Page 43 of Upon Buried Embers (Upon Buried Embers #1)

I secretly love it. I feel so protected and cared for as the mighty Dragonbond walks with me on his feet.

I’m sure no one would believe me if I told them.

He gently guides me to the table, and once seated on a cushion, he sits behind me, legs on either side, detangling my hair in silence.

We do that a lot lately, sitting in silence.

“Eat.”

I drink the broth slowly, letting the feel of his hands in my hair soothe me. He adds more broth when I’m done, bringing the bowl back to my lips. I oblige him because I think he needs it with the worry I sense in him.

To see me eat, to rest, to be warm.

He really won’t leave me alone, and to be honest, he hasn’t stopped pestering me with anything that I want or need, which has never happened to me before. It makes me nervous.

A shadow passes by one of the windows.

“Who is that?” It’s my first question in days, unsure what to say to him, or if he’s still angry with me.

“Alter.”

“What? Why is he here?”

“They all are.” I turn, looking up at Rohan. “They have all been waiting outside the cabin.”

His dragons have been waiting for me?

“But, why?”

“Because you were sick,” his jaw tics. “Because it was my fault and every time I leave they don’t let me forget it.”

“What do you…” I trail off when I notice a wound on his arm. It’s round, puncture holes surrounding it and blood still drips from them. “What…”

“Escor.” He shrugs. “I deserved it.”

“You let him bite you?!”

“It’s a scratch.”

“It will scar!” I turn and rise onto my knees to look at it closer. Rohan lifts my wrist to his mouth. “It will be a reminder.”

“Of what?”

“Of how I failed you.”

My hand stills on his arm, and I sit back on my haunches, staring up at him.

“I fell. You were nowhere near me.” I shake my head. “I couldn’t see.”

“And you wouldn’t have been out there if it wasn’t for me. ” He drops my wrist and places it gently on my legs. “And your wrist isn’t the only thing I’m talking about, so cut the falling bullshit.”

I avert my eyes, biting my lip until Rohan pulls the skin free.

“Tell me what’s on your mind.”

“Will you get angry?”

He takes a breath. “I won’t get angry. Not at you. Never at you again.”

I run my hand over the bandage, feeling the wooden splint beneath. The many times I did this to myself after a bad day with Master, when he would be really furious with me and then leave me in the barn…

I shake my head, banishing the thoughts.

“What did I do?” I ask, still looking down. “You were… different, and I tried to make it better but I just made it worse, didn’t I?”

He doesn’t say anything for a moment, and then he gets up and goes over to a chest before coming back, sitting in the same position, legs on either side of me.

Though this time, he holds the braided piece of hair.

“This hair on Drogonah’s reins belonged to my Mother.” My head snaps up, but Rohan doesn’t look at me. “When our people die, we cut their braids and it’s given to the family. A remembrance, a protection. I put them on Drogonah’s reins to protect us both, it’s all we have left of her.”

I lift my hands up to my mouth. “I… washed it… re-braided it. Oh Gods.”

I… I did that.

Rohan takes my hands in his, keeping the hair between us. “You didn’t know.”

“I did though. You told me not to, but I didn’t know who it belonged to. I promise. I thought I was helping. I’m so sorry, I heard that…”

“Heard what?” He asks, tone sharp.

“I heard that you would be thankful to have it done, I was trying to not make you angry anymore…I would never…”

He sighs before shaking his head. “There’s a reason why the rule is to never touch it, everyone knows this.”

“I know…I was stupid. They just said—”

“Who?”

I look up at him, war with myself on what to tell him, until eventually I go with honesty.

“I heard Beau and Darcia talking about it in the saddle room, but maybe I overheard them wrong.”

His eyes sharpen. “They know full well of my rules and they will be dealt with.”

“But…” She will hurt me more.

“No buts, it’s our way. They know that anything of Drogonah’s isn’t to be touched.”

I deflate, but nod.

“Are they the ones who hurt you?”

I startle. “What?”

“The bruises.” He cracks his neck and takes a deep breath. “Are they the ones?”

My heart hammers in my chest. So he did see…

I can’t tell him. He isn’t going to believe an elf over his people. And I don’t expect him to. I never expect anyone to because they never do.

Begging Master, telling him that I couldn’t take it anymore. That what happened went far beyond what they paid for. That they broke my body every time.

He didn’t believe me.

Or didn’t care.

If I tell Rohan, and he thinks I’m lying, he will be mad at me again, and I don’t want him mad at me, and then I’ll be in trouble and…

I slowly shake my head.

His nostrils flare, and he looks away for a moment, the air stifling.

“I understand you feel like you can’t trust me after what I did, but you will tell me one day. I’m already punishing the clan for it and looking for the one responsible.”

“W-what?” My eyes widen, heart hammering. “What do you mean?”

“No one owned up to it, to what they did to you and I know it’s one of my people, Elf. So they all are to train one-on-one with me until you tell me.”

“But no one can beat you.”

His tone is deadly. “Exactly.”

I war with myself on what to do.

I don’t want to put a bigger target on my back, but if the whole clan is being punished…

Rohan grabs my chin gently. “I’ll wait for your answer.”

I nod.

“Am I to stay here?”

His eyes sharpen. “This is the only place you belong.”

I bite my lip. “Are you not angry with me anymore?”

“I’m not angry with you, Little Whisperer.”

I purse my lips. Then why did he treat me so coldly, like I didn’t exist? I understand the braid now but everything that happened before?

He lifts my chin, thumb stroking my cheek.

“Dragorie pride themselves in strength, and it’s you who makes me weak.” My breath catches. “But I don’t seem to care anymore, and that is trouble for us all.”