Page 24 of Song of the Dragon Rider
That was the hard part. “You can’t go see the vampires anymore, Cat.”
She nodded. “If we’re burning down the estate and fighting grounds anyway, then I won’t need to. Hopefully, tonight was the last time.”
“I would hope so,” I murmured. “The vampires are tricky. If they call on you again, you must let me know. And don’t believe that fae friend of yours, either. I don’t trust him.”
“Okay.”
I couldn’t believe we’d spent this whole time arguing and were finally reaching a simple resolution. With Cat, it couldn’t be this simple. She refused to look me in the eyes, which meant I couldn’t trust the words coming out of her mouth. But for now, I would accept our temporary truce.
“You should, uh… you should go before someone catches you here.” She brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “The guards have been making the rounds more often to prepare for the arrival of my so-called brother tomorrow.”
I furrowed my brows. “Jacob arrives tomorrow?”
She nodded. “Supposedly there’s going to be a big parade in town to celebrate the Nightwings’ arrival from the borders. At least that was what Maeve told me.”
“My father’s favorite army has been guarding our borders for two years now. I’m sure he’ll throw a massive banquet in the coming days.” I grunted in annoyance and fell back onto the bed.
“What are you doing?” she gasped and tried to pull me back up. “You need to leave!”
I shrugged. “I’ll leave in the morning.”
“Itismorning, Damien,” she growled. “Isn’t it almost your curfew?”
“I have a few more hours,” I mumbled, grabbing her wrist and pulling her down beside me. “Stop worrying so much and shut your eyes for a bit. I’m tired.”
She scoffed. “If Lord Zacharia finds you in my bed, I’ll turn you into a eunuch myself,” she threatened.
I cupped myself self-consciously. “Of course.”
8
CAT
As dawn’s soft light began to filter through the curtains and bathe the room in buttery rays, I stirred awake. The unexpected warmth of another person beside me brought a moment of disorientation until I remembered who it was—Damien. We’d fallen asleep together. His presence, though startling at first, had become a strange source of comfort. His arm rested over my waist, a protective gesture that felt oddly reassuring.
My heart rate quickened as I realized the implications of waking up next to him. We hadn’t planned this; exhaustion had simply overtaken us after a long, emotionally charged conversation. Our argument ran circles in my head. He wanted me to trust him, which was funny. How could I ever trust someone like him? At least that was what I kept telling myself. But deep down, nestled in his arms, I felt a sense of security that I hated to admit. Was that trust? I wasn’t sure. All I knew was that if I fell for his charm, I’d be on the next episode ofDateline. And I was no sucker.
Before I could process further, the creak of the door snapped me to alertness.
I expected Maeve, but that was not who opened the door.
Gianna hesitantly stood at the threshold. The early morning light cast a halo around her, softening her features marked by surprise and a touch of hurt. She never came to my room. Like, ever. What the hell was she doing here now?
The sound of the door opening stirred Damien awake. His eyes fluttered open and settled coolly on Gianna as he quickly assessed the situation. His voice, when he spoke, carried a calm authority that left no room for misinterpretation. “Gianna,” he said simply, acknowledging her with a nod.
“Damien, I—I didn’t expect to find you here!” Gianna’s voice was quiet, tinged with sadness rather than accusation. Her gaze flickered between us, seeking an explanation. “What are you doing here… in her bed?”
“I came to talk to Cat,” Damien explained, his tone matter-of-fact. “It got late, and we fell asleep.”
I sat up, clutching the bedsheet to my chest despite being fully dressed. “Yes, it was just a conversation,” I quickly added, trying to ease the tension I saw building in Gianna’s eyes.
Gianna nodded slowly, her expression showing her effort to understand. “I see. I just came to check on Cat. The servants told me she didn’t return last night, and we need to prepare for Jacob’s arrival.” Her voice was gentle, with just a hint of bitterness. I wasn’t sure I believed her. Whenever she needed something from me, she went to Maeve. She never once came to me. This was definitely sus.
“There’s nothing to worry about, Gianna,” I said. Damien moved his arm from around my waist so I could get out of bed. I felt Gianna’s eyes on us.
“I hope not,” she murmured, her meekness masking the depth of her feelings. “Damien, can I speak with you for a moment? Outside?”
Damien paused, then nodded. “Of course.” He spared me a brief glance before following Gianna out of the room. The door softly closed behind them, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
