Page 37 of The Silent Mountain
Favian glances at my hand and then into my eyes. He has long eyelashes that are almost white, like snow crystals. His beauty has no comparison. Maybe it’s weird to say that about a man, but I can’t help it. “How can I say no when you look at me like that?” he says after a while.
“With a blood-smeared face?” Ludwig asks thoughtfully, paling when Favian turns to look at him, his brows furrowed and his eyes gleaming in annoyance.
“You are not helping,” I say.
“She is right,” Favian growls. “You are not helping.”
Ludwig looks like he is about to die at any moment. “I am sorry. I just tried to learn something.”
“Learn what?” Favian demands to know.
“Well, I’m not exactly successful with the ladies,” Ludwig admits.
Favian and I exchange a look that says it all. “Let’s head back to the castle,” Favian says.
“I promised Elio to train his horse riding,” I say.
“Elio is completely spent,” Favian says. “He worked extremely hard today and trained hard. I sent him home and promised he could polish his horse-riding skills tomorrow. That is if you are up for it.”
“I prefer it that way,” I admit. “I’m pretty tired too.” I turn to Ludwig, who hasn’t dared utter another word. “Will you join us tomorrow?”
The poor guy looks so relieved that I am not angry, and nods. “It would be an honor”.
twelve
New Problems
*ALANA*
Thenextcoupleofdays pass by in a blur. We are all so busy, I don’t have time to think about anything other than the huge festival and ceremony Favian is planning. Favian stayed true to his promise, though, and helped me train, and I stuck to the promise I made myself and continued to stay in his chambers.
I don’t have nightmares anymore, so I pretend I’m only here to ensure Favian sleeps so he is healthy enough to reign while he pretends he doesn’t notice my real intentions. I spend every night in his bed that way. Last night, I realized he had wrapped his arms around me while asleep and, to my shock, I enjoyed it. I like sleeping next to him. I like feeling him so close, and I like it when he closes his arms around me.
I like his scent and the way his stern expression turns into a gentle one when he is sleeping. He truly is gentle, but he doesn’t show it to the outside, just to me and to his closest friends and family. I got used to waking up with him.
The one line I haven’t crossed yet is actually kissing him and approaching him as his mate.
My own thoughts catch me off guard. Do I want that? To kiss him? Do I want to claim him?
My stomach makes a not-too-subtle backflip when Favian returns from the bath, his hair slightly wet and his upper body naked.
My gaze lingers on him for a bit too long, and I hope he didn’t notice. Well, Ros certainly has because she stirs in my mind, catching up with my shift in perception of our mate.
I’m fucked!
I wouldn’t mind that,Ros muses.
It’s a figure of speech,I say.
You are boring,Ros grumbles. I know her too well for her to trick me, though, she is the other part of my soul, and when my heart was broken after Ita’s death, hers was also. My heart and hers are one. And now, together, we are opening up our heart to the Dragon King.
Favian waits for me to get dressed. Due to the weather and the work we do, I usually wear pants, but for the ceremony, I will make sure to wear a dress that will leave him speechless. However, for now, he has to live with me in my usual attire. Even so, judging by the way he looks at me, he doesn’t seem to mind.
He offers me his arm, leading me to the dining hall. “Our first guests will arrive tomorrow,” he says. “The ceremony will be in three days.”
“Everything will go well,” I reassure him. “We are prepared.”
“I’ll just be glad when it’s over,” he admits with a heavy sigh.
