Page 14

“How many brothers does Rath have?” Asha blinked up in surprise. “And no sisters?”

“Our mother couldn’t throw a girl for all the gold in the mountain.

That’s why there’s seven of us. They kept trying!

Father’s father was the same way, no girls.

” Slath took his seat and tucked his sketchbook away in time for wine to be brought out, an elderflower brew full of the perfume and honeyed notes that Rath loved.

Asha plucked the glass by the stem, sitting up and caressing the flute of it with slender fingers.

Mezerath glanced away from the display, wanting Asha’s fingers on him in much the same way, caressing, exploring.

Asha withdrew his hand from the flute as his eyes glanced about, withdrawn and nervous. Slath, ever the socialite, even if uncouth, reached across Rath’s setting and clinked his glass. “To our new brother! May you always feel welcome here.”

Asha reached for his glass again, drawn back into the moment and cheered politely. “S-so… You’re Slath, and you’re Rath…” Asha glanced about.

“Ghreid,” said Ghreiden, forcing a sweet smile.

“Envi.” Draenvir beamed.

“The seven sins against Balthier.” Asha laughed. “So, I’m assuming there’s a lust?”

“Falustus,” Slath agreed.

“And a pride?”

“Lapryda,” Rath added. It seemed important that he speak before Slath, a little jealous.

“Hmm. Envy, greed, wrath, sloth, lust, pride… Gluttony?”

“Galatan.” Envi frowned and silence spread among them. Their eldest brother took hibernation with his parents after losing his first mate. It’d shocked everyone, an assassination in the night before she’d met her change, but Galatan never recovered.

“Sorry if I touched something sensitive.” Asha’s quick apology brought forth soothing assurances that he was no trouble.

“Galatan lost his mate, an Ashen woman. He took sleep with our parents.” Rath quieted as Asha gave him a sympathetic but curious glance.

“Is the sleep like death or something? I apologize for prying.” Asha held up his hands, but Rath shook his head.

“Every hundred years, a dragon may choose to sleep for a few years. Sometimes it helps with illnesses. Father hoped it’d help my mother. She was a sensitive sort, fragile. She took her change poorly. It wasn’t fair to her. And Galatan hoped it’d heal his heart.”

“I see… Will that happen to me?” Asha blinked up, his sweet worry so precious.

Envi snorted. “Not if Pryd and I have anything to say about it. He’ll be in town soon, and I’ll make sure he helps you settle in. He’s all about fun.”

Rath forced a smile and relaxed marginally when Asha finally took a sip, his cheeks tinging pink in surprise. “Oh, this is delicious.”

“Rath put out the good stuff for you.” Envi rolled his eyes. “Look at the poor man, quaking and nervous. Relax, Ashen one. You are family.”

“I think he’s been brought up with expectations and roles for men and women that don’t align with our particular proclivities or natures.” Rath cleared his throat.

“Oh. He’s from a traditionalist land. There is no fear or judgment, Brother.” Slath reached over to pat Asha’s wrist again, making Rath’s jaw twitch.

“And I don’t think he fully grasps what he is. Hearing it from me and Jeron is one thing.”

“You’re an underdeveloped dragon. Coming from human blood makes it difficult to manifest until you’ve found your mate.” Envi waved his hand about dismissively as Asha choked on his wine.

“I would have put that more eloquently and slowly gotten him up to that point.” Rath cleared his throat a bit.

“I… I know you said… Really? This is a lot to—” Asha jumped when a figure entered the room, pushing a cart loaded down with dinner plates.

“I’m not certain what you like to eat, Asha, but if it’s any consolation, I’m not certain what it is, either.” Rath chuckled and glanced down at a plate of rich steamed grains and a dark stew, rich with herbs.

“I took the liberty of telling the kitchens that Asha may not be accustomed to our food, so to go easy on the spices. They can be trying on newcomers, I’ve heard.” Jeron took a seat farther down the table, separating himself from everyone.

“You’ve done very well, Jeron. Thank you.” Rath extended a smile to his former bedservant, and Asha shrank in his chair.

“I don’t wish to put you out.” He pulled his hair out of his face and Rath chanced reaching for him to place a hand on his.

“Not at all.” Rath spoke quietly. “I’ll be very patient with you. Do things at your own time.” Rath withdrew his hand and halted when Asha reached for it and squeezed gently.

“Thank you.” His lips formed those soft words and sent a warmth shuddering through Rath’s body.

“Okay, since it doesn’t look like Rath will eat first, I will.” Ghreid took a bite of his stew, humming with delight. “Mmm! The kitchen’s done it again. Simple, light, a little spice. Try it, Asha!”

Pulled away from the moment, Asha took a tentative bite and then another, sighing with pleasure. “S’good.”

Rath let loose a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He turned to take a bite of his food and hummed in agreement. “I like it.”

“Where do you get fresh vegetables this time of year?” Asha swallowed.

“Ramolia, mostly. They’ve warm enough weather and enough sun to grow some things. We also have very good canneries here, too, so some of it isn’t as fresh as it tastes.” Ghreid beamed as if it were his own doing.

“But agriculture is more of my forte. I’ve been working with some of our own farming communities farther south on a glass house to grow in the cooler months. Light is limited, but I believe lettuce can survive low light without being affected by etiolation…” Envi shrugged.

“I’ve dabbled myself in the old atrium and found that I could take the old rucksacks no longer good for anything and bodge-patch them and use them to grow massive amounts of root vegetables.

Those plants like the cold. Greens tolerate the cold well, too, as long as the weather doesn’t freeze, but if you use enough trifle dirt, it keeps the roots warm and cozy.

And you can grow them both together.” Asha took another bite of soup and Ghreid tossed Rath a rakish grin.

They had better luck with him than Rath did.

“Interesting.” Envi rubbed his chin and laughed. “This is great! I’ll drag you along to some of my experiments.”

“If that’s alright with Rath.” Asha glanced over nervously, and Rath forced his best smile, hiding the bubbling jealousy.

“I think I can trust my brothers with your care.” Rath stared at his food for a moment and thought. “But I worry, and I am jealous and protective.” Rath thought it best to speak his mind rather than cause a rift of communication.

“Oh. Then I’ll politely pass…” Asha held up his hands apologetically, and Rath leaned his head back, the weight of the chains on them tiring.

“No. Do as you wish. Go with Envi. I wish for you to spend time with him, anyway. Learn your magic and the like. I’m merely stating my heart. If my face appears sour, it is of no consequence to you.” Rath chuckled.

“Well. What if you came with me?” Asha offered a polite smile, and Rath shook his head slowly.

“I have much to do. I would love to, but I won’t hold you back. I will place my trust in you as I do my brothers.” Rath returned to his stew and hummed with delight, which made Asha turn as well.

They ate in relative silence until the attendants came to remove the dishes.

“What’s for dessert?” Ghreid glanced around and frowned.

“Asha, probably,” Envi said, hiding a wry smirk that made Asha’s face go bright pink.

“Envi, come on now. Don’t tease. He’s shy.” Slath rolled his eyes and glanced at Asha. “Asha, pay them no mind. We all prefer the company of men.”

“All?” Asha gasped, surprised.

“It’s common. Females are the rarity.” Envi wiped his mouth on a napkin.

“Yes. There’s no shame in it, here. The purpose of a union is to love one another and create families.

Both of which you are capable of.” Ghreid smiled.

“But if you’ve more questions, feel free to ask any of us, but I’d rather not answer anything to do with sex with my brother, if you’d understand.

Jeron might be a better font of information. ”

Asha glanced away from Ghreid and swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

“But to answer Master’s question… Dessert can be brought in, but there’s some warm spiced cordial and honeycake in your quarters, my prince.” An attendant bowed slightly in wait for more information.

“Enough for two, I should hope?” Jeron spoke up from his quiet spot down the table.

Asha shrank down, shoulders rounding.

“As you requested, sir.” The attendant, not seeing anyone ask, bowed his way from the room.

“Good. I’ll take Asha to his room to retire and change into some evening clothes for relaxing. I took the liberty of having Nina lay your evening clothing out.” Jeron glanced down, drawing Rath’s eye to the dripped ink.

Wordlessly, Jeron collected Asha. He chanced one glance over his shoulder, his sweet blue eyes drawing Rath in. “I’ll wait for you, and it was nice meeting you Envi, Ghreid, and Slath. Thank you for your kindness.”

Jeron ushered him out as Rath stood, giving them a head start as Envi whistled.

“Gorgeous. You are lucky, Brother. He’s beautiful.” Envi grinned.

Rath swallowed a growl. “I agree.”

“Go on. I don’t think your dick’s getting wet tonight, Brother, but he does seem to be interested in you, at least.” Slath waved his hand dismissively and Rath stalked off in disgust.

He could wait a lifetime to get his dick wet. Asha’s company was enough for now. Memories of their ride together with Asha’s soft rear pressed into him… Rath swore and leaned against a stone wall, taking a shuddering breath. “Patience.”