I whisper all my thoughts and feelings to Drexel, knowing he won't tell a soul I've gone soft. But when Drexel turns his head to the corridor behind me, I slowly twist to see who might have been eavesdropping.
Hagar stands a short distance away, watching me with keen interest. I'm not sure she heard what I confided in my dragon, but if she did, she makes no indication of it.
"How did you come to claim a Frost Dragon?" Hagar asks, breaking the silence, her arms clasped behind her back. "You never did tell me."
"Ididn't claim him. He chose me."
Her brow arches, knowingthere'smore to the story.
"One thousand years ago," I square my shoulders with hers, "my ancestor married a Basilius. Drexel sensed the bloodline in my magic. He found himselfriderlessand I was who he chose." Short and simple. She nods in satisfaction of my explanation and marches to the wall where saddles are kept and grabs one.
"He's a handsome creature." She peers up at Drexel.
"Like his rider." I wiggle my brows and she puffs out a laugh, rolling her eyes. "Do you disagree?"
She hoists the heavy saddle and walks toward her dragon a few pens down. "Idon'tneed to tell you what you already know."
I slip in front of her and scoop the saddle. "Tell me anyway."
"Tread carefully," her eyes dart up and down the way. "Our proximity might look questionable."
"Towho? Tariq?" Saying his name leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I observed him during Bastian's fight interacting with Hagar. He grabbed her wrist once and when she tried to wiggle from his grasp, he only tightened his hand around her. There was anger in his eyes. There's no love between them, but I fear there might be something more sinister at play than Hagar is letting on.
Hagar crosses her arms over her chest, popping a hip to the side. It's then I realize she's in riding leathers. She must be going on patrol. "ToHelios," she says. "I am waiting for him to meet me.It'sour nightto patrol."
Suspicion confirmed. "You afraid he will suspect something between us?" I ask, walking beside her to Zahir's pen.
"What is there to suspect?" She shrugs nonchalantly."There'snothing going on between us."
"Right," I drawl. "There's nothing going on between us."
Hagar stops and faces me. She searches my face. "Butyou'dlikethere to be."
A statement. I quirk a brow. "Nowwhy would you say that?"
"Isee it in your eyes." She grabs the saddle from me and enters Zahir's pen. "No good would come of us crossing that line," she finally says and it is akin to a punch to the nuts.
I lean against the gate, eyeing her head-to-toe. "I can think of a few good reasons to cross the line."
She scoffs. "Apart from the sex –"
"With all due respect," I interrupt her. "I'mnot referring to sex, althoughI'msure it would be mind-blowing. I can get sex whenever I want."
There's a flash of jealousy in her gaze that sets my heart galloping. "Then whatis ityou want?"
Fuck it. I'm done playing games. "You."
She clicks her tongue. "How anticlimactic. I expected something better than that."
"I know it sounds ridiculous but if I could actually explain how I feel maybe you'd see me differently."
That seems to nab her curiosity. Zahir saddled and ready for patrol, Hagar reclines against him, crossing a leg in front of the other and motions for me to speak. "Seeing as Helios is late,I'vegot time to listen."
Shit. This is new territory for me. I've only ever wanted sex with no strings or feelings attached. But with Hagar… things are different. I don't even know how to explain myself without sounding insane. Is this how Atlas and Shaye felt dancingaround one another for weeks? Fuck. It's time to be honest and vulnerable.
I rake a hand through my hair. I remember my scar but when I go to cover it, I stop. Hagar hates when I cover my face. So instead, I flip my hair behind me and stand tall. "Every couple I ask how they knewthey'dfound their person tells me the same thing. They justknew. It pissed me off. How stupid. How could you know so quickly?"
"Butyou'vechanged your mind?" She tilts her head to the side and I nod.
