Page 73 of Dragon Blood

Yes, Bayn, who knew him better than anyone else, had also been the one to instigate that first meeting. Of course. The older air dragon, an eternal bachelor, who had a heart with a golden lining. Thoughts of his old friend, uncle and foster brother, fled his mind as he met Astred’s intense gaze.

His heart melted at the expression of doubt warring with need. She blinked away unshed tears looming at the edge of her lashes, clearing away the lapse of her dragon armor.

“What’s this about?” His voice was soft as he reached up to wipe away the moisture.

Straightening, head up, she met his gaze, clear and direct. “Kai, I’m sorry.”

Kai’s heart stopped beating. The only sound in the room was the crackling flame consuming heated logs. A particularly loud snap brought him out of his momentary shock. His heart resumed beating at breakneck speed. He drew a breath. “You have no reason to be sorry, Red.”

She stepped toward him, chin tilting up a fraction, her voice challenging. “You deny my apology? Kai Sun of the Shield Claw, fosterling of The Watchers?”

A shiver raced up his spine at her simple acknowledgment of who he was—who part of him was.

I’m just Kai.

She was now seeing this aspect of him, just as he’d met more facets of who she was; princess and defender of the Aeleftherian people, heiress of the Oracle to the Dragon Mother. The world’s greatest treasure.

What an honor it was to witness her emergence as she slowly embraced her destiny, though reluctantly.

She swallowed, licking her lips. “I hurt you, and I left you. Without any explanation.”

“Astred, I always woke up alone at the end of the weekend. There never were any explanations.”

She stepped closer, searching his face. “That last time was… different.”

He nodded, allowing that. “It was. But you weren’t.”

“I am now.”

He leaned back from her. “Are you?”

She nodded, eyes on his lips. Kai’s body turned to molten steel.

She wasn’t drunk this time, like she had been on Perenga’s island. There were no other males to challenge. There were just the two of them.

Just Astred.

Just Kai.

Chapter 23

AstredinchedtowardKai.The hearth light flickered over his handsome face, deepening the bronze of his skin.

She’d been watching every nuance of his expression when she spoke the words that had haunted her since she’d left him that night.

To avoid giving the answer she couldn’t give; that she’d wanted him. Always had, always would. She couldn’t tell him how much his proposal had made her heart soar, only to break an instant later when reality crashed in, with jagged shards piercing her soul.

She hadn’t answered him.

Instead, she’d made love to him, and left in the cooling hours of the night, as she’d always done.

Never a goodbye.

Only, she’d never returned to his port, either.

This? Now?

Everything was different. She still couldn’t have him, not even with all the truths finally stripped away, thanks to their unexpected reunion on a tiny island that led to their journey into the Nexus. But now he knew why.

---