Chapter 8 Kieran #2
I traced slow circles until his heart rate steadied, then leaned into him with a smile that tugged at my lips. “You’re just now realizing that? I realized it the moment you mused about my blood out loud while demanding to break out of Alfemir with me and Ronan as a fresh prison escapee.”
“I can’t be held responsible for said obsession. It’s your fault for being you,” he defended with a smirk. His arms circled around me, that familiar hold pulling everything inside me back into a calm and centered state.
A dramatic flair flourished within me as I retorted, “I will do my best to not die again, to protect your nervous system. That was quite selfish of me, wasn’t it? I’ll do better.”
Bastian let out a huff of air before pressing a kiss to my forehead. “It really was, Darling! I suppose if it does happen again, I’ll just have to follow you into the afterlife. Problem solved.”
A small gasp fell from my lips as I pulled back to stare up at him. My hand swatted his chest playfully. “Don’t say that! I would want you to live for me, Bash.”
The tension seemed to leave his rigid frame with a long exhale and smirk, like he really had found the answer to this conundrum plaguing him. “Sure, whatever you say.”
I shook my head as I stepped back to pour myself a cup of coffee, still chuckling to myself softly.
Only Bastian could turn such a sensitive and heavy topic into a lighthearted joking matter.
“We brought Noah back with us to Alfemir,” he informed me as I stirred sugar into my cup, his voice free of all bantering tones now.
“He’s itching to talk to you about the dagger and the power that healed you.
” My eyebrows rose as a small chuckle slipped from my lips.
Of course he was. Noah was always after new information.
Bastian continued, “Niz and Ronan also sent word to the Elementalist that visited you yesterday, Gabe’s mother, and the wyvern queen and king. So, all the people we trust should be there today when we decide what comes next.”
I was worried sending notice yesterday may not have given much time, but I was glad to hear it sounded like everyone we needed would be there.
“Good, I owe them a further explanation,” I murmured before I took a tentative sip of my coffee.
After the hot liquid poured down my throat, I felt my confidence and need to continue forward come to life.
“What I said on the platform before my unfortunate death was enough to open eyes, but not enough to inform the citizens of everything we’re up against now with the prophecy. ”
Bastian caught my chin between his fingers as my lips were parted, stopping me from speaking further.
The heavy weight of his crimson gaze made a shiver slide down my spine.
“Then walk into that room like the miracle you are and claim your rightful place in leading us all. You have an innate ability to make people think that the unattainable is possible. They need that, now more than ever.”
His thumb brushed my jaw once before he let go, leaving me breathless and staring at his back as he turned to pull food out of a fridge that had to have been recently stocked by them.
Within the hour, the smell of fresh coffee and pancakes filled the kitchen as the house began to stir.
One by one, the others appeared—dressed, hair damp, voices rough with sleep.
We fell into an easy rhythm around the table, the quiet kind that comes after surviving something together.
There was a lightness to my soul that I couldn’t place until I realized it was the relief I felt in Steele fully accepting this finally.
Seeing him chatting with everyone, without any glares or underhanded comments, was what I needed.
The scrape of chairs and the clink of mugs filled the room as we cleaned the kitchen before heading outside to begin our trek toward the meeting.
Bastian stretched his black wings wide, a wry grin cutting across his face. “Let’s move before Steele sinks any deeper into that scowl and it consumes him.”
My eyebrow arched as I caught the man in question glaring at Bash. Broody commander Steele was in full force. Normally, I would’ve left him to it, but instead I brushed my shoulder against his in quiet solidarity. The smile he gave me was small and fleeting, but it ensnared my heart all the same.
Niz stepped out of the house last, wordlessly handing a folded set of clothes to Ronan. My lips twitched at the thought of Ronan not just being a Beast Tamer or Shadow Commander, but also the Keeper of Niz Not Being Naked After Shifts.
Above us, various colored wyverns flew through streaks of gold sunlight that played along the clouds encircling the city. My heart soared alongside them, seeing them rightfully inhabit Alfemir once more.
“The wyverns are patrolling alongside the Alfemir guards appointed by Gabe’s mom,” Niz murmured, a thread of shock in his tone. “I knew it was going to happen after our talks with my parents yesterday evening when setting up the meeting for today, but it’s something I never thought would happen.”
His gaze met mine, eyes full of hope as I offered a soft nod and smile of affirmation. “It’s happening, Niz.”
Ronan adjusted the pack on his shoulder after tossing Niz’s clothes in, catching my eye with a grin. “You good to go, Beauty?”
My wings instantly unfurled at the question as determination burned brightly in my chest. “Yes.”