“Later, my love,” he said. “You need to rest.”
She bit back a protest, knowing he was right, and shut her eyes, letting oblivion take her.
Chapter 30
When Soren woke up,it smelled like stew, the scent of herbs filling the cavern. Her stomach gurgled, her mouth paper dry. As if sensing her needs right away, Vane handed her a clay mug filled with water and ordered, “Slowly, or you’ll make yourself sick.”
She listened, and over the lip of the mug, she said, “You need to rest too. And drink and eat. You were mortally injured, not me.”
He grimaced. “The king ensured I was fed and watered before he called me to that tent last night. And I just ate. Believe me, the last thing I want right now is to be weakened.”
She sat up further, and he handed her a bowl of stew. Swirling the spoon, she furrowed her brow and asked, “Where did you get this?”
“I made it.”
She leveled a look at him. “Not what I meant and you know it.”
His small smile lit up her entire chest, despite her worry and annoyance. “The root vegetables grow in the soil of these peaks, and the rabbit, I caught with a snare. The broth is unfortunately just water from a small pool not far from here in the cavesystems. But I did have a small store of dried herbs to help remedy the taste.”
She took a spoonful of the soup, nearly moaning. He was bluffing—it tasted excellent. But still, a bitter truth cut through the warmth.
“This was it, wasn’t it?” she asked softly, looking around. “The place where we would go. Where we hatched Thessa and Heles.”
Vane smiled, but his eyes were heavy with sorrow. “It was funny to me, the first time I heard you refer to Thessilnn by that nickname. We tried that kind of thing with her before, and she hated it. Would leave scorch marks on your mother’s flower beds if you said it once. But now…I think she missed you so much, she doesn’t even care.”
“My parents knew about the dragons?”
Vane nodded. “They were both still adolescents then, but dragons aren’t exactly an easy thing to hide. You never told them you bonded to Thessilnn, or that Heles bonded to me. They probably wouldn’t have believed you even if you did tell them about the dragons bonding with me. Dragons bond with mortals now, and some did then, but Vemon are a notoriously particular breed. There’s a reason you didn’t see any but Heles and Thessilnn in Johannas’ army. Gods and godlings have historically been the only riders they’ll bond with.”
“But she bonded with you,” Soren said softly, setting down her now-empty bowl.
Vane lifted a shoulder. “I always figured it was because of you.”
“And if it isn’t?”
He lifted a pierced brow. “What do you mean?”
She bit her lip, reaching out to Thessa.Is now the ‘right’ time?
Thessa’s reply was sleepy and grumbled.You are stubborn. I will not waste my time trying to stop you.
“Soren?”
“When we were in flight, Thessa told me something about you. Don’t be angry with them; they were told not to say anything to us. I probably shouldn’t even be telling you now, but?—”
Vane took her hand, searching her gaze. “I won’t be angry.”
She let out a breath. “Alright. You once said your father had lots of children. Who told you that?”
Vane blinked, once, then twice, obviously surprised. “My mother. She said she was one of many mortal women he’d… Well, she wasn’t the only one.”
“She lied.”
His lips parted, his head tilting. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m not sure why I didn’t know that wasn’t true at the time, being Nyx’s daughter, but Vulcan must have somehow hidden the truth. He didn’t have other children. No godlings, no demi-gods. Just you.”
Vane’s throat worked, and she saw him trying to mask his shock, even for her. She tightened her grip on his hand, and his chest expanded in a deep breath. “But that makes me…what, exactly?”
