Page 33 of Black Wing and Shadows
“I am going to go get another drink. Want anything?” Zane said, looking over at us.
“I’ll join you,” Alex said, standing up. Both of them strolled back towards the dining facility.
“What the hell is going on between you two?” Lili said, in a lowered voice.
“I mean, it’s nothing new. He broke my heart over and over again. I refuse to go down that path again.”
“I didn’t mean you and Alex, I mean—”
“Nothing,” I cut her off, before she could finish.
“MmmHmm, yeah, that’s what you said about you and Alex at first.”
"Alex broke parts of me that I am still trying to fix. What happened to us five years ago really messed with me, especially since I arrived here."
“I understand what you mean. When I arrived here, the winged Fae—I mean Drusearons—triggered my anxiety attacks, all of them were him. I’ve learned that there are so many incredible Drusearons here, and we shouldn’t judge them based on the actions of one.”
“Yeah,” I said, looking down at my plate and pushing my food around.
Zane and Alex rejoined our table, drinks in hand. Zane handed me one, and Alex handed Lili hers. I took a sip and realized it was a sweet mixed drink with a strong pineapple flavor. It was delicious, but I knew I should keep it at one.
“Let’s dance,” Alex said to us, “I get Auriella first.”
Great, I was a possession.
“I’ll spin Zane right on around,” Lili said, afterwards grabbing Zane’s hand and pulling him to the center where everyone else was dancing. A twinge of jealousy ran through me. I’d never been jealous of Lili before, but I mostly dated her brother.
I walked beside Alex as we approached the dance floor. We faced each other, and damn, this felt so awkward. To make it worse, the music changed to a slower song. Alex reached for my waist and pulled me closer. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and we began dancing slowly.
“Now that you’re here, maybe we can give this anothershot?” he told me softly.
“No. Please, let’s remain friends. We are better as friends,” I pleaded with him.
“You weren’t saying that last year when I was home on leave.”
“And as soon as you fucked me, and I told you I was still going to become a dragon Rider, you told me you couldn’t do a relationship.”
“I didn’t want a long distance.”
“You just wanted a good fuck.”
“I didn’t want you to join the military, but you did. I still love you.”
“I don’t.”
“Have you moved on? It’s only been a year.”
“A year is a long time, people grow and change, but you left me crying…”
The song changed into another slower one. Fuck me.
“Let’s swap,” Lili said as she moved over and took her brother’s hand, seemingly sensing where it was headed.
“Can I have this dance,Auri?” Zane asked, smiling at me and clearly enunciating my name.
I simply nodded my head and smiled. He grabbed my hand and pulled me closer before wrapping his arms around my waist. My heart skipped a beat. It always felt like home when he was touching me.
“That was sounding a little tense,” he said, looking down at me, but I was avoiding eye contact.
