Fire Bride
Page 13
But the tradition of battling for first rites? The old lords say that it is necessary. It does not matter that I saved Isla. Today, I will enjoy no favor as I battle for her.
And battle I will. I rise from my bed and go to the wash basin. I dip my hands in the water, watching as steam curls around them. My blood is fevered. I can barely stand still. I splash my face and the droplets instantly evaporate from my fevered skin. I am famished. I need to eat.
There is already a feast laid out when I arrive, thanks to my mother. She is here with our fathers, who are already seated at the table with my brothers. Zyviss glares at me from over a whole suckling pig. Beside him, Jayx is starting on his second peafowl, the first reduced to a heap of bones. Even though there is no blaze in the great stone fireplace, sweat beads on their brows.
We are all heat and appetite, and on this morning only communicate with glares and glowers. I take a seat and begin reaching for food. When I grab for a beef joint, Jayx tries to snatch it away first even though his plate is full. Our eyes meet and his flame with competitive rage. I pull the meat away from him and then grab a second piece with my other hand, wordlessly daring him to try and take it.
“My boys have such appetites this morning.” Our mother enters the room. She is aging slowly and gracefully, but still retains the beauty that my father first noticed when he snatched her from the Altar Rock of her village. Will I win that same right today? I want to, more than anything.
“Good morning, mother,” I say, grateful for the diversion. Even the inner dragons so desperate to emerge and fight are no match for maternal authority. Her presence has a calming effect. Zyviss and Jayx greet her as well.
“I have missed feeding you,” she says, settling at the head of the table. Her mouth quirks into a smile. “I’d also forgotten how much you eat. The appetites of your fathers have slowed, but don’t tell them I told you so.”
“Where are they?” Jayx asks.
“Already on the wall,” she says. “Already arguing over who will win today.”
“Why do they argue over something with so obvious an answer?” Zyviss tosses aside a freshly cleaned bone. “Of course, I’ll win. By this time tomorrow, I’ll have quenched the fire burning between the legs of our flame-haired beauty.” He smiles confidently.
“You?” Jayx scoffs. “Isla requires a skilled hand to guide her to the paths of pleasure, and I have more skill than all of you combined.”
I know I shouldn’t take the bait, but I can’t help it. “Little brother, just because you have sheathed your lance in the slick scabbard of every household maid in the empire doesn’t mean you are skilled in the art of loving, only the art of rutting.” I fix both my brothers with a hard stare. “I’ll see you both dashed on the rocks before you touch Isla.”
“You’ll see nothing!” Jayx is on his feet. His eyes burn gold. I stand too and lift a goblet, flinging it to the side. Fury pounds in my ears and I am aware of Zyviss’s chair falling over backwards as he rises as well.
“SIT!” Our mother’s voice is like a dash of cold water thrown in our faces. “Sit,” she says again. Her arms are crossed. We obey.
“I did not come all this way to see you fight before your time. I came to advise you in the hopes that what I have to say will be remembered after this battle.” She looks from one of us to the other. “There will only be one victor today. There will be two losers. One of you will take Isla to your bedchamber tonight. Two of you will seek your lonely beds. One of you will face another night of aching need. Another will face two. But you will all eventually have your time with this woman. And as a Drakoryan mate, let me tell that it is not your body, nor even your heart that should lead this dance. Follow your heads, my sons, not your cocks. There is more sex between a woman’s ears than between her legs.
“Your little virgin survived for days in a well,” our mother continues. “She is strong willed, and strong-minded. Embrace the all of her; as you seek to teach, make yourself a pupil of her passion. Do this, and she will willingly embrace you in return. Do this, and pave the way for the Deepening, and with it the kind of bond you will all need to carry you through these dark times.”
Her words are sobering. Our focus on Isla has nearly made us forget why we’re being allowed to take her now. War is coming. The ShadowFell who burned the villages of Kenrick and Branlock are nearly all awake, and were enraged to discover the other villages they’d planned to sack abandoned. By now they must know the villagers have been relocated to live under the protection of the Drakoryan empire. How long before they bring the fight here?
“Our fathers expect the War Council to be called any day,” I remark grimly, drawing glances from my brothers. I know this worries all of us. There will be no time for the wooing of our mate. We will need to act quickly. King Vikurcis will expect all lords to travel to his castle. He will not allow delays, not even for a mating. If anything, the prospect of being called away increases the competitive drive we feel.
My brothers and I have fallen quiet again. The tension feels as thick as the brown bread we eat with our meat. We turn our energy to our food, feeding ravenously, the line between human and dragon as thin as a membrane.
The food is exhausted all too quickly. So is the time for waiting. My mother rises. We stand in deference and watch her leave. She is going to fetch Isla, to take her to the flanking wall where she will join our mother and fathers to watch us battle for first rites.
When our mother leaves, my brothers and I stand alone at the table. The room is filled now with the sound of breathing which grows more ragged by the second. I can feel sweat pouring down my face. I can feel my heart bursting with the desire to fly and fight. My brothers feel it too. We turn and leave out different doors. When we next confront one another, it will be as dragons.
I hope you enjoyed this excerpt of War Bride, the upcoming third book in this series. You can pre-order this title HERE prior to the April 20 release date, or order afterwards at the same link.
Did you read the first book in this series? Lyla’s story began Sacrifice, available HERE
For standalone book set in the Drakoryan Empire that features Syrene’s backstory, check out Night of the Drakoryans. You can preorder this title HERE before the March 28 release date, or afterwards at the same link.
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Ava Sinclair has been making up stories longer than she can remember. She prides herself on crafting sexy books for smart women who want it all—strong characterization, imaginative world-building, engaging plot, and steamy sex.
For a full look at her varied backlist, visit her Web site at www.avasinclairauthor.com
Chapter 17