Page 35 of The Blade in the Ashes
“Or,” he held onto the word, letting it drag as he leaned backwards and pointed towards the castle. “I can just be on my way.”
He tilted his head, subtly nodding towards the guards as he took two clear steps backwards.
Gods, he was insufferable.
“Wait!” I grasped his wrist, unhappily pulling him back towards me and trying to avoid looking at the smug satisfaction on his features. “Fine. You’re not my enemy. We’re friends.”
I barely stopped myself from choking on the words—both at the ridiculousness of having them forced out of me and the unfortunateness of the fact that, deep down, there was a certain degree of truth in them.
Because, whether or not I liked it, I couldn’t unsee the version of him who had been my friend.
“And?” he pressed, lashes fluttering slightly.
I squared my shoulders. “And that’s all you’re going to get from me. Take it or leave it.”
Rolling his eyes, he lifted his hands above his head, stretching out his back as he considered. A stupid gesture. He and I both knew he was going to agree. With a wink, he dropped one of his arms over my shoulder, guiding me away as he sent an impatient glare at the guards who had moved to trail behind us.
“Leave us! My wife and I would like to share an intimate moment that’s best enjoyedprivately.” Caldrius shouted at them, adding a certain huskiness to his voice that made my upper lip curl.
I smacked his stomach with the back of my palm, earning a soft chuckle.
“I do not appreciate that insinuation,” I protested under my breath.
“Ah, but it worked,” he pointed towards the retreating forms behind us. “Apparently, it’s rather believable that you and I would want to tangle ourselves together.”
I shrugged his arm off me, not bothering to dignify him with a response.
“So, what are we going to get ourselves into now, ladies?” Caldrius rubbed his hands together, grinning happily as he looked between Nessira and I.
I marched away from him, wrapping my arm in Nessira’s and dragging her with me as I went without sparing him a second glance. “Weare leaving. You are not coming with us.”
“That’s a terrible way to thank a friend who just helped you,” he called after us. “I would hope—”
A shriek split the sky, so loud and sudden that I instinctively covered my ears. Nessira and I ducked in perfect timing, glancing frantically at the sky as Caldrius ran to us. Together, we all lifted our heads, staring at the dark shadow above us that began to blot out the sunlight.
No.
Not a shadow.
“Are those…” Nessira’s voice trailed off.
“Dragons,” Caldrius finished the thought for her, bending to take hold of my elbow.
Sure enough, the sky filled with dragons as far as I could see. It was a veritable legion of them. Scales of green, blue, red, and black reflected in the light above us, and their wings beat so heavily that my hair tangled in blown-back waves.
No gold, though.
No golden scales.
Caldrius frowned as he watched them all soar ahead onto the mountaintop above the castle and begin landing one by one.
“You don’t look like you were expecting them,” I noticed.
He glowered at me from the corner of his eye as he unsheathed the sword on his hip. “You’re so observant.”
Caldrius latched onto my hand, wrapping my fingers within his in an iron grip before he launched forward, dragging me behind him towards the castle.
“What are you doing?” I hissed, lifting my skirts to avoid tripping.
