Unperturbed, I raised my eyebrows in obvious question. Rohak simply stared, unmoving and nearly unblinking,attempting to stare me into submission. But I refused to back down. I’d known the General long enough and intimately enough that I knew he was hiding something. The man was practically my older brother—in all ways but blood—and I knew, eventually, he’d give in. At least to me.
“You going to tell me what’s going on there, brother?” I asked, breaking the silent stare-off, with a nod of my head in Faylinn’s direction.
“You going to tell me why you were holding her hand,brother?” he grunted and a small smirk coasted across my face.
“Oh, I know what this is,” I almost singsonged and was inordinately pleased when his face began glowing a deep red, even through his naturally tan skin. Ilyas caught the blush and snickered next to me. “You liiiike her.”
Rohak grunted, running his hand through his hair, and Ilyas barked a laugh. Through all the noise and commotion, Faylinn never moved.
“What are we, twelve?” Rohak grumbled, releasing the tension in his posture. “I . . . enjoy her company. And her mouth,” he said, and my eyes nearly popped from my head.
“Did . . . the General just say what I think he said?” Ilyas laughed incredulously. If possible, Rohak’s face turned an even deeper shade of crimson.
A devilish smirk passed over my face at Rohak’s discomfort. He despised discussing anything to do with sex—an area that Ilyas and I both excelled in. It was always fun, riling him this way. Especially when it was over someone he clearly had some type of feelings for.
“That isnotwhat I said.” He hastily retreated, eyes turned toward the ceiling as if begging the gods to give him strength. “I meant I enjoy spending time with her.”
“Uh-huh.” I grinned. “Spendingtimewith her mouth.”
His eyes flashed dangerously at me for a moment. “Don’t talk about her mouth.”
Ilyas’ jaw hung open as he watched the whole interaction with an interested fervor.
“Is it a nice mouth?” I pushed, catching a dangerous glare again. I should stop, but I enjoyed needling him a little too much. “Wet and tight?”
“That’senough,” he barked, and I nearly bit my tongue trying to conceal my laughter. He was just too easy to antagonize about sex.
“What’s enough?” Faylinn’s small voice, a bit woozy from her dissociation, drew all three of our attention, Rohak’s ire disappearing immediately to be replaced by pure concern.
Interesting.So therewassomething that Rohak cared about more than being a General.
“Are you okay?” he asked, coming to squat in front of Faylinn, his hands resting on her blanket-covered knees. She gave a slightly shaky and uncoordinated nod, her gaze flirting over Rohak’s face down to where he touched her before scampering to Ilyas and me standing behind her.
“Hi,” Ilyas called with a cheeky wave before he dropped his hand at Rohak’s murderous expression, though his wide grin remained.
“Hi?” Faylinn asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. “How did I get here?”
“That is a great question,” Rohak agreed, his bright-green eyes finding my own.
I sighed, releasing my own humor in favor of concern for the willowy woman sitting in the chair, huddled beneath the blanket.
“We saw you outside the Academy and we walked with you inside. Though you kind of froze mentally when we entered. So Iguided you here. Rohak told me you both had a meeting of some sort this morning.”
I wonder what kind of meeting . . . was the reticent, celibate Generalfinallygetting laid?I’d have to ask him when he wasn’t so . . . murderous.
“That doesn’t explain why you were holding her hand?” he gritted out, his hands flexing against Faylinn’s knees. Clearly she was just as puzzled by Rohak’s behavior as Ilyas and I were. “And where is Sasori?”
“Sasori had a meeting of her own this morning. I needed some way to guide her through the hallways. Would you have preferred I shove her along? Or perhaps hook her up to a chain at my belt like an animal?” I bit out, uncharacteristically and unnecessarily harsh. I understood Rohak’s concern and was beginning to understand his clear obsession with Faylinn, but the constant fighting with Sasori was exhausting my patience.
As intended, Rohak flinched at my comment. We had a few Mages who chained their Vessels before Rohak finally felt comfortable enough in his position to put an end to the practice—especially after a particularly cruel Mage was killed by his Vessel. She disappeared without a trace, though it was evident she used his own chain against him.
He deserved it, in my opinion.
But Rohak still felt personally guilty for the way many Vessels were treated in his first years as General.
“Sorry, that was uncalled for,” I admitted, and Rohak gave me a slightly jerky nod before shaking his head slightly, likely ridding himself of unwanted memories.
“Thank you, Lex, for guiding her here. I am also sorry for both my behavior this morning and . . . what happened in the training yard the other night. I never meant to hurt you, I just lost control.” The embarrassment, frustration, and self-loathing were written all across Rohak’s face, contrition deep in his voice.
