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My mouth pops open. “Wow, so youaren’ta heartless tinman.”
“Oh,I have a heart,” Charles retorts, but he isn’t looking at me. He’s staring at Piper and I roll my eyes.
“Okay. Go… have your moments in privacy. We’ll talk later, Pi.”
Helena cautiously approaches them. “If Justice brought Dylan, he's to be trusted. She would rather die than jeopardize the safety of those she’s promised to help.”
Piper glances at Charles, who gives her a reassuring nod. “Okay,” she whispers.
They disappear, and I sag onto the couch. Jasmin drops next to me, and I smile at her. It’s a genuine one this time, I can finally feel a twinge of happiness without the remorse.
“I’m preparing your favorite,mija.”
“Do you need any help in the kitchen?” Dylan offers.
I can literally feel Helena’s eyes digging at the back of my head. She loves a man that can cook or one that signs himself up for tasks. In this case,both. I know she’s trying to send me messages via some weird, non-existent telepathic communication, and I wave my hand at her without even turning around.
“No,mijo. I want Justice to show you around. Ask her to introduce you to Prince Charming.”
I slap both my hands against my flushed face, and Jasmin practically shakes from the laughter she’s struggling to keep in. When I turn, Dylan is staring at me.
Who?he mouths with raised brows.
I’m up and pulling him by the arm before Helena can divulge any more embarrassing details of my life.
“Have fun,” Jasmin calls.
“Dylan, meet Prince Charming.”
My horse neighs in response to my voice. He’s a giant beast, black from head to hoof.
“May I call you Prince for short?”
“No, he prefers Charming.”
“Of course he does.”
Dylan steps forward with an outstretched hand, and I instantly tense up. “Be careful, Charming doesn’t like strang–”
I don’t finish my sentence because, although I’d spoken up to warn Dylan about Charming’s very uncharming traits, my horse responds exceptionally well. My horse snorts softly and pushes his muzzle flat against Dylan’s palm, and then he lowers his head.
“I’m not a stranger.” Dylan clicks his tongue and moves to stroke Charming’s massive chest and then slowly works his way to his withers. “Tell me, little fox, how long have you been riding?”
“Why do you call me that?” I ignore his question and ask one of my own instead.
“Well, besides it being your last name, it’s a fierce animal. The first to use the earth’s magnetic field to hunt its prey. Beyond cunning, beautiful, loyal, passionate, perfect–”
“Okay,” I interrupt. “I get it, rookie.”
“I don’t think you do.”
Dylanwalks up to me and gathers my hair in his fist, and then he tugs it back so that I’m forced to look up at him. His midnight eyes light a fucking fire in me; my cheeks feel warm and I think I’m going to combust. He bends down and runs his nose along my jaw, and then he nibbles on my earlobe and pulls gently at my earring.
“Te necesito conmigo,” he rasps in my ear.
My heart drums to an erratic beat, a song just for him. “I’m here.”
Dylan sighs and presses his forehead to mine. “I’m not letting you go. You know that, right?”