But Poppy’s face brightened with genuine happiness. “I’d love that, Viol.”
My heart swooped. I couldn’t take it. When he looked that happy, it twisted my guts in the best way.
“Really?” I grumbled.
If he was in wolf form, I’m sure he’d wag his tail. “Yes, of course! I... I get lonely back in my hotel room, so it’s nice to be invited to stay.”
My stomach sank like an anchor. He got lonely? Why the fuck didn’t he mention that before? If I’d known that, I wouldn’t have left him alone on the first night!
“You should’ve said something,” I grumbled.
Poppy rubbed his arm. “I didn’t want to be a bother.”
I sighed hard. Poppy’s eagerness to fall on the sword frustrated me sometimes. Didn’t he understand that everybody only wanted the best for him?
“So, what do you want to do?” I asked. “Saffron’s got movies we could watch.”
Poppy hummed thoughtfully. “Actually, I’d like some fresh air. Would you want to sit outside with me?”
“Sure.”
As we made our way to the door, Poppy waved goodbye to his friends, who wished him a good night. I didn’t look too close, but I felt some expectant gazes on the back of my head.
Butwhatdid they expect from me? Was there something specific they wanted me to do? Or were they wary I’d hurt Poppy’s feelings again like I did this morning?
The pressure crept in like choking vines. The weight—both of Poppy’s friends’ expectationsandmy brothers’ insistence on me finding my mate—bore down on me like a ton of bricks. Why did everything have to be a big deal? Why couldn’t I just enjoy Poppy’s presence, dammit?
“Viol?” Poppy prompted from behind the doorway.
I grunted, hurrying to meet him. “Coming.”
Despite my bitching, I felt refreshed after a few minutes in the cool evening air, and escaping the kitchen’s hectic noise helped my mood. Poppy and I strolled in casual silence broken up by gently rustling leaves and the rhythmic waves of the sea. Before I knew it, Poppy had led us to the beach behind the castle. He tiptoed to the edge of the water, shuffled safely away from the water’s touch, then sat in the sand and craned his neck up to gaze at the stars.
He looked so... natural. Like he wasn’t a guest at all. Like he belonged here.
My chest squeezed. It was the same effortless aura that surrounded Poppy during dinner. It all felt easy.
Too easy.
I kept waiting for something bad to happen, to shred this idyllic scenario. For Poppy to be ripped away from me. Like the intangible thing I’d been running from for so many years would finally catch up and crush my hopes forever.
Poppy glanced over his shoulder and called, “You’ll come sit with me, won’t you?”
Immediately, I trudged over. I left a couple inches of space between us as I sat beside him. I hated the sensation of damp sand against my ass and my leather boots, but I hated the idea of disappointing Poppy even more. Compared to his joy, everything else was meaningless.
“A real beach,” Poppy said with a knowing look.
It took me a second to remember that old conversation. “Hah. Yeah. No shitty rocks to slip and crack your head on. But instead, you have to deal with sand in your ass.”
He chuckled. “That’s a good compromise.”
We both went quiet, listening to the sound of the wind and waves. As the breeze brought the smell of saltwater to my nose, it brought another familiar scent, too. I shuddered as Poppy’s scent wafted over, familiar and nostalgic. He always smelled good, but tonight he was especially intoxicating.
I swallowed as I suddenly remembered Jade’s comment. All my brothers were fucking horndogs during their seasons. They couldn’t even get through the damned Games before getting physical with their partners.
But then again... why should they? They were all fated mates, through and through. If they were certain of that fact, why wait to physically express their love?
My pulse began to quicken.
