When the doors opened a few seconds later, I waited for him to lead the way. Poppy moved with familiar ease, like he’d taken this path many times—and he had. He’d returned to this island over and over, always going home empty-handed.
Why? Why did he keep coming back here? Was it because he was so meek and compliant that he simply accepted Jade’s open invitations? Or was there some other reason?
Poppy pressed the key card to the reader and pushed the door open. I remained at the threshold, not knowing if he wanted me inside or not. I already felt like I’d followed him too far. I nudged the suitcase into the room with my boot so it was squarely on his turf, and therefore, no longer my responsibility.
Poppy turned around. He glanced at the suitcase, then at my chest, not quite meeting my eye.
“Thank you,” he said softly.
I shrugged. “It’s fine.” After an awkward pause, I asked, “Need anything else?”
He waited a while before replying, “No.”
I took that as my cue to leave. I gave him a stiff nod, then spun around on my heel.
“Wait, Viol.”
The subtle note of pleading in Poppy’s voice stabbed me like a knife.
I remained dead still, not daring to face him, to see his expression. It took everything I had not to bolt down the hallway.
“Yeah?” I said roughly.
Every heartbeat was a hammer swinging against my ribs. As the seconds passed, it grew harder to breathe.
I didn’t know why I was so anxious. I didn’t even know what I wanted to hear. But the longer the silence dragged on, the more I just wanted him to saysomething.Anything to still the awful churning in my guts.
Finally, Poppy murmured, “Sorry. It’s nothing.”
The pounding stopped, but the sick feeling in my stomach only worsened.
Clearing my throat, I raised the back of my hand in a curt farewell. “See you around.”
But I couldn’t see him again. Not if it ended like this.
My heart couldn’t handle it.
4
Poppy
Viol left.
He didn’t say goodbye, or ask why I was here, or even turn around to face me.
He was just gone.
My heart sank. As the weight of emotion crashed upon me, I barely had the strength to stand. I collapsed on the edge of the familiar bed, my body heavy and my bones tired. Tears welled in the corners of my eyes but couldn’t find the strength to fall. They remained there, stagnant and salty, blurring my vision until I could barely see. I shut my eyes and slumped against the mattress with a weak sigh.
I was pathetic. No wonder Viol wanted nothing to do with me...
When he suddenly appeared in front of me on the beach, it felt like an angel had come down from heaven. I’d been so hopeful, so happy. But Viol seemed wary of me, and I didn’t understand why. He obviously remembered me. He carried my luggage, and caught me when I tripped. That meant he didn’t hate me... right?
I curled my legs up, hugging them to my chest. The air conditioning was supposed to feel nice, but without a warm body to share it with, it felt cold and isolating. It reminded me of parts of my past I didn’t want to remember.
Anxiety tightened its hold like a predator crushing me in its grip. I let out a shaky breath. I didn’t want to be alone right now, but unlike previous seasons, I hadn’t arrived with a friend in tow. I was the only guest in the hotel.
My friends were already here on the island, tucked away in the castle with their alpha dragon mates. But even if I wanted to talk to them, they were probably busy. I never wanted to be an inconvenience.
