Nollie didn’t say anything as I started to cook, and I lost myself in the mindless task. Besides riding Aura, it was the only thing I enjoyed doing.
It brought me back to my childhood. Having no parents, I had to learn early to fend for myself. Jaxs was the only person who talked to me prior to the Vargothi—before I fought, the entire village was convinced I was an outcast, that I wasn’t drakin. It wasn’t until my Vinculum manifested that the rumors were finally put to rest. Everyone knew exactly where they came from, except for me.
I didn’t say anything else as I started cutting into the vegetables, and Nollie didn’t either, but I could feel her watching me.
“It’s ready,” I called, setting two bowls onto the table. Steam wafted around the kitchen, filling the air with the scent of spices.
I watched as she dragged herself from the sofa and sat down at the kitchen table before I realized I needed to do the same.
She filled a spoonful, pulling some carrots and potatoes into her mouth, and moaned. “It’s delicious. What is it?”
“It’s a boil,” I said, trying my best to ignore the sounds she was making, focusing on my own serving.
“There’s no meat in here,” she said after two more bites.
“I know.” I rolled my shoulders. “I left it out. You never ate any during the dinners with Elion, and you didn’t touch the dried meat I prepared…” My voice trailed off once I realized she set her spoon down and was staring at me, her mouth hanging open.
“I can quickly add some to the recipe,” I added. I would prefer it. I loved meat and the flavors weren’t the same without it. “It won’t take long.”
“No, no—this is perfect.” She picked her spoonback up. “Thank you.”
“Are you cold?”I asked. “I can start a fire.”
The cabin was warm, but somehow Nollie always wanted more heat. Ever since I brought her here, I barely saw her without a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, and even at Elion’s castle, she opted for clothing that didn’t quite fit the season.
“Yes, thank you.”
She grabbed the woven blanket that was draped over the sofa before sinking into the cushions.
I bent over the fireplace, stifling a wince as it pulled at my back. Elion was furious when he found out Nollie was gone. He didn’t want anyone knowing that she slipped through his fingers, so he made my punishment private. But those were always worse than public ones. He didn’t have to stop at ten lashes. He could do whatever the fuck he wanted.
“Where does Aura go when you’re apart?” she asked.
I turned to look at her just as the flames sparked to life.
“The dragon grounds are close to MonClem,” I said, walking toward the opposite end of the sofa. I knew I should leave, I shouldn’t sit down. I checked on her, I fed her, and now I needed to get the hell out of here. “She normally goes there, but she’s by one of the northern peaks while I’m here.”
“Can you not be far away from her?” she asked.
“Distance doesn’t affect anything for us.”
“Really?”
“Riders that have the Nullus bond tend to not separate as much,” I told her, knowing that Aura and I only could because of our Plenus. I had my own magic, separate from being able to use hers. She permanently gave me a piece of it during the formation of our bond, and although the pull to hers was still there, Aura gave me more than enough that I rarely had to use it.
“That’s because the rider can only use the dragon’s magic while with their dragon for the Nullus, right?”
I nodded.
“So why is Aura staying close?”
“In case I need to get back to the castle.”
“How does it work?”
“How doeswhatwork?”
“Everything. The bond. Can you talk to each other?”
