Page 108 of A Fate in Flames

“If you go through there, you’ll end up in Karisan, one of the larger villages here.”

Beyond the natural barrier, scattered structures emerged in fragments.The village seemed to breathe with distant activity, though too far to fully appreciate.

“It’s so much like home,” I said as we continued along our path.The walkway gradually filled with people, their bodies weaving around us in a practised dance of movement.“I never would’ve guessed it would be like this.”

Mira pulled me closer to her side.Her touch was warm as we sidestepped people whose arms bulged with baskets and parcels.Their dark attire billowed around them, fabric flowing with each determined stride.

“Why is it everyone here wears such dark colours?”I gestured subtly toward the people streaming past us.

“Because black is the king’s colour,” Mira explained.“The Sands favour whites and creams that reflect their scorching sun.The Seas wrap themselves in blues and greens to honour their waters.”

Movement stirred behind us, followed by a booming voice that vibrated the air.

“Look who it is!”

We pivoted as one.Several paces back stood Kaseer, his massive frame towering behind Theo and Tavrik.The midday sun illuminated him fully for the first time since I’d met him—no longer hidden in shadow or seated at a table.A grin split his face, white teeth gleaming like pearls against his dark skin and eyes crinkling at the corners with genuine delight.

Though not quite as imposing as Dalkhan, he dwarfed both Tavrik and Theo, standing a head and shoulders above them.His powerful frame draped in midnight-black linen slung over one broad shoulder and wrapped around his waist in a sash.His loose pants flowed like liquid shadow around his legs.

Theo stepped forward, an arm extended.Their hands met in a firm clasp, forearms pressing together in greeting.Kaseer’s massive hand engulfed Theo’s.

“Pretty boy,” Kaseer rumbled, his voice deep as thunder.

He extended the same greeting to Tavrik.

“Solider,” he acknowledged before stepping back, planting his feet wide on the path.“Still carrying that stick up your ass, I see.What’s it made of?Iron?”

A laugh bubbled from my chest.I crossed my arms, cocking my head to one side.“You certainly seem fixated on calling Theopretty.”

A mischievous glint sparked in the depths of Kaseer’s eyes.He lunged forward with surprising grace for someone his size and hooked a tree-trunk arm around Theo’s shoulders, pulling him against his side and nearly lifting him off the ground.His free hand lightly tapping Theo’s cheek.

“Well, he is!have you not seen him?”His fingers framed Theo’s face, turning it side to side as if displaying goods at a market.“If it wasn’t for his cock, he would’ve made a perfect woman.”

Theo burst into laughter before shoving Kaseer away with both hands, hard enough to make him stumble.“You wish I was.”

Kaseer clutched at his chest in mock pain.“You wound me, pretty boy!”

My cheeks ached, the ridiculous display impossible to witness with a straight face.

“Don’t worry, beautiful,” Kaseer said, turning his attention to me.“He is still no match for you, especially when you smile like that.The sun itself grows jealous.”

I rolled my eyes, though my traitorous lips refused to stop smiling.

“Smooth,” Tavrik interjected, clasping Kaseer between his neck and shoulder with enough force to make the larger man wince.

“You can’t blame me for trying,” he said.“Without the snake hovering over her shoulder, this might be my only chance.”

“In your dreams,” I retorted, spinning on my heel.The path ahead stretched invitingly, and I took a determined step forward.

Mira clutched my arm tighter, shaking with poorly contained giggles.“Don’t encourage him,” she whispered.“He’ll never stop once he starts.”

Kaseer appeared at my side, matching my pace.He crouched, bringing his massive frame down to my level.

“I look forward to sleeping then,” he said, then stood back to his full height.“You’re all invited to watch me dream tonight.I’ll be the one with a stupid grin, drooling on my pillow and mumbling sweet nothings to the empty air beside me.”

Laughter burst from all of us at once, the sound echoing off the trees and drawing stares from every direction.

His enormous presence was somehow comforting rather than intimidating.Perhaps this would be a chance to learn more about him, this realm, and, though I was reluctant to admit it, more about Dalkhan.