Page 30 of Mated in Flames

Luciana

The next day, I’m still riding on the high of flying with Warwick. We didn’t go very high, or very fast, but it had felt almost like we were dancing in mid-air. With his arms wrapped securely around me and his heart beating against my breast, I had no fear despite my lack of control in the situation.

It would be enough to carry me through the day without seeing him. I wonder, as I slide out of bed and yawn, if Dane will actually keep his promise and come around to help me, despite how obviously he didn’t want to. I don’t really want him to come around, because I don’t want to push him into something he’s uncomfortable with.

Also, I cannot think of anything worse than having to spend my entire day with someone who has made it clear that they don’t like me being around.

Unfortunately, my wish didn’t come true. Just as I finish breakfast, still nursing half a cup of coffee, there’s a hard knock on the front door. It isn’t like Warwick’s playful taps, and I close my eyes with a sigh as I steel myself.

Still, maybe this will be good for us, I try to think optimistically as I make my way to the door. Dane doesn’t know me, so maybe us spending time together will at least get him to relax a little.

On opening the door and being met with his scowl, however, I realise that hoping for a tiny change in attitude might be too much.

“Come in, Dane,” I invite. “I was just about to head outside and feed the animals.”

“I’ll help,” Dane says, ignoring my invitation and turning to go around to the back of the house.

Well. This is going to be fun. Not.

I sigh and follow him around the side, closing my door as I go. He’s Warwick’s brother, I remind myself. And, since Warwick and I have been growing a lot closer recently, I need to at least make an effort to get to know Dane better and to convince him to trust me, even if I probably have a better chance at convincing rocks to cry than that.

I grin to myself at that. I’ll just have to do my best.

* * *

Surprisingly, Dane isn’t a bad companion. Unlike Warwick, who’s talkative, likes to crack jokes and messes around until he gets himself into a bind, Dane is a hard, quiet worker who instantly gets sucked into the work. We finish the morning chores almost a whole hour sooner than I would have had Warwick been here.

“Wow, you’re much faster than your brother,” I try.

To his surprise, he actually responds.

“Warwick can be flighty,” he grunts, rolling his eyes. “He’s just as bad at home.”

Then he claps his mouth shut, as though he had felt that he’d said too much, and looks away. Still, it’s progress. Who would have thought we’d find common ground in exasperation at Warwick’s antics?

“It doesn’t surprise me,” I reply, determined to get something more from him. “He messes around so much that sometimes we have to redo the same chore because of him. The other day he managed to knock down a fence.”

An unwilling snort bursts from Dane. To my disappointment, however, he just shrugs, apparently done with the conversation. I stand there awkwardly, holding an empty bucket, not sure what to do now.

“You were planning on working on the poison today?” Dane asks finally, glancing at me.

“Right!” I say a little louder than necessary. “Come inside and I’ll show you what I have!”

Even if Dane is far more efficient, I can’t help but miss Warwick. Warwick might be a prankster at heart, and frustrating at times, but at least I can relax around him. With Dane, I’m constantly on edge, wondering if I’m saying the right things. The last thing I need is to make his opinion of me worse.

Though I have no idea how I managed to get a bad rap in his eyes anyway. As far as Warwick knows, it’s just because I’m a stranger and Dane is automatically distrustful of people he doesn’t know.

I close my eyes briefly. I don’t even want to imagine what Dane must have gone through in his life.

“Do you want a drink or something to eat?” I ask.

“I’m fine,” he says shortly.

Despite him saying that, I grab a packet of cookies, a jug of water and a few glasses to take with us. We’ve worked hard this morning, and we definitely need something to revive us a little.

“If you feel hungry or thirsty, take whatever you need,” I offer, leaving them on the table and turning away, toward my little lab set-up in the living room.

Hearing a hesitation and then the crinkle of the plastic packet open, I smile to myself. I think I might be getting the hang of interacting with Dane.

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