One of her lids cracked open, revealing a slitted pupil inside a kaleidoscopic iris. Aimed right at him.
He cocked his head, holding her gaze, but her lid closed and she released a heavy sigh. Soft flames glowed behind her gargantuan teeth.
“Why does she come back?” Cael whispered.
“How’s that?” Leonard asked, and Cael finally turned away from the dragon.
“When you let her out. How do you get her to come back?”
Leonard shrugged, pulling at his beard. “Arran never told me how he achieved it. Think it might have something to do with their bond, but…”
Something about Leonard’s tone piqued Cael’s curiosity. “But you don’t believe that.”
Leonard leaned in, glancing around to ensure the other keepers weren’t watching or listening. “Sometimes, just before she leaves the mountain, she has this look on her face like…” Leonard trailed off.
Cael turned back toward the dragon, and his heart lodged in his throat. Her reptilian eyes were wide open, glued to Cael’s back where his other wing should have been. He could have sworn he felt sympathy in her perusal. And other than Xenia, it was the only sympathy he’d ever been offered that didn’t make him want to tear off a head or two.
“Like what?” he asked.
Leonard’s whisper shivered through Cael’s chest.
“Like she’s waiting for someone.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Did you behave yourself today?
Cael’s silky voice reverberated through Xenia’s body thanks to the cuff around her wrist.
“Always, pterodactyl.” She yawned against the back of her hand, balancing a plate of food in the other as she walked toward her room. “You’ll never believe what I learned in the library tod?—”
Where are you?Cael asked, and Xenia’s heart soared. Was he going to come fetch her? Had he returned from his trip to Typhon Mountain?
“Staff hallway,” she said, crunching on a glazed carrot.
Cael grunted.It’s late. We’ll speak tomorrow. I’ll come find you in the library once your shift starts. I had an interesting day as well.
Xenia sighed, shucking off her disappointment. She hadn’t spoken to him in person, only via the cuff, for the past few days. He’d been too busy doing the High-Gods-only-knew what for his father, plus had been dragged into several wedding planning meetings with Zosime, Petra, and Elodie.
“See you tomorrow, then,” she said, a bit more petulantly than she was proud of.
Sleep well,Cael purred, his voice lush and dangerously sexy. Her limbs shivered so violently she nearly dropped her plate. Bastard wasn’t playing fair.
So she wouldn’t either.
“You sleep well, too,my lord.” She imbued the title with all thewanthis voice had inspired.
He chuckled, that deep, low rumble that was pure Cael. Rolling storm clouds and distant thunder.Take the cuff off and hide it as soon as we’re done. I don’t want anyone seeing you with it. You should’ve waited until you were in your room to use it.
And just like that, indignation replaced her desire. “Why? Everyone’s asleep.”
He sighed, exasperated, but not without a hint of mirth. As if he liked it when she talked back.Just do it, Blondie. For me. Please.
She smiled, hoping he could hear it in her voice. “Only for you.” She tapped the stone, cutting off another of his rumbling chuckles, then slipped the cuff into her apron.
It was late, nearing midnight if she had to guess. And though her eyelids drooped and her limbs were heavy, her mind buzzed with everything she’d learned today. She could hardly wait to tell Cael.
As she approached her door, an unmistakable moan emanated from the room across the hall.
