Читать книгу Everlasting Bad Boys - Cynthia Eden - Страница 13

It took her several hours to groom the horse to her particular standards. In the time it took her to do one, Ailean and the stable hands had done all the others. And while she groomed the horse, her puppy ran around and around until he’d drop wherever and sleep. Only to snap awake a little while later and do it all over again.

In all honesty, Shalin had never been so entertained before while doing absolutely nothing. She and Ailean never really spoke unless they asked each other specific questions, and yet she thoroughly enjoyed his company.

“You doing all right over here?”

She smiled as she ran the brush through Nightmare’s mane, yet again. It took her hours to get all the brambles and things out of it, but it was worth it. “Aye.”

“It shines.”

She patted the horse’s neck. “As it should.”

Ailean pulled open the stall door. “You missed dinner.”

Surprised, Shalin looked up. “I missed dinner?”

He nodded. “You’ve been out here hours. Didn’t you notice you’re the only one left in here?”

“I guess I missed that.” Her fingers slid easily through the horse’s mane. “Such a simple task and yet so…soothing.”

“Are you hungry, Shalin?”

“I am.”

“Then come. Madenn has food for you.”

Shalin stroked Nightmare’s forelock, which fell across his forehead. “He’s a fine horse, Ailean.”

“He’s your horse now.” When Shalin only stared at him, Ailean shrugged. “No one else can handle him, Shalin. No one else wants him. I tried to sell him once and he nearly bit the man’s hand off. You are the only being who has ever been able to get this close to him. He’s chosen you, so you might as well accept it.”

“I can’t take your horse.”

“He’s not my horse. He hates me. He’s always hated me. And to be honest, I hate him, too. It’s a mutual hate.”

“I don’t understand you.”

“You sound like my kin. They never know what to make of me, either.” He held his hand out. “Come on, then. He’ll still be here in the morning.”

Shalin nodded and patted the horse’s neck. As she walked out, the puppy charged past her and out of the stables.

“Where does he disappear to?”

“To play with his brothers and sisters. He’ll return when there’s food.”

Ailean locked the stall door, and together they walked out of the stables.

“The rains stopped,” she said, feeling the need to say something.

“Hours ago. You really do get lost in what you’re doing, don’t you?”

He didn’t sound mocking, merely curious. “There’s always noise and such at Devenallt. In order to get any work done, I’ve had to teach myself to shut it all out. To focus only on what’s important.”

“That’s a fine skill. No wonder you handle my family so well. You simply ignore them.”

Shalin laughed. “If it works. But I’m sure you have the skill. When you’re in battle.”

“In battle I become aware of everything. I can’t afford to shut anything out except my own fear.”

“You don’t seem afraid of anything, Ailean.”

“I have fear. Anyone with sense has fear. You simply have to focus it where it’ll do the most good.”

“That first night we were here, your kin talked of going to Devenallt Mountain.”

“They did.”

“To—if I remember correctly—raid it.”

“Aye. That was what we in the family call a Twin Battle Plan.” At Shalin’s frown, Ailean elaborated. “Anything that requires us to go into the most impenetrable fortresses in the land and kill everyone not friend is called a Twin Battle Plan. Because the twins are usually the ones who suggest it.”

“There’s a reason they’ve never been invited to Devenallt Mountain, isn’t there?”

They paused at the steps leading into the Great Hall. “The Twins make the royals nervous. They’re short on temper and long on bloodlust. The royals want them to fight their battles but they live in fear of having them around. Since my cousins care nothing for politics, they stay away. It makes no difference to them.”

“Does anyone among your kin care about politics?”

“Only Bideven. But only enough to help when any of us get into trouble.”

“And you?” she asked, smiling up at him. “Do you care about politics?”

“Not even a little.” Big fingers brushed across her cheek. “Dirt,” he explained.

With a nod, Shalin walked into the Great Hall, desperately trying to ignore the way her skin tingled where Ailean had touched her.

Ailean paced the length of his room again. Since he’d knocked the wall out of three rooms to create it, this was no short trip.

For two hours he’d tried to sleep. For two hours he’d tossed and turned and masturbated until he feared his hand would fall off. Yet nothing could alleviate the burning, clawing need he had at the moment.

And Ailean wished with all his heart that this need was merely sexual. That all he wanted from Shalin lay between her thighs. But he wanted more than that. He wanted to sit and talk to her again. He’d never been so at ease with anyone not blood, and he never had to yell over her to be heard. She listened to him and that meant more than anyone could realize.

“This is ridiculous,” he told the air. “I’m a grown dragon. I can do as I like.” And they would only talk. Like they had the night before.

Confident in his intent, Ailean stormed to the door, snatching it open—and froze.

“Good evening, brother,” Arranz said calmly. He sat in a chair just outside Ailean’s room, cleaning his weapons.

“What are you doing?”

“Just…keeping watch.”

“Keeping watch outside my room?”

“This hallway, brother. Danger is everywhere. Even you. You’re in danger, too, Ailean. We have to be ever vigilant with you as well as Shalin.” Arranz looked at his brother, all innocence and naïveté, which Ailean knew for a fact was nothing more than centaur shit. “But Ailean, where are you off to so late? Is there something you need, brother? Something I can get you?”

Ailean’s eyes narrowed and Arranz grinned.

“You have money on this, don’t you?”

Arranz went back to wiping his weapon down. “How you think of me, brother. As if I’d bet hard-earned gold on something like this.”

Snarling, Ailean stepped back into his room and slammed the door shut. He hated his kin.

Hated. Them.

Shalin jumped when a door slammed. Biting her lip, she charged across the room, sliding to a stop in front of her own door and placing her ear against it. She listened but could hear nothing that would lead her to believe Ailean made his way to her room.

Damn the gods! Why were they torturing her so? Putting her in arm’s length of her greatest desire but keeping it just out of reach.

And the gods did not give her the kind of bravery that would allow her to march out of her room, down that hall, and to Ailean’s chamber. To demand he take what she offered.

Instead she waited in her room like a frightened mouse, hoping someone would put the cheese before her.

Gritting her teeth, Shalin paced back to the window, the puppy stumbling behind her.

Would her life always be this unfair? This brutally cruel? Would she ever get what she truly wanted or would she always yearn for what she could never have?

“Do the gods have some vendetta against me, little one?” she asked as she picked up her puppy and held him close. “Some vendetta against my ancestors that I’m unaware of? Or do they simply enjoy toying with me?”

Since Shalin came from a most boring line of dragons, she felt quite confident that the gods merely toyed with her.

“Bastards,” she muttered before heading to her bed.