We focused on dinner first, talking about the food and the ship.We’d both ordered seared scallops and lemon potato wedges.The scallops were flaky and buttery, and the lemon enhanced the flavor of the potatoes.
“So, Darius, how do you think we did tonight?”she asked before picking up her fork and spearing some lettuce on it.
I leaned back in my chair and appraised her.“Very well, actually.”Sure, I hadn’t made any leeway with Cedric yet, but that might work out better.With the way I’d been so caught up in Bria earlier, there was no way he’d suspect that it was all part of a ruse.
What I couldn’t shake was what my dragon insisted about us being mates.The idea rattled me.Loving someone had burned me once, leaving me a charred husk.I wouldn’t risk being scalded like that again.Shattered.
And yet, I wanted to know more about Bria, everything about her.“This foundation you mentioned?”
“Yes?”She tipped her head in question.
“It must mean a lot to you,” I pointed out.
She rolled one shoulder.“It does.”
When she didn’t reveal more, I said, “Can I ask why?”
She was silent for several seconds while she chewed on a piece of potato.After she swallowed, she revealed, “It’s for shifters who were orphaned.Like me.”
Compassion rammed through me, sharp and unexpected.“Oh,” I managed to reply.
She put her fork down.“I lost my parents when I was so young that I don’t even remember them.I’m not even surewhathappened to them.But someone found me and took me into the foundation.Without them, I don’t know what would have happened to me.”
She appeared so vulnerable just then, and an urge to care for her, to fiercely protect her, rose.It was so strong I could barely remain in my seat.“No wonder you want to help them.”
“I do.”She nodded.“I give them what I can.Help others the way they helped me.”Her expression twisted, she appeared to be struggling with something.Soon, she’d wrestled her usual look back into place with a soft smile and sly gleam in her eyes.“I don’t want to talk about my sad story, dragon.Tell me about your business.”
I could do that.It was something I could discuss for hours.And since she needed a diversion, I told her about making rum in the distillery.How my island was perfectly suited for it.My staff.The beaches.
“It’s beautiful,” I said, picturing my palm-tree-covered oasis.“We could do so much more there,” I said.
“And that’s why you’re wooing Cedric,” she said.
“Yes.”
“And if you’re successful, it helps me with the foundation.I think our little partnership is an excellent idea.”
My dragon agreed.And I would get back on board with landing this partnership by the end of the cruise.
What about her?Did she still feel that connection that raged between us when we first met last night?
I swirled my wine, watching the gleam on her lips once more.“There’s something I think we should figure out.”
She tilted her head.“What?”
“You mentioned this thing between us.”I motioned back and forth.“What we both felt last night…” A pang twisted inside at what I was about to say.“That it wasn’t real.Just part of a spell gone wrong, perhaps.”
Bria adjusted in her chair and took a quick sip of wine.“Oh.That.”She bit her lower lip.“Yes, I asked the witch about that, and she insisted that wasn’t the case.”
Every muscle stilled inside me.“So that means…”
Her eyes widened and color drained from her cheeks.She stared at the table.Lifting a trembling hand, she ran her finger down the stem of her wineglass.“I… You… It means it’s not a spell.”
Heat surged under my skin.The candlelight between us flickered, bending toward me.
She avoided my gaze, and gulped water from the other glass, as if she could drown the truth.
It’s real.My dragon exulted, fluttering his wings.
