his passing until Nyx could find his ryder and assume his rightful place. Everyone had trusted him. Nyx had thought of him as family, so his treachery had cut deep.
I studied our small group, we were scarred but not broken. Nyx was still whole and that was important to me. I shuddered to think what kind of state he would be in from losing his twin if he hadn’t found his mate. I suspected Zaria was the only thing getting him through right now. Without Kol and the rest of the rowdy flyers and ryders of the First Flight at our regular table, I was sure we looked like an insignificant and somber gathering.
Luka brought some levity and I was glad of him. He and Zaria had grown up together, so he was her anchor in this new city they both found themselves in. And then there was me, the healer who scarcely left her work but wouldn’t miss this occasion for anything. Just the four of us to mark this day with a drink at the Flaming Pegasus, the way the First would have wanted.
That was when I realized Jaxus was missing. He hadn’t been at our private memorial because that was for Kol’s closest friends. But Luka had joined us since, so why not Jaxus?
“Did someone invite the new dragon you two brought home?” I asked as casually as I could. Pretending I couldn’t even remember his name so as not to seem obsessed. I was avoiding bringing him up as much as possible, but I couldn’t get him out of my thoughts. He was—I cut off the thought. He was a distraction I didn’t need, I reminded myself.
“Er—” Zaria hesitated, looking puzzled.
“The massive one I could climb like a tree,” I added so she would know who I meant. I didn’t want it to seem like I was thinking about him all the damn time, but I could admit what we could all see. The male was spectacular and if I denied it, it would have seemed more suspicious.
She cleared her throat, the picture of purity, which we all knew by now was an act .
“This innocent thing. I can’t handle it.” I shook my head. “Not when I know how loud you two are.”
“What? We are not,” she denied, aghast.
I gave her a flat look. She may have grown up in a cult, cut off from the rest of civilization, but she was Nyx’s mate now. Her innocence was long gone.
“Anyway, I thought you didn’t like flyers?” she said, diverting the focus away from her.
“You’d never catch me with a flyer. Wanting to climb one like a tree doesn’t mean I don’t know that it’s an absolute no-go.” I shuddered.
“Jaxus? He was going to come, wasn’t he?” Nyx frowned. “I wonder why he didn’t show.”
Zaria nudged Nyx, and then they had some kind of silent discourse I did not like.
I narrowed my eyes. “What are you two talking about?”
“You need to work on your poker face,” Nyx told Zaria with a laugh.
“How do you know it was me?”
“It was you,” I told her, taking my mug of ale from the server as soon as she arrived at the table. I gulped down a healthy swig, needing it, before we raised a toast to Kol. My dear friend who had left a hole in all our lives.
“I guess I’d better work on that for all these council meetings I have to go to now,” Zaria continued. Though she didn’t know how much work she still needed to do if she was going to keep her feelings from showing on her face. She was an open book.
Nyx slipped his hand into hers. “It would help, so we can discuss things through our bond in front of others, without getting caught so often.” The love in his eyes warmed me. If he could find her after all these years and love her with that intensity, even through the worst times in his life, there was hope for us all .
“She’s always had a lousy poker face. She can’t gamble to save her life,” Luka said.
Nyx looked at Zaria in surprise. “Gambling?”
“What else do you expect a group of kids growing up in a cult to do with all their free time? We bet on everything.” Luka winked.
“Don’t you start with the stories.” Zaria poked his arm.
“No, no, I want to hear the stories,” Nyx said, leaning around her to look at Luka.
“Me too,” I added, lifting my mug of ale only to find I could drain it in one mouthful. I put it down and reached for the second. It was going down too fast, but we all needed this today.
“We are not here to talk about me,” Zaria insisted.
Nyx pulled her into his lap and she squealed.
“I’d rather talk about you than anything else in the Twelve Kingdoms,” he murmured into her lips, brushing a kiss lightly there as he nuzzled his nose into hers. Goddess! I was going to die from the sweetness. I exchanged a look with Luka and we both took a drink.
“Where did this come from?” Zaria asked him breathily.
“Just reminding you that you are all that matters.”
“Goddess, spare me,” I groaned.
“And me,” Luka added.
“Ignore them, Sol,” he said, not taking his eyes from hers. “They just wish they had their mates in their arms right now.”
“Pfft! Mates indeed,” I scoffed. “I’m lucky if I see daylight some days. Where do you think I’ll find a mate?”
Nyx turned his head toward me and grinned. “I don’t know. The Goddess moves in mysterious ways.”
“Well, she has her work cut out for her. My life is my work, so I’d need a mate who is as passionate about magical theory and history as me, who is as happy to wile away the hours in a library with me as he is to join us for an ale, and also happens to look good enough to eat. And I don’t believe such a fae exists,” I exclaimed, banishing the image of Jaxus that flashed into my mind unbidden.
Nope. That was not happening.
A throat cleared behind me and I froze.
“Excuse me, Kiera? I was wondering if I might have a word.” The deep voice was like a caress and I had to school my features.
I turned slowly to look at Jaxus and couldn’t prevent my eyes trailing over his incredible physique before finally meeting his unusually golden eyes.
“Umm, sure,” I replied after a moment’s hesitation. What did he want with me?
He inclined his head towards a quieter part of the tavern and with trepidation, I got up and followed him to an available table in the corner. I should have brought my drink with me. From the serious look on his face, perhaps I would need it.