Page 45 of Blood of Dragons
“I was in a relationship recently, very recently.” Was still in that relationship in a lot of ways. “It’s still really raw for me. I’d be lying if I said he wasn’t in my heart as we speak.”
Commander Luxe held my gaze as he listened, and he eventually gave a slight nod. “So, is that a yes or a no?”
“What?”
“Were you in love?”
“I—I don’t know.” It was all surreal, a relationship that had happened under difficult circumstances. He was the man responsible for all my hardship. If I hadn’t been trapped with him in the castle and forced to know his character, I wasn’t sure if anything ever would have happened. “I felt like I should tell you that…in case you’re looking for something more than a friendship.”
He had the confidence to continue to look at me. “It’s not every day that you meet a beautiful woman who can resist the temptation of power. Your heart must be pure like sunshine.”
It was the best compliment I’d ever received.
“I’m not going to pretend that I’m not interested in more than friendship—because I am. But I also understand that the timingisn’t right. But maybe it will be right in a couple months…or in a year…or someday. So my invitation for dinner still stands—as friends.”
Now that he knew where I stood, I felt better about accepting the offer. “Sure, that sounds nice.”
Every night, I expected Talon to come to me.
But he didn’t.
Our final conversation seemed to have driven him away, and he had no desire to continue it. Staying away from each other was the best for both of us, but that didn’t stop me from thinking about him pretty much every moment of the day.
It didn’t stop me from missing him.
Commander Luxe had returned to his rotation on the front line, so I spent my time alone, mainly in my tree house. Sometimes I went to the market or the library, but the forest still felt like a strange place, despite how beautiful it was.
I was in the kitchen when someone knocked on my door.
I knew it wasn’t Commander Luxe, so I wasn’t sure who’d come to visit me. “It’s open.” I washed my hands then turned to the doorway.
I sucked in a breath when I saw him—Ezra.
It took me a moment to say something. “Hi.”
“Am I intruding?”
“No, I’m alone.” I was alone in every way you could imagine. I stopped in front of him but wasn’t sure what to do next. Greet him with a handshake or a hug. I decided to do neither of those things.
“I wanted to check in on you. See how your first few weeks have been.”
“It’s been okay.”
“I would have come sooner, but I was required at the front line.”
“Hope everything is alright.”
“It is. Just part of my duties.”
“Commander Luxe has been very kind.”
He nodded. “He’s an honorable man. If my time is cut short, he’ll replace me.”
“Well, hopefully that doesn’t happen.”
He gave me a slight smile. “Hopefully not. Are you hungry? I’d love to take you to lunch, if you’re interested.”
“I just ate, but coffee would be nice.”