Page 88 of The Edge of Dawn

What was this feeling?

She made him experience so many cursed emotions he didn’t understand.

And he knew without a doubt that he wanted to have her. She had to be his.

It was beyond his control now.

All he could do was follow his innate instincts.

But…

Was she willing?

Would it strike her, too, or was he just an unlucky bastard?

“It’s warm,” she exclaimed in surprise, swishing the tips of her toes through the water. Ripples spread outward from her foot, making the reflected stars dance.

“Why does that surprise you?”

“Well, I just thought you—Kordolians, I mean—preferred everything to be cold.”

“Most things. You learned this from observation?”

“From the Networks on Earth. We humans tend to speculate about everything, and your kind have been an endless source of fascination—and trepidation—for us.”

“You were fearful?”

“I was—until I got whisked away by a certain mind-walking warrior. He’s fierce and intimidating, and one might think he despises all humans. But when you get to know him, he isn’t so bad. A little rough around the edges, but also deep and surprisingly artistic.”

Was she… talking about him?

He blinked. “What does that mean?”

“I think you’re creative, Dragek. You see things others don’t. Despite everything, you made this place, and part of me wishes I could be asleep for longer so I could stay here longer. It’s just remarkable.”

“Hm.” He concealed his delight with a frown. Bit by bit, his control was eroding.

This wasn’t a meditation anymore.

It was a dream.

And in dreams, you could do whatever you wanted.

In his true physical body, he would have shied away, afraid of what he might do to her. She was so delicate and fragile, easily damaged.

But here…

He leaned in until his body was almost touching hers, and his lips hovered close to her ear. “You seem to know a few things about my kind,” he murmured, enjoying the way she stiffened in anticipation. “You might be aware that it isn’t unheard of for Kordolians to become severely attracted to humans. You’re no fool, Jade. Don’t you understand why I left your quarters so suddenly?”

He didn’t dare touch her again.

A single touch would lead to other things. He’d already held her hand. It had been almost impossible to let go.

Would she accept him again or recoil?

He savored her sudden tension, the uncertainty of it all.

His own fear. He was suddenly struck with the terrible knowledge that the past version of him might have handled this differently. He could have been cruel and manipulative, taking what he wanted by force.

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