The drakens cheered as D’Arcy’s son thumped Benedict’s brother on the back, but he didn’t look thrilled with having to share his time with another draken. I sighed heavily.
“You will let me meet them first at dinner, won’t you? I also insist on going to the dining hall, instead of in my rooms. I’m tired of looking at those same walls all the time.”
Benedict shot me a look. I sat back down, frowning as I realized who I hadn’t yet seen.
“Where’s Kieran and Ronan? Why aren’t they here?”
Benedict refused to meet my gaze, and anger throbbed through my body.
“What did you do?” I demanded. Benedict grabbed my arm, yanking me close to him.
“Not here.”
I tried in vain to get his scent out of my mind, to quit staring at his muscles as he held me close. I shook my head.
“They almost killed you, Wren. I had to ensure such a mistake wouldn’t happen again.” There was burning fire in his eyes, the kind that dried my mouth and left me gaping at him.
“I...I thought you hated me,” I managed, struggling to keep my voice steady. His mouth opened, then closed again.
“Correction. I hate how helpless and weak you act, when we both know deep down, you’re just like me. You willingly drank my blood, then got turned on by it, so call me intrigued. Why else would you stab me?”
My eyes narrowed.
“I’ll do it again if you piss me off.”
One of his dark eyebrows lifted. “Promise?”
I bent to hide my flaming face, and he laughed. For the first time, it lacked any mocking tone or anger.
“Are they at least alright?”
Something flared in Benedict’s eyes, despite his continual insistence that it wasn’t jealousy.
“I promise that they're fine. I will even take you for a visit later this evening.”
I wrapped my small hand around his forearm.
“Come; I will escort you back so we may change for dinner.”
His offered arm was such a small thing, but it felt as though we’d just climbed a mountain together.
I know you aren’t like that.
Who was he to say what I was like? It was odd, this feeling of someone believing in you.
“Dinner, then my boys.”
He twitched but nodded.
“As you wish.”
I decided to be a bit more daring for dinner, choosing a midnight blue dress that ended right at my knees, but no breeches on underneath. With my leather boots on, I didn’t feel like it was as revealing as it could have been, and I still wore an underskirt to protect my modesty. I would have to ask Benedict about ordering some proper clothes at some point. I wasn’t sure if he was serious about taking me to the dining hall, but an hour later he was waiting patiently in my sitting room, one arm outstretched. I grasped it, looking up at him. His hair was combed and re-braided, and he wore a black leather vest. A golden chain dangled from his chest, pointing to the dark tattoos that snaked along his upper body. His eyes met mine, and for a moment nothing else mattered when he looked at me like that; our eyes locked, and the feel of my fingers tightening around his forearm. Then he looked away, and the moment passed.
We appeared directly on the raised dais in the entrance hall, an incredibly dramatic entrance that ensured everyone stopped what they were doing to look at us. Just like my first night here, tables lined the edges and were laden with food. I ripped my arm from Benedict in embarrassment, and he chuckled darkly.
“Was that necessary?” I hissed at him, annoyed that he wore a self-satisfied smirk on his face.
“Yes,” He replied simply.
“Ah good, you got her to a dinner! Excellent!” D’Arcy was next to us in a whirl of his silver tunic, bowing to me. He put his hand out towards mine but withdrew when Benedict growled at him. I turned towards him, exasperated.
“How am I to mingle if you bite everyone who comes near me?” I pointed out.
“You don’t need to mingle with my uncle.” I whipped back to stare at D’Arcy, remembering how Benedict had mentioned he was his remaining few blood relatives. It made sense physically: they both shared the same dark, purple coloring, though Benedict’s was on his upper body, and D’Arcy’s on his lower. I also knew D’Arcy could move through the shadows like Benedict. Didn’t he say it was a blood talent? D’Arcy leaned forward again, offering his hand.
“Come my dear, your winners await your presence.”
I allowed myself to be led away, even though it was obvious Benedict let me go against his will. D’Arcy steered me to one of many long tables lining the edges of the room, set with food and small benches. We headed straight for two drakens, who immediately dropped their food when they saw me approaching, one even tripping over his stool in his haste. I fought to keep a straight face as D’Arcy snarled at him.
“Sabien, Bair, may I present Wren?”
I bowed my head, as each of them took my hand and kissed it reverently. Sabien was the spitting image of D’Arcy, from his lanky build and scale coloring to the long, blonde hair. His eyes were different though; instead of D’Arcy’s cornflower blue, they were the same dazzling turquoise of his wings.
“Sabien is my son, of course. Bair is Benedict’s younger brother.” Sabien practically fell over himself in his effort to charm me, though Bair’s dark gaze watched me with more caution. My eyes widened; Benedict had a brother? It was easy to see the resemblance; Bair shared Benedict’s dark coloring and build, though he wasn’t as large as his older brother. Instead of the bright purple of Benedict’s eyes, Bair’s were more of a mix between indigo and dark blue.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I began. “May I sit with you?” They nodded, and I allowed D’Arcy to assist me onto the bench.
After he left, I turned conspiratorially
