Reaver expanded his wings, startling me. I leaned back as he stretched out his thin neck and lifted his head.
Nyktos drew up short as a low rumble radiated from Reaver’s chest, and smoke wafted from his nostrils.
Stunned, I stared at the small draken. My gaze flew to Nyktos, then to Nektas, who had started grinning. “Ha!” I exclaimed, reaching down to pat the top of Reaver’s head. “That’s a good Reaver-Butt.”
Reaver hummed as he eyed Nyktos. He made a low, chattering sound.
“Man,” Theon drawled, his mouth twitching as if he foughtand then lost the battle to hold back a laugh. “That’s kind of wrong.”
“It’s the embers,” I guessed. “He’s probably responding to that.”
“No, it’s you.” Nyktos looked at me. “He’s protectingyou.”
I frowned at the back of Reaver’s head. “You’re not going to do anything to me.”
Nyktos sighed. “He knows that, but he’s just letting me know that he doesn’t appreciate me upsetting you.”
I snorted. “Well, he’s going to be busy letting you know that, then.”
Someone, and it sounded like Aios this time, laughed under their breath. Reaver settled beside me, draping his head over my knee again. This time, he didn’t need to nudge my hand. I got to petting him.
“You can stop grinning anytime now,” Nyktos said without looking at Nektas.
“I know,” the draken replied, still smiling.
“We answer his summons,” I said, looking up at Nyktos. “We don’t wait. We take care of that first.”
A muscle ticked in Nyktos’s jaw. “Then we leave within the hour.”
Aios had followed me to my chambers, offering to help pick out the appropriate attire.
“Is what I’m wearing not appropriate?”
“It is.” Her back was to me as she flipped through the garments in the wardrobe.
“But?”
“But Kolis will think you too casual,” she said, and that was the last thing I was worried about him thinking. “And he would see it as disrespectful.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “It seems like he sees many things as disrespectful.”
“He does.” Aios pulled out a deep crimson gown thatErlina had made. I had glanced past it when going through the clothes. Not because it wasn’t beautiful but because I wasn’t sure where or why I would wear something so elegant. “This will do.”
Seizing on irritation instead of focusing on the rapidly building dread, I took the gown and, with Aios’s help, changed into it.
“It’s beautiful on you,” the goddess murmured, toying with the chain around her neck as she stepped back.
“Thank you.” I ran my hands over the velvet and lace. The gown was tailored perfectly, hugging my breasts, loose at the waist, and tight at the hips. There was no fear of falling out of it with the neckline that swept around the back of my neck and draped over one shoulder. A fine layer of lace had been stitched over the bodice and hips, and there were slits on both sides of the skirt, something that had to be the style in Iliseeum and was of benefit to me as I strapped the sheath to my upper thigh.
“You’re so much like Bele,” she remarked. “Stashing weapons here and there.”
“I wish I had more than this.”
“As do I.” She smiled tightly as she glanced at the closed chamber doors. Nyktos had said he’d come for me when it was time. Currently, he remained with the others, going over things for when he was gone. “Hopefully, you won’t be there long enough to worry about any other attire.”
My heart skipped, and I didn’t want to consider the possibility that this wouldn’t be an in-and-out journey. Or the oath Nyktos had made.
Or what terrible things Rhain had spoken of.