Why would Lucy need someone to watch her? We’d be gone for a few hours at most. My mouth opened as the realization hit me. “We’re staying overnight.”
“That’s not a problem, right?” Seth asked.
Glancing at Wyn, who hovered awkwardly near the door, I said, “We’ll talk about it later.”
As Seth approached Wyn, Lucy pressed against Seth’s chest, eyes round. Wyn extended a single finger, and Lucy’s black nose twitched. After a minute, she moved closer, rubbing on his finger.
Just like that, she liked him.
The sting of jealousy pricked my gut. It had takendaysfor Lucy to accept me, but Wyn she liked? I sat on the couch, scowling, and watched Wyn play with Lucy, throwing her ball with a bell inside it. Seth sat beside me and placed my hand on his lap. His fingers traced my palm, making my scales tingle in awareness.
I pressed my forehead against his neck, nuzzling him. Seth didn’t say anything and continued to stroke my palm. After a few minutes, Lucy began to pant, and Seth called to Wyn to stop.
“Let’s eat lunch together,” Seth said.
Wyn glanced at me. “I should go.”
“You should eat with us,” I offered, coming to Seth’s side.
“Yes, Prince,” Wyn said.
I had no way to relieve his discomfort at my presence, so I suggested instead, “Or you and Seth could go get lunch by yourselves?”
“If it’s alright, I should go. It’s getting late.”
Seth said, “Next time.”
He waved at Seth and gave me his throat before he left.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Seth asked, brow furrowing.
“Scaring him away. I’m from a much higher station, and it makes some people uncomfortable.”
Seth hooked his arms around my waist, hauling me flush against him. “He just has to get to know you.”
“I suppose,” I said. Seth smiled, and I ran a finger over his lips. “Overnight?” I watched in delight as his cheeks darkened.
“It might be fun.”
“It would,” I replied, but even as I said the words, worry swelled in my soul. If we had sex and he chose to go home, it would hurt even more. But if he went home, didn’t I want to have at least one memory with him? I would never want anyone else besides Seth. He was my last chance for love and sex. Not that I planned to survive long after he was gone.
Some drakcol never recovered from the loss of their mate, drastically shortening their lives. I knew I would be one of them.
“It would be,” Seth said, drawing me back to the present.
“We would have to have a certain conversation, even if it’s a basic one.”
Seth met my gaze. “I know.”
Unable to stop it, even if I had wanted to, a smile stretched over my face. I tried to force my mouth to close, as I didn’t want to upset Seth with the sight of my sharp canines, but he grinned in response before going up on his toes to place a kiss on my lips.
Chapter 35
The tavern.
Kal readjusted the hoodie I wore for the umpteenth time as his tail strangled my ankle. I placed a hand on his, stopping the frantic motions. “Kal, I’ll be fine.”
