Page 34 of Dark Bonds

“Is that so?” He chuckles softly, and the sound makes my heart skip a beat. “I seem to recall you enjoying our conversations, especially when I let you talk.”

“Let me talk? Oh please, Dorian. You couldn’t keep up with me even if you tried,” I retort, feeling a thrill at the banter.

“We’ll see about that.” He leans in slightly, his eyes glinting with mischief. “How about lunch? Same time, same place tomorrow?”

Is he asking me out?

“Maybe.” I tilt my head, pretending to consider his offer. “If you promise not to cry when I talk over you.”

Dorian leans closer, his voice dropping to a low, intimate tone. “I assure you, Frankie, I can handle anything you dish out. In fact, I look forward to it.”

I feel heat rising to my cheeks but refuse to back down. “Careful what you wish for, Dorian. You might not be ready for what I have in store.”

His eyes darken, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Oh, I think I’m more than ready. The question is, are you?”

That escalated so fast that I don’t know how to answer him. No comes to mind.

“Exactly what I thought.” He grins, his smile almost predatory. “Don’t be too disappointed, I outsmart most.”

“In your dreams.” I laugh, feeling the tension between us crackle with unspoken words. Time to cut it or incinerate it. “Speaking of dreams, how much did you know about Valerie?”

There, it’s out there in the universe. Honestly, it’s something I have to know if I’m ever going to work past everything that happened to me, not just regarding last semester.

His expression shifts, a shadow crossing his features. “More than I wanted to.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me?” I press, lowering my voice. “You all kept it a secret.”

“It wasn’t my place to say,” he replies evenly, but I can see the conflict in his eyes. “But I’m here now, aren’t I?”

“Barely,” I retort, but there’s no heat in my words. There should be, and I’m going to make him spill everything during lunch, which means I’m already imagining that happening.

“You’re stronger than you think, Frankie,” he says softly, his gaze intense. “You don’t need anyone to save you.”

“Except maybe you,” I whisper, the words slipping out before I can stop them.

He blinks, a flash of surprise crossing his face. “Maybe.”

For a moment, something flickers in Dorian’s eyes—a shadow of pain or secrets longing to be revealed. He opens his mouth as if to say more then stops himself, clenching his jaw. I can almost feel the weight of the words he’s holding back.

“Dorian?” I prompt, suddenly concerned. “What is it?”

He shakes his head, his usual mask of calm sliding back into place. “It’s nothing. Just… be careful out there, Frankie. The shadow realm can be more dangerous than you know.”

The student behind me clears their throat, breaking the moment. I grab my keys from the counter, my fingers accidentally brushing against his. The contact sends a jolt of electricity through me, a spark that ignites every nerve ending. For a split second, I swear I see a flicker of shadow dance across Dorian’s skin, his eyes darkening with an intensity that both thrills and terrifies me. I quickly pull back, my heart racing, hoping he didn’t notice my reaction.

“See you at lunch,” he says, his voice a mix of amusement and something deeper.

“Yeah.” I nod, turning to leave. “See you.”

As I walk away, I feel his eyes on me, the weight of his gaze lingering between my shoulder blades as I catch up with Tori at the door. She gives me one look, and I damn well know she can see right through me.

“Shut up,” I tell her as I swing the door open.

“Not saying a word.” She holds her hands up, though we both know that’s a lie. “Except that?—”

I spin around and press a finger to her lips. “Not a word.”

Her laughter bounces around me as she tries to bite my finger.

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