Page 31 of Upon Buried Embers (Upon Buried Embers #1)

Elf

I wake surrounded by warmth, but this is a different kind of warmth to Rohan’s.

I blink my eyes open, finding scales right in front of my face.

Sucking in a sharp breath, I rise slowly. A grumble comes from behind me and I spin around, locking eyes with Escor.

Fear rushes through me for a moment, but he moves his tail closer, like he wants to wrap me up. I exhale heavily when I feel he’s not going to hurt me.

I raise a hand and slowly place it on his leg. His scales are warm to the touch, and I smile softly when he purrs in response.

“I never knew how warm dragons are, but it makes sense really, doesn’t it? You all have fires in your belly, so why not be so full of warmth yourself?”

“He’s not the only one that is warm, Little Whisperer.”

My head whips around. Rohan is across from me, his eyes dark and searing as they lock with mine. He lays back against Hedoric, legs bent at the knees, arms resting on them.

Why is he here? And why am I surrounded by dragons?

“Want to tell me why you ran yesterday?” His voice is quiet, but the authoritative rumble is within it, nonetheless.

Yesterday. The voices. Being sold.

I look down and curl my knees up to my chest, feeling vulnerable.

I don’t want to go back there. At least here I have a chance to get Effy, and then I can have this metal removed from my neck somehow and I won’t be a slave anymore.

I can go to my people, if I’m strong enough to survive whatever lays ahead of me.

But I’m tired of just surviving.

Rohan stands, moving closer, which makes Escor growl a warning, his tail tightening around my bottom half.

“I let you have her to yourself all night, Escor. Do not test me this morning.”

Escor growls deeply in response, and I swear Rohan growls just as deep back, which has Escor loosening his tail.

It reluctantly moves out of the way as Rohan approaches, Drogonah’s own warning to the smaller dragon rumbling from somewhere. Rohan crouches before me.

“I’m a Dragonbond, and that comes with its own set of responsibilities,” his tone quiet, but firm. “But so does being a leader of my clan. I have to take into consideration many factors to keep everyone safe. I also need to do the same for my dragons.”

I look up into his eyes, that ring of purple more prominent this morning than I’ve ever seen before.

“I have to think about how we live, to make sure we have food and water, supplies, how many dragons and horses we have… and how many people live with us.” He cracks his neck to the side. “How many more can we take?”

He lifts a hand, gripping my chin in a gentle hold. He stares at me, eyes dropping to my neck, then they settle on my mouth before finally reaching my eyes.

“As I told you last night, you’re mine. I will keep you until I can’t no more.”

He wants to keep me?

“And what happens after you don’t… keep me?”

His grip tightens a little. “I’m not so sure that time will ever come, Little Whisperer, but you’ll be safe with me.”

I want to believe him, but words are empty. He’s known me for a short time and wants me to talk to dragons for his own agenda. It has nothing to do with me as a person.

As an elf.

His council have been by his side for years, friends and relationships that have—I assume, been stretched to unbearable pressures at times, and yet… they’ve still survived.

I’m just… no one to him.

“The others…”

“Have my ear for their advice and opinions, but in the end, it’s my decision.”

And they will hate me even more for it.

“I did not become clan leader on the basis that I’m a Dragonbond, an Alpha to one of the largest dragons of its time to roam Dracozar.

Although I hold a title, that did not make me a leader.

Others hold weight to their titles, think they’re superior in every way, but we do it differently here. I do it differently here.”

My brows furrow, and he spreads his fingers over my cheek, stroking my ear.

“I fought for my position. I spilled my blood and sharpened my axe to any who challenged me, dragon or man. I will do so for those who still come, but I took it. Just like I took you. You think I’m a man that has no honor? That my words mean nothing?”

“I have no idea what kind of man you are,” I whisper, biting my lip.

I still when he pulls the abused flesh free, staring as his thumb rubs back and forth over it. My breath hitches as his eyes become a darker hue of purple.

“I could show you in many ways just what kind of man I am.” His eyes flick up to mine. “You tempt me like no other, so if you ever want to find out… really find out, Little Whisperer, be sure it’s what you want, because I won’t have enough control to stop.”

My chest heaves with his words, knowing what lays beneath them, what he’s insinuating. I’m… confused.

The Dragorie are barbaric people, yet this man hasn’t hurt me. Not even my punishment for Serah hurt me, not really. And now he wants me in … that way? An elf?

It isn’t unheard of to lay with one of my kind whether we want it or not, though they only do it in the underground, hidden from the king’s eyes. Rohan says it like it isn’t frowned upon. As though I’m just like any other woman and the king wouldn’t take me from him.

I don’t understand.

All I’ve ever heard about is their cruelty, but so far I’ve seen none, and he hasn’t forced himself upon me, even though he speaks of wanting to.

Doesn’t mean he won’t. Men love to tell us pretty things when all along it’s a trap.

“Now, is there anything else you would like to discuss regarding yesterday?”

I shake my head.

“Good, but just one more thing.” He brings his face an inch from mine. “Do not run off and cry on your own again.”

I say nothing.

“I mean it, Elf. You stood there, my own damn dragon at your back, ready to fight me, and I couldn’t get to you because you protected him.”

He takes a deep breath.

“And though one side of me is filled with pride that you would protect my dragon, even from me, the other half of me wanted to rip him away to stop your tears from falling.” He growls. “Do not do that to me again, understand?”

I nod, warmth filling me.

Escor, however, growls at Rohan, bashing his tail against him.

“Drogonah is agitated,” Rohan says casually. “Don’t make me have him teach you a lesson, Escor.” The dragon grumbles at my back.

“Leave us.” There’s a pause, then Escor stands, bumping his head gently against mine before he walks over to his bed. “Now,” I’m grabbed and pulled into his lap. “No more tears.”

I look up at him and nod. “I’ll try.” I cry so much it’s a wonder I have any left.

“That will do for now.”

“Shall I start my chores?” I look up at the light shining through the opening. “It’s morning now.”

“It can wait. Winter’s end is approaching and things have changed.”

They have?

“How much do you know about dragonkind?”

I shake my head at the change of topic. It’s hard to think as he grabs the end of my braid and starts undoing it. “All I know is what I’ve overheard.”

“Which could be full of half-truths and lies.” He nods. “I will teach you as much as I can before The Games. It’s a dishonor against me if you don’t know your dragonkind.”

So I don’t embarrass him. I huff, and he smirks.

“The Games will begin in a matter of weeks. They’re deadly, and not all will make it out alive, dragon or other.”

I nod, swallowing, already knowing that much.

“The selection is chosen at random mostly, but it can be anyone in a clan, and the clan leader always participates. The leader also chooses a selection of three to five people to take with him. You will train as best as you can to prepare yourself.”

“I’m going?”

“It wasn’t originally planned, but The Games give us an opportunity we cannot miss. You will see dragons in your time here, but not as many as in The Games, which will give us an advantage as every clan dragon has to attend.”

“Every one of them?” I look around at the dragons, and then to Escor.

“Yes.” He guides my face back to him and undoes the other braid.

“Which gives us a chance to find out who is helping take the eggs.” That makes sense.

“You will participate, but I’ll keep you safe.

You’ll need to keep your hood up and have your ears covered by your hair at all times.

” I nod, fingers trembling. “No one can find out you’re an elf.

” His eyes bore into mine. “If they do, it won’t end well. ”

“Maybe I should stay here then?”

He shakes his head slowly. “If that were an option, you would stay here in my cabin, waiting for my return.” I go to ask what he means but he continues.

“You will need to know all about dragons as they each have their own skill set for The Games. I have a book you can read as many times as it takes until you know them all. I don’t know what you’ve overheard, but I will be teaching you as if you are a child about the matters of dragons and The Games. ”

“But—”

“First lesson on dragons,” he cuts me off, and stands.

The dragons around us unfurl and disperse, stretching out their wings.

Rohan begins to place stones in front of each bed.

“Dragons breed with each other, but for the most part, they stick to their own kind. Drogonah here is called a Tenebri dragon, the largest of his kind. They’re known for being dark as night, giving them the ability to blend into the night sky.

Therefore, never fight a Tenebri dragon at night, you will lose. ”

“Then Escor is also a Tenebri?” The dragon rumbles in his bed behind me.

He nods. “Correct, although Tenebri dragons don’t hatch too often.”

That makes sense. I’ve mostly seen shades of greens or blues in the sky.

“Is he Drogonah’s… child? Is that what they call them?” I ask, ignoring the thought of being near The Games. In The Games. A part of The Games.

Rohan lets loose a deep chuckle. “A hatchling, and no, Drogonah hasn’t mated, not that female dragons haven’t tried.” He looks back at the larger dragon who huffs and turns his head away.