He leaned back against the bench and closed his eyes, trying for a moment to imagine what it was like to be in Cassia’s world. Maybe that was why she was so loyal to whatever man had hurt her, so much that she wouldn't tell the sheriff a single word of truth. She was just holding on to the one person she’d had in her life. His hatred of the unknown man grew, impossibly, a little sharper. Taking advantage of a woman who had nothing and nobody to turn to was sick.
She deserved a place that accepted her, a family and a home and arms to catch her if she fell. He wanted to be that for her. And on top of all the reasons he already had not to fall for Cassia Clarek, Aevrin added a new one: she ought to have a home that wasn’t dependent on a relationship, where she wouldn’t feel the need to leave and start her life over again if things didn’t work out.
If he or his idiot brothers came on to her, it wouldn’t just be inappropriate after everything she’d been through. It might also force her to say yes to their advances when she didn’t want to, just to keep on at the ranch.
Aevrin was not going to put her in that spot. Ever. Cassia would just have to be off-limits.
“Must sound a little pathetic, huh? Being that alone…” he heard Cassia mutter under her breath.
“You’re not alone. You got yourself a home with us,” he said.
She gave him a skeptical smile, then turned away to stare down the dirt street.
“Yeah, alright,” Cassia told him. She sounded a little sarcastic. “If you say so.”
There were some things you could only prove with time. Well, she’d see. The Rivekers didn’t leave people high and dry. Especially not people like Cassia Clarek. She wasn’t the first stranger to find refuge at the ranch, and she wouldn’t be the last.
With a quiet nod to himself, he flapped the reins and circled Tiny around the dirt lot to drive the cart back home. The bull kicked out his back legs and shot off so fast they were both thrown against the bench’s back, before Aevrin, his cheeks burning, yanked him under control.
Cassia
Allthewayhome,Cassia felt guilty for lying about Rylan. It was true they weren’t speaking anymore, but sheknewshe’d made it sound like she hadn’t seen him in ages. Not like he’d been there, watching her, the night she was beaten and dragged away. But if Aevrin knew her brother was an outlaw, no doubt he’d dump Cassia on the side of the road and send the sheriff after Rylan. Whether or not Rylan deserved it, she couldn’t let that happen.
They rode in the rattling cart without talking, Aevrin humming under his breath and the bull’s tail switching back and forth as he pulled the cart. She snuck a few glances at the cowherd’s sharp profile, the way he drove with the reins in one fist and the other arm resting on the bench’s back. The only fires today were distant, and he left his mask down around his neck.
An aging green dragon, her scales chipping, lay on the dirt ground next to the house. Her blocky head rested on the left side of the steps at what looked like an uncomfortable upward angle. The old duck lifted her scaled jaw up off the stones andcontorted her neck to inspect Aevrin and Cassia. She hummed, then went back to her former pose. Cassia still hadn’t gotten used to seeing dragons casually hanging about. The creatures didn’t thrive in cities.
Gramma Prisca and Mavek sat on the front porch rocking chairs sharing a bottle of drudd, a drink so alcoholic just smelling it burned your nose hairs clean off. A pipe rested on the table between them, tendrils of smoke curling up from the bowl.
“Leave Tiny hitched. Mathersons asked to borrow a trough,” Mavek called when Aevrin moved to the bull’s side to unhitch the traces. “Told ‘em I’d haul it over when you were back.”
Aevrin grunted his understanding and instead hauled the bundle of clothing out of the cart bed. Cassia reached a hand out to take it, but he ignored her and headed towards the house.
“Howdy, Cass,” Mavek called, lifting his glass in a salute.
“You quit working already?” Aevrin said with a raised eyebrow, like it was a bad thing. Cassia watched him shift the bundle to one hand and reach down to scratch the dragon’s great big hindquarters, where tail met body, before climbing the stairs.
“Yup. Went a lot faster after you were gone.” Mavek’s grin stretched from ear to ear, blue eyes crinkling.
Gramma Prisca smacked Mavek’s shoulder lightly with the back of her wrinkled hand.
“Sorven’s Cobrid got airborne today,” Prisca informed Aevrin.
“Did she? About time.”
“Get ready for him to talk your ear off about it,” Mavek muttered.
“Your pa’s cooking tonight. I washed a load of clothes about an hour ago. You mind hanging them up and getting those started?” Gramma asked.
“No problem,” Aevrin said. “Cassia, it’s alright if I wash your things?”
“I can do it,” she said immediately.
“Nah,” Aevrin answered flatly. He went inside. Cassia followed slowly up the stairs, mindful to keep as far out of the dragon’s way as possible. She wasn’t sure how the duck felt about strangers in her territory. But the old dragon’s eyes were closed, her scaly lips tilted up at the corners.
“You have a nice time, girl?” Prisca asked.
“Sure. It’s a very sweet shop,” she answered.
