“But you asked me about these gardens,” he said, straightening, his posture at ease and relaxed.All a mask,I knew. He was putting on a performance, for me, when there was no reason to. “And you have your answer. I stole the plans and gave them life here, in my mother’s design. She would be flattered to know that you appreciate the beauty of this place.”
That sentiment pleased me. I wondered what his mother had been like. She must’ve been a wondrous female for Kaldur to have gone to all the trouble to make her dream a reality. He must’ve really loved her.
I’d never truly felt the pinch of loss and grief. Only with Luc. I’d never known my parents. On Raazos, I didn’t even know if I’d been born on Krynn or brought here. And when you had never experienced a parent’s love, it was a little easier not to miss it. How could you miss something you’d never known?
But oh, had I stillcravedit.
My heart was fluttering. I’d never felt this warmth before, blooming. My face felt hot. I hoped I didn’t look as red as I felt. Redder than my hair. What was happening?
“What do you have there?” he asked, gesturing toward my notebook.
I closed it, trying to keep the movement slow. I thought of hisadvice—act like I didn’t care if he asked about something I didn’t want to talk about.
“My stories and drawings, remember?” I asked. His brow furrowed, and it made me realize he didn’t, which gave me a small stab of disappointment. “Of Noxily. I’ve been writing stories since I was young. I was just…scribbling ideas down.”
“Let me see them.”
A jolt of panic went through me, and when he saw it reflected on my face, a wide grin spread. Leaning forward, he kept those eyes pinned on me. He was curious to see how I’d wiggle out of it, as if this was a test.
“Perhaps another time,” I suggested. “My hand’s beginning to cramp, and I was going to walk to stretch my legs. Was there a reason you were looking for me?”
Kaldur stood from the bench, and suddenly the space beneath the canopy of vines felt a million times smaller. I also stood so I didn’t feel so overpowered, and I tried to discreetly tuck the notebook into my satchel as I gathered it up from the ground.
“Better,” he complimented, coming to stand directly in front of me, keeping me pressed very close to the tree. “You learn quickly,dallia. That will make this all the easier.”
I stared up at him in surprise, feeling his compliment bury deep. A small, warm little stone that lodged itself in my breast. I found myself grinning up at him and was sure I looked silly. But I didn’t have it in me to care.
One moment stretched into two, which stretched into three. I was keenly aware that he was studying me at his leisure and that he seemed infinitely comfortable to be doing so. His hand came up to touch my cheek.
“I would give anything to know what you’re thinking right now,” I confessed.
It was a moment of bravery and curiosity for me.
“Anything?” he murmured. “I’ll take that deal.”
I realized my mistake too late. Kaldur took my hand, lifting itup, inspecting the charcoal markings across it, which made his lips quirk up. He brought my wrist to his lips, and I nearly gasped at how sensitive the flesh was there when he kissed it.
My heart went fluttering all anew, coupled with a wild symphony of sensation in my belly.
Across my inner wrist, I felt the whisper of his words as he said, “I was thinking that it’s strange how suddenly this happened. How unpredictable. How thoroughly you’ve invaded my thoughts, my every waking moment, when you have been within my keep for years. I never even noticed.”
It was everything I’d ever wanted to hear from him, wasn’t it?
“You never saw me. Not truly,” I said quietly.
“Ah, but tell me, mydallia. Did you see me?” he asked, quirking his brow.
“Of course. Always,” I whispered, feeling caught in his web as the vulnerable admission tumbled from me, as if he were a sorcerer casting a spell, like Argamin from my stories. My cheeks went bright pink, but…I wasn’t ashamed. I thought it was a nice sentiment, to admire someone from afar. Was there any harm in imagining them as yours in another life?
But maybe that life could be this one,I couldn’t help but realize. Especially when Kaldur was looking at me likethis, with his molten eyes and sweet words. Could he love me?
The edge of his lips quirked up. He kissed the inner side of my wrist gently.
“I see you now, Erina,” he said, his lips lingering. “That’s all that matters.”
Elation filled me as his fangs broke my flesh.
Just this morning, he’d warned me not to romanticize this with him. That he would only disappoint me. But in this moment, it felt like the opposite. How could Inotdream of something more with him? Especially when he made me feel like this? Seen? Desired? Protected?
