Page 29 of Ashes and Lilies
At the same time, it was fitting. My heart was still fluttering.
But what possessed him to do that? The neck sniffing, the kiss thing. It had to be a strange, shifter routine.
This felt like something significant. From the expectant look on his face, I knew he wanted me to say something. Yet, my mind had gone numb.
I was flattered and excited.
But on the other hand, a sense of fear was threatening to break my carefully constructed reality.
They were all doing it now—this weird, flirtatious behavior. Miles and Julian moved more subtly, and Titus was awkward but cute. Then there was Damen… and however you’d describe his actions.
It had been happening since the beginning, I suspected. But I couldn’t avoid it anymore. What did they want? These were not the actions or words of people who wanted to be only friends.
They weren’t supposed to do this to me. I couldn’t deny that I was attracted to them, but…
While I was panicking, the moment passed. Titus’s expression changed, masking over disappointment with indifference. “What class do you have now?” he asked, tracing a line over my shoulder.
I ignored the stab in my chest as my mind grasped on to this new topic.
This. School was always safe to talk about.
“I’m going to literature,” I told him, forcing myself to smile. “I’m excited. I’m working on a special project.”
That seemed to intrigue him, if his raised eyebrows were any indication. “What kind of project?”
“I’m doing some research,” I told him. Yet, I couldn’t give away the fact that I knew he was a dragon. He, himself, had not come to me about it yet. “But I can’t say. It’s a surprise for you.”
Something flashed in his expression. Hope—that had dimmed after the butterfly kissing incident—flared to life. “You’re doing something for me?”
Hesitation still laced my thoughts, but I managed to respond. “Y-yes.”
Titus smiled, the excitement back in his eyes. “Then get to it,” he said. “I’ll wait and see what it’s all about.”
7
I touchedmy copy ofThe Hobbitas I waited for Miles. Life was seemingly going my way again, and I was trying to think positively. I’d received a pretty gift, had time to pick up a coffee before my literature class, and—upon learning about our reading assignment—had discovered that fate had thrown in the perfect topic to aid my quest.
I would learn much about the ways of dragons, and Titus would be pleased.
Now it was time for a small lunch with Miles, then it was onward to my afternoon class. Afterward, I would meet with Damen for our audience with Dr. Stephens.
Yes, today’s energy was proving to be quite excellent thus far.
A heavy bag was dropped onto the table next to me, and I jumped, quickly losing my place among the opening lines of my book.
“You’re at our table,” a short, blonde-haired girl said. She was followed by two others—a long-haired, redheaded female and a gangly, brunette male. The blonde’s deep brown eyes wereaccentuated by liner, highlighting the loathing-filled glare she leveled at me. “And while we’re on the subject, you should learn not to play with things that don’t belong to you.”
“I-I’m sorry.” My stomach dropped as I began to gather my items. I wasn’t sure what she was talking about, but I didn’t want to stay and find out.
Who were they fans of this time? Finn hadn’t been here long enough to make an impression.
“What’s the hold-up?” she asked, stepping closer. “Or are you slow too?”
I jerked away from her nearness, and the movement caused the white plastic lid of my coffee to pop off. My stomach sank as some of the caramel-colored liquid splashed onto the table.
She let out a snort. “How pathetic. What’s so special about you? Why would he even give you the time of day?”
I touched my fingertips to my chest. This was exactly what I’d feared.
