Page 36 of Ravaged From Fate

“Where did you learn to fight like that?” I ask him. “The way you do in the ring? That shit’s learned behavior.”

“You really want to know?”

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t have the best childhood growing up,” he says quietly. “Mom had… issues. Basically, I had to fight to survive. Fighting is where I get the aggression out, and I’ve had a lot of practice over the years. That, and drumming.”

My ears prick up. “You’re a drummer?”

I did not suspect this in the slightest.

Caspian’s cheeks turn a bright shade of red. It seems like he wasn’t supposed to reveal that little piece of juicy fact about himself. Well, now he has, and I’m going to exploit it for all its worth.

“I was.”

“You don’t play anymore?”

Somehow, I can imagine Caspian and his gigantic frame behind a drum kit, smashing away at some rock song. It’s a sexy picture if I’m being totally honest. Those tattoos, covered in sweat, as he puts all his focus on making some big sound. His dark eyes locked with passion and exertion. It’s a raw image that I lock away. Save that for later.

“I stopped just before I came to East Springs.”

“And you’ve played it since being a kid?”

“Yep.”

“You must be good.” Oh, that juicy image is getting clearer by the minute.

“I’d like to think so.”

“Does your mom approve of your drumming?” I ask.

“She’s passed.”

I turn to him. “Oh, I’m sorry…”

“Don’t worry,” he says. “It was some time ago.”

“And your dad?”

“He left before I was even born.”

Elsa! You’ve put your foot in your mouth twice in record time, you silly woman.

“Shit. Sorry.”

Caspian smirks. “Really, don’t worry about it. I’ve gotten over it a long time ago.”

I think of baby Caspian. Alone. With a mother with issues and a nonexistent father.

“Did your mom like you playing drums, then?”

He smirks again. “She had to bear it. I wasn’t going to give up.”

“You like music then?”

“Learning to play the drums was the best thing to ever happen to me,” he whispers. “I love music. Whenever things got bad with Mom… whenever I wanted to escape from the world, I knew I could always crawl into my bedroom, shut the door, and bang on that drum set until all my fears simply melted away.”

“I like that,” I say. “I like people with a passion.