‘Do you need a hug or something? Just connect to me.’
Glaring at his hand, all I could muster was a sigh. Then another. Silence stretched as I admired the chase between my dragons above us.
A smirk tugged at his mouth, patience fraying. ‘I’ve got the whole day. So either tell me what’s bothering you or it will be quite uneventful.’
I kept my eyes away from him, searching for an explanation that wouldn’t make things awkward. There wasn’t one.
I didn't intend to insult him, but I couldn’t bring myself to refuse outright.
My head spun. ‘It’s just really… intimate.’
Isaac winked before a shameless grin spread across his lips. ‘Is that it? I won’t jump your bones if you can stop yourself from jumping mine.’
Shameless.
Heat rushed to my cheeks.
The ease with which everyone around me embraced sex left me feeling disadvantaged. It was meant to be easy… something that followed naturally from connection and understanding. Every so often I worried my lack of experience would put a future partner off. I wasn’t a virgin, but the few times I’d tried hadn’t taught me much.
‘It’s just…’ I needed to explain myself. ‘It was so awkward when I connected with my father. Honestly, it was rather disgusting.’
A shiver ran down my spine at the memory of my powers recoiling from the Lord of Shadows. It had felt wrong… and for good reason. It didn’t take much to realise an adult shouldn’t be that close to their parent.
Isaac choked. ‘You connected to your father? And here I was getting offended. That probably scarred you for life.’
‘Huh?’
‘There is a reason only children connect to their parents and trainers. It’s also true that connecting is mostly meant for partners.’ Isaac scratched his beard. ‘So what you felt was your power recognising your relative and telling you it’s wrong to pursue him romantically. It doesn’t happen with non-family members.’
My eyes rolled. Not even I was this green. ‘I know.’
‘You do?’ A flicker of surprise crossed his face, quickly replaced by keen interest. ‘Have you ever connected to anyone else?’
The disbelief in his voice should have annoyed me; instead, I almost giggled before going into detail, ‘Believe it or not, my life is what my dragon refers to as a clusterfuck. My mother’s greatest political opponent is my mate.’
‘What?’ his voice dipped. ‘What are you talking about? That can’t be true.’
Finally, someone who shared my reluctance to accept him. ‘I know, right? I couldn’t believe it either. It’s so fucking complicated.’
Isaac blanched. ‘Why… I mean, how do you know he’s your mate?’
I snickered. ‘You’re a fae. You should know how it works better than me.’
‘What does it feel like to you?’ he urged, leaning in a little.
Taking a deep breath, I focused on my longing flames, forever dragging me toward the King of Fire. They never gave me a moment of peace. Only when I trained, forcing my focus onto something else, could they coexist with my other instincts. Maybe that was why I clung to those sessions.
‘A pull,’ I said, wishing I could switch it off. ‘Like I can’t be away for too long because it hurts me and my magic, and drives me insane.’
Isaac tensed before abruptly standing.
‘I need to go,’ he whispered.
Then he jumped without looking back.
Chapter Ten
Avari
