Something I never thought I’d feel once my feet left the ground in Raingreen begins to bubble up inside me.Amusement. “Are you telling me all you big, scary dragons are afraid of eating your vegetables?”
“We aren’t afraid of anything.” Fyan puffs out his chest.
Rivon clears his throat but doesn’t dispute my statement.
“If you aren’t afraid, then try it.” I hold the spoon out toward Fyan.
He doesn’t move to take the spoon. Instead he stares at it, clear disgust written on his face.
“For the love of the gods, Fyan.” Vander takes my wrist and gingerly pulls the spoon to his mouth. His touch is gentle, but I feel it all over, as if his heat is pouring into my veins, warming me from the inside out. His gaze holds mine as he empties the spoon and swallows.
A tingle rolls along my spine, and though we’re surrounded by others, the moment seems intimate. Almost … forbidden.
“See?” My voice has gone a tinge higher. “It’s good, right?”
Vander doesn’t speak right away, his golden skin losing the slightest bit of color as he seems to try to find the right words. He presses his lips together tightly and holds up a finger. “Just a moment,” he says, his voice somewhat strangled.
I stare at the empty spoon. It was only a tiny bit of vegetable soup. “Are you okay?”
Fyan breaks out into a grin.
“Oh, just look at him.” Faraday guffaws. “You think he’s going to vomit? Rivon, 20 gold says he’s going to hurl all over the table.”
Rivon eyes Vander who, I’ll admit, is now looking a little green at the top of his golden scales. “I don’t think I’ll be taking that bet.”
“But, it’s just carrots and some?—”
“It’s good.” Vander chokes out the words and gives me a strained smile.
Fyan and Faraday caw with laughter, and even Rivon smiles as he watches Vander.
I settle back in my seat and give Vander one more sidelong look. He’s trying to keep it together, but he grabs his wine and takes a long, long swig as his brothers laugh.
This shouldn’t feel so … nice. After all, I’m here surrounded by monsters. Dragons in this keep, spiders outside, and no telling what else lurks in the wilds of Oblivion. But for now, for this moment, I’m at peace. I’m even almost … happy? No, I can’t say that, not after having to leave my mother, not after being sacrificed by my own people. But for now I’m safe, I’m warm, and I’m surrounded by friendly faces. Monsters or not, they clearly have strong bonds with each other. And not just bonds, love. I see it in the way they tease each other, in the myriad ways I heard them banter and jest in the keep while I was recovering.
There is warmth here.
There is family.
I may not be part of it, but I feel it all the same, and that will have to be enough for now.
Chapter
Twelve
VANDER
“Your mortal did well at dinner. I was surprised.” Brin puffs on his pipe.
“Of course she did.” I give him a dark look.
“I’m simply saying the mortals aren’t—by all accounts—known for their good manners. But Larellin has disproven that particular sentiment.” He puffs harder on his pipe.
“I think it was a compliment.” Rivon stands next to the fireplace, his gaze on the flames. “Delivered poorly, of course.”
“Thanks,” Brin says dryly.
“What news of Sela?” I listen to Larellin as she walks through our bedchambers, her limp audible as she faintly swears under her breath at her crutch. She was telling the truth about learning additional obscenities from my brothers.
