Page 85 of Ruby
“Are you still hurt?” I ask, worried for her.
“It’s mostly healed. Many thanks, Szhe’ka,” Ree responds.
“Venom? Like this?” Ani suddenly says, spitting a ball of acid at a tree. Both Ree’s and Thivoll’s eyes widen when they see the bark of the tree melting away.
“Well, well, well,” Kira drawls. “I guess it’s time for us to have a proper discussion.”
34
Ani
When Ree comes, my mind shorts out in a combination of guilt and anger. The warm way she greeted Szhe’ka and his concern over her gave me a serious case of the greens and I don’t like it.
Whatever new “feathers” I am growing inside, I will not be the jealous type. I am, however, the type that likes to stake a claim on what I want and sink my teeth into it until the end.
And he is mine. She can’t have him.
But the appearance of another alien eases that fear. She clearly has his traits, so, coupled with the awkward conversation with Kira, I suspect what is going on between the two of them.
“Welcome to our island. It doesn’t look like much, but, please, make yourselves comfortable,” Ree says, stretching her hands out. “We have you in an isolated area just in case you haven’t… well…”
“They haven’t fucked,” Kira says, voice amused now, a stark contrast to her earlier tone, which made it clear that if I made myself Ree’s enemy, she would skewer me.
The Bitch doesn’t seem to care and she’s about to lob insults when Szhe’ka’s singing breaks in, low and sweet.
“New feathers,” he croons.
I huff, then take a deep breath, searching for a polite way to respond instead.
My mind is still galloping through insults—and how they aren’t helpful—when I hear heavy footfalls. The hair on the back of my neck rises, and every instinct screams for me to run.
“Lizard Brain,” Kira says, voice suddenly taunting now.
When I see who she’s taunting my mouth drops open. The woman is insane.
“This is Drasuk,” Ree says with a laugh. “Meet Ani, Szhe’ka, and what is his name?”
“Azoeul,” I mutter, eyes still glued to the blue dragon.
Azoeul’s glance is pulled to me at the sound of his name, but then he is back to darting his eyes around. I’ve been rude, not translating for him.
I open my mouth to start, but Drasuk moves closer.
“Give her room, you big idiot,” barks Kira. “They haven’t fucked yet.”
“Must you insist on telling everyone?” I grumble.
“Don’t encourage her or she will,” rumbles the dragon.
The air shifts when Drasuk moves. Heavy steps deliberate, like the ground belongs to him and he’s reminding it.
Kira huffs and plops down on a flat stretch of rock near the treeline. She reaches behind her, scratching, then glares over her shoulder at her back.
“You still have those proto-wings?” Drasuk asks, voice dripping with disdain.
She twists, trying to look at them. “If you even think about touching them—”
“I am thinking about biting them off,” he replies.
