Of Lavender and Ash: The Ascension Rising Series - Book 2 by K. R. Rainbolt

Author:K. R. Rainbolt [Rainbolt, K. R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

Osiris

I watched Fallon stalk away, with Adrian following close behind him. I kept my eyes on them as they disappeared into the trees, towards our home. Even after they were out of sight, I listened to the crunch of snow and fallen sticks. Making sure they were safe.

"Come on," Eirik rumbled from my side before he was in front of me. "She'll be here soon."

I nodded, brushing off the cold and the snow that had stuck to my blue suit. I straightened the cuffs of my white undershirt, habitually smoothing the crease. When I'd finished, Eirik looked me up and down before rubbing the space between his eyes.

I worried for him, and even though he hid it, I knew he still felt the effects of the bad blood. But he shook his head as if knowing what I was going to ask.

"I'm fine. Today isn't the day to deal with my shit. If I'm still out of it after Xander's we can worry then," he said stiffly. There was no way I could convince him otherwise, not today. I let it go just as he huffed and looked me up and down. "There, looking more like yourself,"

I hummed. Like myself. I looked around the small clearing at the stones that littered the ground.

Like every time, my eyes lingered on Nero's crisp marble grave. The energy of the day, the hint of death in the air. It seemed so close, so familiar, and I supposed that was because it was. Funerals weren't common for Naturals, but especially for Vampires. The few that were left didn't often need them, as we didn't often die. Not unless Sebek saw us as a threat.

"It's so reminiscent of Nero's—" I started, and Eirik huffed, the indistinct sound cutting me off.

"I know. I feel it too," he said, sighing as he moved to stand next to me.

He eyed the stone as well, something he didn't do often. Of all of us, he spent the least amount of time in this place. I knew he mourned. He'd spent months lost to his beast in his grief, but Eirik had never been one to express it outwardly, the stoic way he handled everything bleeding into even this.

But he looked at the stone now, taking in the ornate lettering that haunted me.

"He'd either be dressed in full gladiator armor right now or that horribly patchy shirt he refused to get rid of," I said, shaking my head at the thought of it. The pinch of pain, the ache that came with talking of him, found me, but I kept talking. "Finding some way to keep our spirits up."

I flexed my hand, my spare fingers tracing the marks on my wrist. Eirik huffed next to me, the sound enough of a laugh to make me look at him. He reached his hand up, brushing the falling snow out of his beard. Though some had already melted and refrozen.

"Or trying to pick a fight with Fallon," he said with a grin.

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