Seeking Fire (Dragon Academy Book 1) by Megan Linden

Author:Megan Linden [Linden, Megan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-07-04T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

They stayed in the headmaster's office for a long time, first with Taveris, then with the headmaster himself, once he'd returned from making sure Goryen and Lord Ebalias had left the school grounds.

He waved off Zaryen's attempts at apology as he took his seat behind his desk.

"We have all done what we are here to do," he said. "Taveris, go home. I will make sure these two stay here for a while longer to avoid the post-dinner crowd, then I will send them off to bed."

As he watched Taveris say his goodbyes and leave, Zaryen could feel his guilt spiking again for making the man stay at work late, but he pushed the thought away. He couldn't take on blame for every little thing or he'd never be free of it.

And that wasn't how he wanted to live his life—at the Academy and beyond.

Once they were finally back in their bedroom, which somehow already felt like home, Zaryen started pulling off his clothes on the way to the bathroom, not caring where they landed.

Meveris slid into the shower behind him a minute later, naked and solid as he pulled him back against his body.

"It's impossible to describe how happy I am that you escaped those people and came here," he murmured, barely audible over the running water, as he ran his hand up and down Zaryen's chest. "I don't even want to imagine not meeting you. Not being with you like this."

Zaryen swallowed hard, but leaned his head back against Meveris's shoulder, trying to relax into the hold of someone he knew he could trust. Someone who was, and would always be, on his side.

He'd had no idea how much he needed that until he finally had it and understood what he'd been missing throughout his life. A long time ago, he'd thought he was happy and loved—and maybe he'd been that, at one point. But as years passed, and he understood more, he'd realized his family could hurt him more than anyone else if he dared to go against their wishes.

He closed his eyes. If he let the tears fall, it would be easy to pretend they were just water, but Zaryen didn't want to cry on principle. He didn't want to give his family even that much.

"I'm so grateful for your strength and your courage." Meveris reached for the soap, then started rubbing it over Zaryen's stomach and chest. "Your determination."

"My desperation," Zaryen corrected, but he could feel Meveris shaking his head.

"Desperation is the final push, but it's never the whole story. You researched your options, you came up with a plan, and you executed it successfully when the opportunity presented itself." Meveris moved to sliding the soap over Zaryen's arms and shoulders. "That's much more than desperation."

"It doesn't feel like it."

"Truly brave people rarely think they're all that brave."

With that, Meveris dug his thumb into a tense muscle of Zaryen's back, then rubbed the spot until it gave in and relaxed.

Zaryen sighed in relief, his mind floating as his companion washed him from head to toe.

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