Stroke the Flame

17

I pondered this as I made my way back to the clearing, where Jasin had started a small fire in the center. Slade and Reven were tending to the horses, while Auric was studying the map. I got to work skinning the hare, but then Jasin took over cooking duties.

“I’ve got this covered,” he said, with a cocky grin.

“Be my guest,” I said, stepping back.

He pulled out some herbs from his packs and tended to the hare, then strung it up over the fire. I moved my bedroll farther away from the flames, then sank down onto it, remembering the last time I’d traveled like this. Back then I’d been alone and terrified, searching for somewhere safe to lay low for a while. At least now I had four men with me who seemed like they could handle themselves in combat, even without their new powers.

When the food was ready, the others settled in around the fire. I pulled out some of the cheese and fruit from Tash’s mother, while Jasin sliced pieces of the hare and served it to us. The tempting aroma had all of us digging in immediately, and it didn’t disappoint.

“This is really good,” I told Jasin. “Where did you learn to cook?”

“From my mom, but also in the army. You pick up all sorts of skills there. I’m not bad with a sewing needle either. But food is my second love, so I made a point to learn to make some decent meals after choking down the other soldiers’ terrible grub.”

“What’s your first love?” Slade asked.

Jasin smirked. “Women, of course.”

“Of course.” I rolled my eyes, while Slade chuckled and Auric shook his head. Reven just looked bored, which seemed to be normal for him.

Once we finished eating, I leaned back on my bedroll and stretched my aching limbs, feeling exhausted but not yet tired enough to go to sleep. “I’d like to get to know you all a little better. Maybe you can each tell me something about yourselves, like where you’re from, or what your life was like before you met a God.”

“Makes sense,” Jasin said. “Guess we better get to know each other, since we’re going to be bound together for the rest of our lives. Not just Kira, but all of us.”

“Not me,” Reven said, his voice cold.

“What do you mean?” Auric asked.

“I’m not going to be one of you.”

Slade gave him a steely look. “We were selected for a purpose. The Water God chose you for a reason.”

Reven broke a branch in half with a sharp snap. “Then he can choose another.”

“Why are you even here then?” Jasin asked.

“I didn’t have much of a choice,” Reven said. “I couldn’t deny the urge to reach Kira, same as all of you. But as soon as I find a way out of this mess, I’m gone. I have no desire to be a Dragon or to be anyone’s mate.”

Jasin’s eyebrows drew together and he looked furious, and both Auric and Slade looked like they might respond, but I held up a hand.

“It’s fine,” I said. “None of us chose this. I understand if you don’t want to be here. Gods know I don’t want to be a part of this myself.” I glanced between all of them, watching the fire’s glow flicker on their masculine faces. “If there is a way out of this, you’re all welcome to take it. I won’t hold it against you. But at the moment we need to work together to get through this.” I turned to Reven. “Can you do that?”

He gave me a cold look. “For now.”

I supposed that was the best I’d get from him. “This isn’t easy for me either. I never expected to suddenly have four men show up in my village and claim me as their mate, but here we are. Right now we’re all strangers, but I’m hoping we can change that.”

For some time, the only sound was the popping of the fire, but then Slade spoke up. “I’m from Clayridge, a town on the western side of the Earth Realm. Lived there my entire life working as a blacksmith, like my father. Not much more to tell really.”

I was certain that wasn’t true, but I didn’t blame him for not wanting to spill all his secrets to what were effectively a bunch of strangers he’d only met yesterday. At least he was trying.

“Ever been in a fight?” Jasin asked him.

“A few,” Slade replied.

Jasin nodded, and everyone looked to him next. “My turn, I guess.” He gestured at his uniform. “Pretty sure you’ve all guessed what I did before this. I come from a military family actually. Everyone in my family has served at one time or another. Grew up in the Fire Realm, but I’ve been all over as part of the Onyx Army.”

“Are you still loyal to the Black Dragon?” Reven asked, his tone deceptively casual. I instantly tensed, worried the question might cause a problem, even if I’d been wondering the same thing. It was something no one would ever ask out loud, and something no one would ever deny. Of course we were all loyal to the Black Dragon. Everyone was, unless you wished to be cut down by her soldiers or her mates.

Jasin looked caught off guard, but then he stared into the flames with his jaw clenched. “I was, once. Not anymore.”

I wanted to ask him what occurred to make his loyalties shift, but I wasn’t sure now was the time. Was it being chosen by the Fire God? Or did something happen before that?

Auric cleared his throat. “Guess I’ll go next. I’m from Stormhaven. I’m a…scholar, I guess you could say. I have a special interest in history, culture, geography, and religion. All of which might come in handy now, I hope.”

Jasin snorted. “You’re a nobleman. That much is obvious.”