Page 48 of A Dagger of Twisted Starlight

And then that kiss happened. It was game over from there. My fantasies blossomed like one of Warrick’s rare rosebushes. Blake began to consume most of my thoughts, especially the dirty ones.

“Can I go in?” Blake asked.

“Of course. I didn’t bring you here to stand outside,” I said with a wink.

He stepped in and gave a surprised gasp.

The Dragon’s Den was our very own speakeasy, tucked away near the back of the castle. It was a secluded spot made for complete relaxation. The room was dim, lit by a series of gas lamps that were responsible for the soft orange glow, making the black bar top shine as if it were under the permanent rays of a setting sun. Behind it was a mirrored wall where rows and rows of expensive liquors were held in bottles that were asmuch art as containers. I led us over to the bar and stepped behind it while Blake hopped onto one of the purple velvet stools.

“What do you want to drink?” I asked.

“Can you make a tequila sunrise?”

“I can make you whatever you want,” I said with a grin that had him blushing again.

Chapter 21

Unwind

Blake

Xavier was makingme feel all kinds of things.

Shyness, happiness, an electric thrill, a delicious buzz. He also gave me a confidence I didn’t quite have before I met him. I wasn’t second-guessing everything I said or did. I didn’t replay conversations over and over again in my head, wondering if I was too awkward or said something odd. With Xavier, it justwas. I could be myself around him.

That was really refreshing.

Plus, it didn’t hurt that the man was off-the-charts hot. Normally, that would have had me fumbling for words, but not with Xavier. I thought back to our kiss. How natural it had felt. I wanted more. I had felt the kind of butterflies in my stomach that I presumed were very much extinct. Maybe it was because I’d closed myself off after my stalker, or maybe it was just because no one like Xavier had crossed paths with me yet.

“What do you want to drink?” Xavier asked. He stepped around the bar. He looked casual in a dark gray V-neck shirtand black shorts. A thin golden necklace caught the light of the flickering gas lamps.

“I’ll have a tequila sunrise, please.”

“You got it.” He grabbed a jet-black bottle off the shelf behind him. He took off the metallic red cap. His fingers, for being so large, moved quite nimbly.

I watched him mix the drink with practiced ease, mesmerized by the way he moved. There was something incredibly captivating about Xavier, a blend of raw strength and gentle care that made me feel safe and excited all at once.

As he mixed the tequila sunrise, the room around us seemed to blur into the background, leaving just the two of us in a bubble of shared energy. His movements were precise and smooth, each action deliberate. He poured the tequila, added the orange juice, and finished with a splash of grenadine, the colors blending beautifully in the clear glass.

“What about you?” I asked, genuinely curious. “What’s your drink of choice?”

Xavier smiled, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “I’m a simple guy. Whiskey, neat.”

He poured himself a glass of rich amber liquid and lifted it in a silent toast. I raised my tequila sunrise in response, the clink of our glasses sounding loud in the intimate setting of the speakeasy.

“To new experiences,” he said, his voice low and warm.

“To new experiences,” I echoed.

We sipped our drinks in comfortable silence, the flickering gas lamps casting dancing shadows on the walls. He came around the bar and took a seat on the purple velvet stool next to me.

“So,” I said, breaking the silence, “I’ve been thinking… if you had a choice to use the dagger, what would you use it for?”

He paused, considering the question. “I don’t quite know,” he admitted. “I think about it too sometimes, but I’m not sure.”

I watched him carefully, sensing there was more beneath the surface. His gaze was distant, as if he was lost in thought. I wondered what went on in that head of his.

“You must have some idea,” I pressed gently, hoping to draw him out.

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