Crunching my nose, I battle to keep my top lip steady. “Only because you have suchimpeccablemanners.”
I pull the last of Zykanth’s essence into the shell of my chest, and my tail splits, bones solidifying, joints bending. The last of my scales peel inward as I dig freshly formed toes into the grooves of the rock, grip hold, and lug myself free from the ocean’s secure embrace.
Unfurling before Rhordyn, I look down on him, brow raised, manhood hanging heavy between my bare legs.
“Put the shorts on.” He tosses a wad of material at my chest, and I let it fall to the rock.
“Intimidated?”
He doesn’t answer. Simply crosses his arms.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Bending, I hold his stare as I retrieve the pants. “Can’t have that now, can we?”
I step into them, button up, and pocket my hands.
The moon breaks through the clouds, casting a beam of silver light upon us while we marinate in a stretch of silence that goes on and on and—
“You going to talk,bruák?Or are we just going to stand here watching each other?”
No answer.
“Guessing game it is. Let me see; surly frown, those creepy eyes ...” I let my gaze drag down his body, and Zykanth ricochets off my ribs as I notice a bulge in Rhordyn’s left pocket.
‘Treasssure,’ Zyke trills, tapping his essence around the confines of the mysterious object.
I quickly avert my line of sight, drawing a couple of long sniffs.
“The reek of rage that tells me if it weren’t for”—I wave a hand at the silver scrawl peeking above his collar—”allthatunder there, I’d be bleeding out at your feet.” Shrugging, I drawl, “Another notch in your belt.”
Rhordyn steps forward, putting us almost eye to eye, and I push my shoulders back.
“That was an accident. A casualty of war.”
Zyke pauses, and I have to lock my spine as he slams against my ribs and lungs and heart, straining my next breath.
“If it makes you sleep better at night, keep telling yourself that.” I look down ... up again. “What’s in your pocket?”
The question lures my drake back to his previous mission of surveying the shape and size of the curious item while Rhordyn’s features harden.
“You think I sleep, Malikai?”
“Hope not. I hope you can’t close your eyes without wanting to gouge your own brain out.” I feign a yawn, dragging it out before I continue. “Come to think of it, perhaps that’sexactlywhat you should do. I wouldn’t mind watching blood dribble from your eyes and your mouth and your fucking ears.”
Just likeher.
“Asha was my friend, too.”
Behind me, the ocean stills.
Listens.
“She was more than just myfriend.Did you know she was the last female?”
His eyes widen; the slightest tell that’s oh so telling, gone the very next second.
“I’ll take that as a no.” Kneeling, I pluck a shard of rock off the ground, inspecting its cutting edges before pushing to my feet, gaze catching on his pocket again. A momentary lapse I try to hide by flinging the stone, watching it skim across the water’s surface. “You doomed the fate of my entire species with that blow.”
Casualty of war ...
