“I’ve thought about asking them, but… I don’t want to put them on the spot and make them feel obligated, you know? A sire-fledgling bond is a very intimate thing.”
“I’m sure you could ask, though…”
“Yeah… yeah, I probably will eventually. It just sucks there isn’t an easier way, you know?”
I honestly didn’t really know since that had never been a legitimate concern for me or my family. But I could imagine.Trying to navigate through that was horrible. But I supposed it was something I’d have to figure out because I was determined to help navigate it with Dain. We’d find a way to keep his brother around for a very, very long time, I was sure of it.
“Yeah, that does suck. Maybe we can look into other alternatives, though. Surely there’s something in the magical archives at the history museum.”
“Yeah, but how the heck would we get our hands on that?”
“I may know a person or two.”
He sent me a small smirk. “Yeah?”
“Yep.” And for him, even if I didn’t, I’d find a way.
Chapter Nine
Dain
Ipulled into the packed parking lot and found a spot all the way in the very back. We got out and began the long and cold trek to the restaurant. I saw Lanche’s hand hanging down at his side,and I had no idea what possessed me to do it, but I reached over and grabbed it.
That same spark I’d felt earlier when we’d touched flared through my gloved hand again.
Damn, Lanche’s magic must be really powerful to keep sending off sparks like that all the time.
Lanche’s footsteps paused for half a beat before he laced our fingers together and sent me a shy, blushing smile.
Well, I supposed holding hands was worth it just for that sweet face.
Good grief, what were these thoughts twirling around in my head today? That was far too sappy for me. Ew. What was Lanche turning me into?
I grumbled under my breath as we walked, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lanche’s smile grow.
When we walked inside, my stomach sank because the entrance was overcrowded. The wait was likely to be hours at this point, and my stomach was already trying to eat itself. Apparently, ice skating was hungry work.
I pulled Lanche to a stop. “Hey, the wait’s gonna be too long. Let’s try somewhere else. We can come back here a different time.”
I wasn’t sure what I’d said to make him smile so much, but he aimed that sunshine my way, and my stomach swooped. “Don’t worry.”
“But—”
Before I could get out another protest, the hostess asked, “How can I help you?”
Lanche said, “We have a reservation for two at eight o’clock.”
I checked my phone for the time. It was quarter of. Huh. How had he predicted that so accurately?
The hostess asked, “What name is it under?”
“Avalanche Rudolphus.”
As she searched for his name, I turned to him with wide eyes. “Your first name is Avalanche?”
He grimaced, clearly unhappy with his name. “Yes, but I prefer Lanche.”
“Right. Okay. I just… I didn’t realize your name isn’t really Lanche.”
