Something sharp and unwelcome twisted in Lila’s stomach.
Jealousy? Already?
“I see.” She kept her voice neutral. “And he’s resistant to their suggestion?”
“Draven believes in fate, not political arrangements.” Nyra’s smile turned mischievous. “And recently, some of us think his luck might be changing.”
The knowing glint in Nyra’s eyes made Lila squirm. “What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing specific. Just... instincts.” Nyra raised her glass. “To new beginnings and unexpected connections.”
An hour later, the drive back to the castle passed in comfortable conversation about Nova Aurora’s twin moons, the aurora phenomena, and the delicate balance between dragon clutch traditions and modern governance. Lila found herself genuinely fascinated by the culture Nyra described—fierce loyalty tempered by compassion, and ancient customs coexisting with advanced technology.
That strange sense of belonging tugged at her again as they pulled through the castle gates. The obsidian towers seemed to welcome her rather than intimidate, and the lit windows cast warmth rather than ominous shadows.
This place feels more like home than it should.
“Thank you for dinner and the cultural briefing,” Lila said as they finally stepped into the castle’s grand foyer. “I feel better prepared now.”
“Good luck tomorrow. And Lila?” Nyra’s expression grew earnest. “Trust your instincts here.”
After Nyra departed, Lila made her way back toward her guest suite, her mind buzzing with everything she’d learned. The corridors seemed different in the evening light—more intimate and charged with possibility. Crystalline fixtures cast dancing shadows on the stone walls, and the distant sound of lava flows created a hypnotic rhythm.
She rounded the corner toward her suite and froze.
Draven stood outside her door.
He’d changed from his formal clothes into dark jeans and a simple black t-shirt that clung to his broad shoulders and emphasized the powerful lines of his torso. His hair looked disheveled, as if he’d been running his hands through it, and those intense golden-brown eyes locked onto hers with an expression that made her pulse stutter.
Professional boundaries.
But her body had other ideas. Heat pooled low as she took in his commanding presence, and the way he seemed to claim the entire corridor simply by being in it. Every instinct urged her to move closer.
“Draven.” His name came out breathier than she intended. “I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight.”
“I’ve been thinking about you.” His voice carried a rough edge that sent shivers through her body. “Since this afternoon, I haven’t been able to focus on anything else.”
The honest admission hit her like a lightning bolt. She saw the conflict in his eyes—desire warring with control, need battling duty.
“I’ve been thinking about you too.” The confession escaped before she could stop it. “And I probably shouldn’t admit that.”
He stepped closer, close enough that she could smell his scent—something earthy and wild with an undertone of woodsmoke that made her think of campfires ready to ignite. Close enough to see the fine lines of tension around his eyes, and the way his jaw clenched with the effort of restraint.
“It’s okay.” His voice dropped to a whisper that seemed to caress her skin. “I don’t want you to hide your feelings or pretend to be someone you’re not. But I understand we need to maintain boundaries. For now.”
For now.The promise in those words made her knees weak.
The air between them crackled with electricity. She found herself swaying toward him, drawn by some invisible force connected to the primal recognition humming in her blood.
This is dangerous. This is exactly what you can’t do.
She forced herself to step back, to remember why she was here. “We’ll have our therapy session in the morning.”
The clinical words broke the spell. Draven’s expression shuttered, though she caught a flash of something that might have been hurt before he masked it with regal composure.
“Of course.” His tone remained warm despite the new distance in his posture. “See you in the morning then. Goodnight, Lila.”
He walked away with that fluid, predatory grace she’d noticed earlier, leaving her standing alone in the corridor with her heart racing.
