Maxon chuckles, a wide grin spreading across his face as he lowers himself down to the ground. Taking a handful of grapes, he casually reclines on his side, his head propped on his hand as he gazes at me.
“A unicorn?”
“Are you teasing me?”
“Never.”
I narrow my eyes. “Well, if they are indeed real, then yes.”
I suppress the bubbling excitement that threatens to overwhelm me. I am going to encounter an actual unicorn. My heart pounds in anticipation. They better not be lying to me!
“They are, and I can take you to them, but not today.”
I sit forward, my shoulders slumping in disappointment. “Oh, okay.”
I lower my gaze and without me seeing him move, Maxon is suddenly next to me, gripping my chin and tilting my head back.
“Don’t give me that look,” he growls, his eyes darting between mine.
“What look?” My voice trembles.
“I’d give you the whole fucking world on a silver platter to never have you look sad again.”
I blink startled by his words. “I didn’t mean–”
Maxon leans in closer, cutting off my words, his eyes flashing in warning. “Don’t you dare say you'resorry.”
“I wasn’t.”
"Good," Maxon releases my face, and I take a quivering breath, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. The man was intense.
Maxon leans back on one arm and rests the other on his bent knee. “I will take you to see the unicorns, just not today. It’s a half day’s ride, and we have a ball tonight.”
That makes sense. It’s already the afternoon, definitely too late to make the trip. “Wait, did you say a ball?”
“I did. It’s not every day that a human gets to attend such a prestigious event in the fae realm. I want to make sure you look the part, so I had Zaria run to Skora and fetch you a dress. Not that you need to worry. You’ll outshine everyone there, I’m sure.”
Heat invades every cell in my body at the compliment.
“Thank you. But are you sure it’s okay for me to come? I don’t want to impose. Plus, I’m not that comfortable in crowds. It would probably be better if I stayed in my room.”
Maxon tips his head back and laughs. “Now you want to stay in your room?”
I glare at him. “Yes. Plus, I can’t dance.”
Maxon smirks, clearly enjoying himself. “Well, it’s a good thing I’m here to teach you, then.”
“What’s with the dragon? Is that the royal crest?”
Maxon looks taken aback. “You do realize you shift conversations rather abruptly, right?”
He was right. It’s something I've done since I was a child. It’s like if I don't ask the moment it enters my mind, it will disappear.
“Sometimes.”
Maxon looks out over the garden. “In fae lore, the dragon symbolizes ancient power, wisdom, and guardianship. The dragon depicted on my family's royal crest symbolizes the lineage's connection to these virtues. The dragon embodiesstrength, often associated with the ruling authority, and signifies protection of the realm and its inhabitants. It’s not just a symbol of raw power, but also intelligence and the ability to navigate both the physical and mystical realms with grace and precision. Legend has it that the dragon was revered among the fae for its ability to command the elements and maintain harmony within their world. My family, a long time ago, ruled with the dragons by our side. It’s said that they bestowed gifts upon the heirs to the throne, but they have long since disappeared.”
“Do you have any of these gifts?”
