Of Ashes and Crowns (Darkness and Fire Series Book 3) by Amber Palmer

Author:Amber Palmer [Palmer, Amber]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2023-05-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Kalen

My head ached from the whiskey I’d drank the night before, and as memories raced to the surface, it only ached more.

I ran a hand down my face, feeling my stubble grate against my skin. I wasn’t sure what to think of the events that played out last night, but I couldn’t resist testing out Ren’s curiosity with Damien, and more so, if the sentiment was returned.

The way they’d looked at each other made my stomach clench. That all too familiar look of something more than lust. Perhaps it wasn’t love, not yet anyway. But their bodies longed for one another as much as their beating hearts, and this was my fault for helping Ren dive into that fantasy. She could never have that, not with Damien, and she deserved more than he could offer her.

Seeing Damien and Ren together had caused me to reflect on my own feelings. Was I jealous of Damien because he seemed to possess a part of Ren that I secretly wished was reserved for me? Or perhaps it was the fact that I knew Ren would only get hurt in the process if she continued down this road. Either way, our path had been irreversibly altered. We would never be able to go back to the way things are, and I couldn’t help but feel responsible for that.

The look on her face before she’d watched me escort him back to his tower had been enough for me to know she was angry with herself, with him, and probably with me as well. She hadn’t said a single word to me during the evening, not even as I walked her to the door, where she promptly slammed it in my face.

I’d trudged back to my room, content to drown my sorrows, but I only ended up diving deeper into them instead. Because not only was I concerned with Ren, but also Arabella and Illara.

It killed me not to tell Ren about Arabella. I had almost fallen to my knees the morning after I’d seen her and explained everything, to let her know I didn’t abandon her for no reason. But I couldn’t bring myself to utter the words out loud to anyone other than Ciena. Somehow, saying it to Ren would’ve been different.

I couldn’t explain why, or maybe I didn’t want to.

And then there was Illara, though I’d hardly seen her since she’d returned. The healer had sent word that Illara was awake and healing well, though she said the woman seemed to be quite angry with me for various reasons.

A soft knock came from the door before a small woman peeked her head in. “Sorry to disturb you, General, but I was asked to escort you to the gardens.”

I sat up, stretching my arms above my head. I realized my immodesty as I looked at the young woman and saw her eyes travel along my torso with an appreciative glance. She noticed my gaze and quickly bowed her head, blushing.

“I am so sorry, General—”

I tsked, moving out of bed.

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