Page 45 of Brutal Alpha Dragon

“So…” Felix steps back and regards me with a hand on his chin. “Did you do everything you said you would?”

For some strange reason, I feel myself recoiling internally. As if I’m bashful about the question. Feeling heat rise on my neck and tinge my ears with color, I scoff.

“I did,” I admit as I shove my hands into my pockets. “Did the whole shebang and ended up walking out before—before she could thank me for all of it.”

Felix shakes his head in disappointment. It’s been his bright idea to sweep Lily off her feet instead of using fear to drive our relationship. Of course, it’d been my idea to run the bath for her and cater to her needs for the day.

“Was she willing to thank you?” he asks, to which I nod.

“She sure was. But I was a coward. And she probably thinks the same.”

“So make up for it,” Felix shrugs as if it’s common knowledge.

Though I’d spent more time amongst the humans, I didn’t really pay attention to what made women tick. Besides, I never had to get any of them to fall for me. All I had to do was dress the part, and they would fall at my feet.

Lily, on the other hand, is a different creature altogether. She might be a weak human, but she’s determined to be fearless. Even if it’s a mask she wears.

In some ways, I find it endearing. So when Felix offers a solution to make up for fleeing this morning, I consider it.

***

The solution is the flowers I’m holding in a bunch as I knock on Lily’s bedroom door. Handpicked from the gardens on the east side of Aurora Mountains, it’s the colors she’d been gazing at this morning.

Cobalt blue daisies and berry daffodils from the berry plants on the mountain. Along with the bouquet of flowers, I’d picked some berries, too.

When the knock on the door isn’t immediately answered, I call out her name. Gently, it’s the first time “Lily” rolls off my tongue with benevolent intent.

“Y-yes?” she stammers, her voice sounding very far away. She’s probably on the balcony, I realize.

She wasn’t ignoring me.

I keep the bouquet behind me when the door opens as I step over the threshold. I’d been so accustomed to keeping the door locked; it feels rather odd that she has control now.

Control that she doesn’t seem to care about much. After all, I’d used the surveillance cameras in the hallway. She hadn’t come out of her room.

I clear my throat when she closes the door behind her. “This is for you…” I announce with pride as I hold out the brightly colored flowers.

Lily takes a look at them, then seemingly scoffs under her breath. “Thanks,” she says, walking away without taking the flowers from me.

Confused, I stand frozen for a few seconds as I try to discern what just happened. Lily strolls off toward the balcony, leaving me in the room as if my presence means nothing.

“Lily?” I call out, frowning with confusion as I follow her to the balcony. She leaned over the rails, gazing out at the flowers below, even though I’d brought them up for her.

“Lily?” I call again, this time right beside her, so there’s no way she can’t hear me. Still, I’m ignored. And the irritation I feel begins to simmer to the surface.

“I don’t understand what’s going on right now. But you can’t just ignore me, Lily.”

She sighs discontentedly before turning her face to me. “What do you expect me to say, Draco?” Lily scoffs as her eyes flit to the bouquet in my hand. “Thanks for bringing me flowers. Are you going to be hot or cold this time?”

“What do you mean?” I ask as I shake my head, and the frown deepens.

“Oh, please!” she chuckles sardonically, rolling her eyes as she turns back to the scenery ahead. “One moment, you’re nice, and the next, you’re awful. I can’t deal with that.”

I open my mouth to retaliate, but nothing comes out. I’m too stunned to say anything and realize the depth of what she just said.

She can’t deal with my hot and cold behavior. It could only mean one thing. If she didn’t care at all, she wouldn’t have said that.

Just like if I didn’t care, I wouldn’t even be here.

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