Wrath & Warrior by Ember Blackthorn

Author:Ember Blackthorn [Ember Blackthorn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ember Blackthorn
Published: 2023-06-14T00:00:00+00:00

25

Protecting Its Own

ESMER

The only thing worse than a looming, grouchy Oak was one who was looming, grouchy, and sexually frustrated.

After our ill-advised, one-sided pleasure party in the woods, I went back to steering clear of him as much as possible. But even though we didn’t interact, it was impossible to ignore the huge, burly thundercloud of a man riding at the head of the hunting party who stomped around like an earthquake whenever we stopped.

“I see you had a chat with the Lion Warrior,” Lady Noya commented as she rode beside me.

I responded with a grunt. I didn’t want to talk about him. Not even with her.

The truth was, despite what I’d told him after the big event, I did regret what had happened between us. I never should have let myself lose control like that. I’d had a hold of myself, more or less, and now I’d let him back in. For all my talk about self-respect and boundaries and moving on with my life, I was just as pathetic as every other pitiful idiot pining after their ex years later. Or convincing themselves something was just about “getting off” when in reality they were just too weak-willed to cut all ties and walk away. I was supposed to be better than that.

And I absolutely could never let anything sexual happen between us again. Not if I wanted to maintain the last scraps of my dignity.

Fortunately, the universe offered up a distraction.

As the late afternoon sun shone down through the trees, a large shadow passed overhead, temporarily blocking the light.

“The phoenix!” Lord Hassian shouted. He whipped out his sword and swung it over his head like he was waving a standard. “After it! Quickly!”

After trudging through the woods for so long without any action, no one needed to be told twice.

And as little as I cared about the actual goal of this expedition, I found myself caught up in the energy of it all. I squeezed Acorn with my heels, urging her to keep up next to Lady Noya and her steed. My new friend had drawn her sword, and she guided her horse deftly through the trees, her dark eyes alight with the thrill of the hunt.

Even Lady Fresna appeared to be caught up in the chase. Her long, straight hair streamed behind her like a banner, and her golden-brown cheeks were flushed dark as we whipped through the trees. She had no weapons, no way of bringing down the great phoenix herself, but one look at her and it was clear that she had no intention of letting everyone else have all the fun.

We hadn’t spoken of the incident in her tent or her plan to seduce the Lion Warrior. But seeing her now, I could almost believe that, for once, it wasn’t the primary thing on her mind.

The phoenix swooped over our party once again, then veered toward the south—toward the mountains that had been our destination. Lord Hassian was convinced we’d find its nest there.

“Come on!” Lord Hassian roared at us.

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