“How many?”
“All of them.”
I pause again. Something dark creeps in and ties itself around his words.
“If you could be anything, what would you be?”
“Free.”Hmm…
“Greatest strength?”
“Control.”
“Greatest weakness?”
“Veto.”
I blink twice.“Ugh.”
“Is it my turn yet?”
I stare at him. I’ve lost the energy to demand an explanation.“Okay.”
He straightens his back. His facial expression doesn’t show any sign of being fazed by the questions he needed to veto. But then again, his greatest strength is control.
He buries his chocolate-brown eyes into mine, strengthening a connection I have yet to comprehend. “If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?”
“Somewhere close to both the sea and the forest.”
“Favorite beverage?”
“Milk, I guess.”
“Why?” He cocks his head to the right.
I lean to one side, trying to decide that for myself. “Uhh, I don’t know. Maybe it became my favorite when Scarlett started baking me a blueberry pie when I was sad. It helped comfort me. Maybe—I don’t know.”
“Favorite animal?”
I look down in thought. “A RottWeilen!” I remember the black-and-russet-red-colored fur of the wolf that saved my life. He was majestic and ancient.
“Huh.That’s awfully specific.” He stares at me with curiosity building in his eyes.
“I met one once, you know. Out in the woods one night. A night dawper came after me. I was as good as dead. But this gigantic RottWeilen came in right when I needed him. He was so brave.” I reminisce over the moment.
“Hmm.” He watches me without blinking. “That’s a sweet…Fantasy,” he mocks.
“It really happened. I have scars to prove it. When the night dawper pinned me down, it dug into my stomach! I can show you!” Without taking a second to process my own actions, I grab the end of my dress to lift it up high enough for him to see my scarred torso.
“Skylenna!” Dessin grabs my handful of dress that was movingpastmy upper thigh. “I’ll take your word for it.” He says with a somewhat alarmed, open-mouthed smile.
“Oh…Sorry.” I say.
It takes him a moment to collect himself and blank his expression after rubbing his forehead.
“Pet peeve?”
“People who lack empathy.”
