Page 15 of Gate of Chaos


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Sending Keon a snarky memo sounded like a great way to keep Keon feeling like an outsider. “Maybe just a conversation?”

Akoni bumped Auryn with his shoulder. “Tell him that after a difficult training session, at least one of us must be with her due to concerns over what you had previously spoken with him about.”

Auryn rolled his eyes towards Akoni.

Akoni grinned. “I was reared to be a Wyrm. I know something about diplomacy. Occasionally, I even use it.”

“And Keon was trained to be the drake sent to bridge the gap between Lemuria and humanity if it came to that,” Auryn replied. “He knows more than you realize about being diplomatic.”

“Good. Then he will recognize a well-placed smack when it is delivered. Between Mahon’s effort and ours, if this problem persists, it is intentional and we can respond with equally unpleasant intentions.”

I sighed.

Auryn relented and went to go type out the message to Keon. Akoni traded places with him at my side. His bi-colored gaze was concerned, and his touch on the small of my back gentle. I gave him my best puppy dog expression. “I’m fine.”

“I would have come back sooner, but Auryn and I have agreed that if there is an emergency, he is closer and will summon me if necessary. It is not that I did not know or care.”

“So what did you two...know? Can you sense me now? Because nobody told me that the tethers meant we’d be reading each other’s minds.”

Akoni pressed his body along mine. “Of course, in extreme moments, we’re aware of you. That’s how I found you in the dark of the water.”

“Did you feel it when I was in those dragons’ memories?”

“Yes. It feels like you slip away. It’s how we knew Maren nearly killed you. We know when you’re drowning and trying to get back to the surface. It’s why we havenopatience left for Keon.”

“That sounds horrifying,” I whispered. Sure,Iwas the one falling through the cosmos, but having to watch and not be able to do anything about it, or pretend it wasn’t happening (again) because you’ve got a bunch of assistants around or patients to look after sounded like the cosmos hated all of us.

“It’s a small price to pay.”

I drew in a breath. “You know I have to keep doing it, right? I can’t quit. I’m notgoingto quit.”

Unspoken comment:and if I have to drag all of us to hell, guess that’s going to happen. Sorry in advance.

“No one has asked you to quit.”

“Yet.”

“Today is today, and today I am not telling you to quit.”

Seven

Keon was waiting in the main room with Mahon as we all came down the steps. He looked a little unsettled, wearing a regular deep green shendyt and nothing else. The shade of green made his skin seem even more bronze, and illuminated his slightly olive undertone, while at the same time making his blue eyes seem so much brighter and more piercing. He really was like a mossy stone statue in a beautiful jungle.

I released Akoni’s hand and went over to Keon. I tucked myself against him and some part of me sighed contently and tension flowed away. After a heartbeat of hesitation that probably felt longer than it actually was, Keon placed one of his arms around me, his big hand splayed across the small of my back.

I stretched up and kissed him quickly. An intense sparkle flitted over my nerves. “Keon.”

“Helena,” he greeted me in kind, finally smiling. Then, another heartbeat, “Akoni.”

A tiny bit of venom dripped from his voice.

Akoni tilted his head one way, then the other, causing his arrangement of proto-feather hair to rustle and shift. “Keon.”

Then Akoni ducked close. Keon tensed as Akoni’s arm and hip tucked into his other side, creating a little fleshy triangle from the three of us. Akoni cupped my cheek in one hand to turn my face towards his.

Then he kissed me, just on the lips, but lingered over it, drawing a shiver of response up from my bones. His tongue dipped briefly against mine, sending another naughty shiver right through my core.

Keon went absolutely still against me. The hand on the small of my back lifted a millimeter and hovered.

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