Page 73 of Ignite the Infernos

“And?” he counters.

“Is that not a good enough reason?” I question, unease displacing the comfort that was settling between us.

“It is, but is it the entire reason?” he presses.

Understanding breaks through my puzzlement like spring ephemerals through snow, and I sigh. “I was with you because I wanted to be with you. And because Lorn had just explained to me how dangerous an unrecognized bond could be. I didn’t want something like that to happen to either one of us in case . . .”

“In case what?” he demands, like he already knows but needs to hear me confirm it.

I shake my head, annoyed by this sudden line of questioning. “In case we were separated,” I finish, knowing no good is going to come from this conversation and suspecting that’s the entire point of it.

“And completing the bond?” he queries. “You’ve brought it up twice now. Is it because you can’t wait to be bonded in full, or is that decision strategic too?”

His eyes are angry and his mouth is pressed into a firm line, as though I wasn’t just kissing those lips minutes ago and feeding him pieces of my soul while doing it.

“Why can’t it be both?” I defend. “Why can’t I want you and also recognize the strategic importance of our connection?”

Aeson shakes his head and moves to stand up, unseating me from his lap. He calls his scale armor and hurries to put distance between us, but I don’t move and I don’t cover myself.

“Because how will I ever know which you want more?” he growls. “Do you want me, Ever, or are you simply making the most of the hand you were dealt?”

“Why are you doing this? You were inside me less than five minutes ago. My cum is still drying on your dick, and you want to pick a fight. Why did you fuck me if this is how you feel about me?”

“I hoped it would knock down the last of the walls between us and you’d stop hiding things from me,” he snaps.

“Oh, that’s rich coming from you, Noctis. Want to tell me what you know about the fae hiding in Drameric? Why has no one asked me anything else about that little revelation? Or what’s happening with the Fae Gate? I’ve certainly been kept out of the loop on that too. I know you’ve been monitoring the nobles since my Naming—what’s come of that? Any leads on the dragons that murdered my family?”

Aeson’s scowl darkens with each question.

I huff out a hollow laugh. “Pot meet fucking kettle, amirite?”

Aeson strides for the door. “I’m going out for a glide.”

“You do that! Oh, and warn me the next time you want to fuck my secrets out of me; I’ll be sure to do the same right back!” I shout after him as he leaves.

Silence stretches through the room, and it sets my teeth on edge. I sit back down in the chair and drop my head into my hands. Why? Why is it always like this between us? I’m genuinely trying to figure this out, trying to let him in. So why does it feel like every time I do, he punishes me for not slicing myself open and bleeding out for him. It’s maddening.

The massive bedroom stretches out before me, and all of a sudden it feels so…empty. Is this what my future holds, me chasing after someone who has no intention of understanding me? How many empty rooms will I bear witness to in one lifetime?

Angry, I rise from the chair and head back to the bathroom to get cleaned up. Well, fuck Aeson and his endless demands. I’m not alone, and it’s high time he sees that for himself.

Chapter 32

Aeson

“YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING me,” Tove sighs exasperatedly. “Why are you on the floor now?”

I blink against the bright light streaming in through the archways and roll over onto my back so I can squint up at Tove, who’s leaning over me with a peeved look on her face.

“I wanted to see what all the fuss was about,” I rasp, tired and nowhere near ready to wake up and deal with today.

Tove scoffs and looks around. “Where’s your menace of a mate? Don’t tell me you misplaced her already.”

I rub a hand down my face and sit up, abandoning my pillow and the bedding I pulled down with me last night. I glance over at Ever’s makeshift nest of blankets, relieved to see that my cape is still there. Even better, she’s added the other one I told her was a blanket. That’s got to be a good sign, despite the fact that we’re not talking.

Tove offers me a hand up and, begrudgingly, I take it while my affinity gets to work healing the aches and pains of trying to meet Ever where she’s at. I lift my arms above my head and stretch my back and then my neck. Tove stares at me expectantly and I register that she asked me a question.

“She trained with Herm and Chastain again this morning, but she should’ve been back—”