And there he went again, the flirty fucker! A low growl built in Blaéz’s chest.
Race’s eyes gleamed in amusement.
Damn idiot! Reeling in his exasperation, Blaéz asked, “Are you going inside?”
“No.” He slid his hands into the pants pocket and rocked on his bare feet, his gaze drifting skyward. “I’m heading back.”
“You came all this way just to give me shit?”
“No, I wanted to see the female who chose to die for you.”
Feeling as he’d been hit in the heart, hearing that, Blaéz hauled her close, not wanting to think about that horrible time when he nearly lost her.
“I love him,” Darci said quietly, her fingers stroking his chest. “I would do anything for him.”
Race glanced at her, then his gaze lowered to the obsidian dagger she fisted. A hint of a smile appeared. “And dangerous, too.”
Blaéz exhaled roughly and eyed his fellow Guardian thoughtfully. “You need to get out more, Race. Seriously. Or those mountains will be all you end up with if you don’t findyourmate soon.”
“Probably.” He lifted a shoulder in a careless shrug, but his eyes were like ruby stones. Cold. “Gave up onthateons ago. Now, I’m off. Darci, it’s been a pleasure. Celt…I’m out of your hair.”
His smirk in place, Race stepped back several feet, but the ebony scales rippling beneath his tan skin said otherwise. His dragon was close to the surface. In a seamless transition from man to an enormous, scaly beast, his massive tail swished, swiping away several saplings behind him. In a furious flap of wings, scattering the fallen leaves on the ground, he took off into the overcast sky.
“That was…unexpected,” Darci murmured.
Blaéz silently watched his fellow Guardian until he disappeared into the thick, dark clouds.
“You know, I think he came here for something more than to simply irritate you,” she said, her tone thoughtful.
“What?”
“For clarification… To see that love exists.”
Blaéz looked at her and shook his head. “You heard him.”
“So?” A feminine eyebrow rose in challenge. “If someone had told you the same thing before you met me?”
He stared at her for a long second. She was right. Since he hadn’t been in possession of his emotions back then, he would have probably told them to fuck off.
Blaéz smiled. “Point taken.”
Yes, he’d found Darci, found an extraordinary love with her. He wanted the same for his Guardian brothers. But they were too bloody stubborn and set in their revenge.
“C’mon. Or we’ll be late for your appointment.” He slung his arm around her shoulder and headed back for the castle.
Still, he hoped Race heeded his advice.
