A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire 1)

Several long moments stretched while the small draken’s head swung side to side.

“I have a question,” Lailah announced as she scratched the draken under the chin. The creature let out a trilling purr. “Well, I have several questions, starting with why does your Consort look like she was thrown from the mortal realm into ours?”

Did I look that unkempt? I glanced down at myself. The hem of my cloak ended at my calves, exposing blood-stained feet. Through the halves of the cloak, the night rail hung limply. I didn’t even want to know what my hair looked like or what might cover my face.

“I didn’t throw her into this realm,” Ash grumbled. “There was an incident before we arrived here.”

“What kind of incident?” Rhain asked from where he leaned against one of the pillars.

“One that is no longer an issue.”

Interest sparked in Lailah’s eyes. “Do tell.”

“Maybe later,” Ash answered.

Her brother now raised a hand. “I have questions, too.”

“And I don’t care,” Ash replied. Rhain coughed under his breath. “Do you two have nothing to do? If not, I am sure there is plenty you could be doing.”

“Actually, we were about to take little Reaver-Butt here out for some airtime.” Lailah grinned as the draken let out a squawk of agreement.

“The draken’s name is Reaver-Butt?” I blurted.

Lailah laughed softly as she sent me a quick smile. “His name is Reaver,” she said, and he hopped on his hind legs. “But I like to add the butt part. He seems to enjoy it, too.”

“Oh,” I whispered, fingers itching to reach out and pet the small draken. At this size, it was nowhere near as frightening as Nektas.

“Then why don’t you two get on with that?” Ash suggested.

Grinning, Theon bowed his head. “As you wish.” His sister joined him, strolling forward. As he neared me, the god bowed once more and spoke, lowering his voice. “Blink twice if you have been kidnapped.”

Lailah grinned and sent Ash a long, sideways look. “Or just blink.”

I almost blinked because it was clear they were teasing Ash—a Primal who had gods strung up on the walls outside his palace.

“Go,” Ash ordered, and I turned as they moved on, my attention focused on the small draken teetering on Lailah’s shoulder.

“That’s a baby draken,” I said.

Ash looked down at me. “Draken don’t hatch the size of Nektas, and Reaver would be highly annoyed if he heard you refer to him as a baby.”

“I would hope not, considering that would be one hell of a large egg,” I retorted. “I just…” I trailed off, shaking my head and folding my arms over my waist. I felt like my head was going to explode.

“Seeing any draken, large or small, must be a shock,” Rhain commented, and I peeked over at him. His golden-red hair was a flame against the darkness of the pillar. “I imagine it will continue to be a shock for some time.”

I nodded tentatively. “I think it will be.”

The god smiled faintly.

Ash shifted so he halfway blocked Rhain. “Why are you still here?” he demanded of the god.

“I figured since Saion wasn’t here, I would undertake the honor of annoying you,” he replied, his tone flat.

The Primal let out a low rumble of warning. My breath caught. Rhain had to know about the gods on the Rise, as did the twins. Would any of them really want to annoy Ash?

“I actually have a valid reason for hanging around. I need to talk with you.” Rhain pushed off the pillar as I peeked around Ash. His face was set in taut, drawn lines. “It’s important.”

And, obviously, it was also something he didn’t want to speak about in front of me.

Which was annoying.

Ash nodded and looked down at me, about to speak, but he narrowed his eyes. He moved quickly, folding his hand over my biceps. I jerked at the contact. He turned my arm slightly. “What caused this bruise? I meant to ask about it earlier.”

“What?”

“This bruise. It’s an older one,” he stated, and I looked at my arm. Tavius. Gods. I’d forgotten about him and the bowl of dates. “How did this happen?”

“I walked into something.” I tugged on my hand.

“You don’t strike me as the type to walk into things.”

“How would you know?” I demanded, pulling on my arm again.

Ash lowered his chin. “Because you’ve appeared very sure-footed and precise in your movements.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t have moments of clumsiness.”

“Really?” He held on for a moment longer but then let go.

I folded my arm back to my waist. “Really.”

“This is entertaining,” Rhain commented.

Ignoring the god, Ash’s piercing stare remained fixed on me. “You must have walked into it pretty hard to create that bruise.”

“Must have,” I muttered, nervously taking in the large entryway. There were no statues, no banners or paintings. The walls were as bare as the floor, cold and desolate.