Page 76 of Sent To A Fantasy World and Now All the Men Want Me 7

Rowan snickered. “The captain won’t like that. He damn near had a fit when seeing the bite mark. You in chains would send him to an early grave.”

I tried for a laugh but was hit by an unexpected pang in my chest. One caused by the memory of Maddox the night of the royal ball—how he’d shoved against the bars of my dungeon cell, nostrils flaring and eyes that weren’t even human anymore, as an unbridled rage consumed him.

“I’m always worrying him.” I dropped my gaze to my boots. “Which is why I need to sort out my powers. So I can protect myself and stop being so… helpless.”

“No matter how powerful you are, I’m still gonna protect you,” Rowan said, linking our fingers. “Maddox and the others feel the same. We’ll always worry over you. Probably even more once your powers fully awaken.”

“Why?” I stared at our joined hands before moving my gaze to where I held Onyx. Two of my shadow-wielding men.

“Because of the ones who will seek your power for themselves,” Onyx said, catching hold of my chin and tipping it up. “People who will try to corrupt you and twist you into something you’re not.”

“And what am I?” I asked, gut cinching. “Because right now, I just feel lost. I wish fate had chosen someone else for this saint gig. It’s done nothing but cause problems for everyone around me. Feels like I’m just a damsel who always needs saving and can’t do anything right.”

“I wouldn’t say you can’t do anything right.” Onyx smoothed his thumb along my jugular. “If there were a contest for who could ramble the longest without taking a single breath, you’d surely win.”

“Don’t make me laugh,” I said, though it was already too late. “I’m too frustrated to laugh right now.”

“The frustration will pass in time.” His gaze softened. “The elixir will be ready on the morrow. If successful, the block in your mind will be lifted, providing clarity.”

I breathed out, wishing all the jumbled nerves and chaos in my chest could be dispelled so easily. “Enough about me and my powers. Let’s see what you’ve learned, Ro. Amaze me.”

Rowan flashed my favorite tooth.

Several minutes later, we were inside Onyx’s room, sitting in front of the fire as Rowan lay belly-down on the rug, a book propped in front of him.

“You learned to read?” I asked.

Onyx lightly coughed.

A heavy sigh escaped Rowan’s lips, and he flopped to his back, resting the open book over his face. “Kill me, little treasure. Just put a fork in me, I’m done. How you do this for enjoyment is beyond me. It’s torture.”

“Oh, it’s not that bad,” I told him, sitting on the edge of the couch cushion as I stared at him sprawled out on the rug. “Reading is magical. Books can take you anywhere without you having to leave the couch.”

“Well, this one is taking me to hell.”

“Stop it.” I snorted.

“Everything you know about shadow magic you taught yourself, yes?” Onyx asked Rowan, sitting on the cushion beside me. Happy little flutters had gone through my chest when he’d chosen the spot beside me instead of in his favorite armchair. “Which is why your magic is impulse driven and unpredictable instead of based in a fundamental understanding.”

“Fork. In. Me.” Rowan didn’t move from his spot on the rug, still with the book covering his face.

“That can always be arranged,” Onyx told him. “Perhaps a sharp stab will jolt you out of this ridiculous state.”

I pressed my lips together. They were bickering. Onyx really did fit in well with our family. More than I expected for him to. It made me happy. Relieved too. While each of my mates were so different, they all balanced each other because of those differences.

Heaving another sigh, Rowan lowered the book. “I’m more of a hands-on learner, Lord Onyx. Words don’t do it for me. I need you to show me. Reading ain’t doing shit but making me want to take a nap.”

I stifled a laugh. In all the time I’d known Rowan, I’d never seen him throw this much of a tantrum. He was usually the one spouting off and making other people grumble and whine. Guess there was a bratty bottom in him after all.

“Is he laughing?” Rowan sat up halfway, propping himself up on his elbows as he looked over at me. “I’m glad you find this funny.”

“Oh, I do,” I responded, letting another chuckle loose. There was no holding them back at this point. “If I’m a sad toad, you’re a pout, pout fish.”

Rowan stood from the rug and walked over to the wall, lightly bumping his forehead against it. With another laugh, I hopped up and went over to him, gently guiding him away from the wall. He looked at me with pitiful eyes.

“Cease with the pouting.” Onyx sighed and stood from the couch, smoothing a hand down the front of his robes. “If you wish for a more hands-on lesson, then come with me.”

The pout instantly vanished. A cocky grin soon took its place. The look of a brat who’d gotten his way.