Page 7 of Draven

Tobias was still waiting for my response, his puppy blue eyes filled with hope and anticipation.

Taking a deep breath, I began to speak, my words feeling heavy with uncertainty, "Listen, I didn't know what made me decide to stop by Red Vine today, or drop by this roadhouse..." I trailed off, realizing I was stalling.

I needed to get to the point, to make him understand.

"But you and me, it's not a good idea," I finally admitted, my voice tinged with regret.

"Why? Because you're a nomad?" Tobias gestured towards the bulky pack strapped to the back of my motorcycle. "Draven, hasn't anyone ever told you that sometimes, it's not so bad to live in the moment?"

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at his question.

"You don't strike me as that sort of guy," I replied.

Tobias flushed, his cheeks tinted pink with embarrassment, and I immediately regretted my harshness.

I reached out, cupping his left cheek in my hand, feeling the warmth and softness of his skin beneath my touch.

"I'm bad news," I told him honestly, my voice soft but firm. "You're sweet... and you probably deserve better."

I searched his eyes, hoping he would understand the truth behind my words.

But as much as I wanted to protect him from the darkness that lurked within me, I knew deep down that I couldn't deny the pull I felt towards him.

Feeling awkward, I dropped my hand. I had said all I needed to say, so I busied myself with putting on my helmet.

"You know, most guys just tell me no," Tobias's voice broke through the silence, carrying a hint of bitterness that caught me off guard.

I glanced at him, watching as he turned away, his shoulders slumping with dejection.

Seeing him so miserable stirred something within me, a sense of empathy that I hadn't felt in a long time.

After the incident, my dragon and I had gone from being partners to enemies, our relationship strained and fraught with tension.

But when it came to Tobias, we finally found something in common again—a desire to protect him, to shield him from the harsh realities of the world.

"Wait," I called out, halting Tobias in his tracks, even though part of me wished he had kept walking. "Do you know of any decent motels in the area?" I asked, hoping to salvage the situation.

Tobias turned back to me, his cheeks and neck once again flushed with embarrassment.

It was then that I realized the unintended implications of my words.

"I'm not... propositioning you," I added hastily. "I just figured I could stay the night here. Initially, I wasn't planning on sticking around, but I could give this place another chance."

What the heck was happening to me?

I had never been this indecisive before. Zane had given me one order for this road trip—never linger in one place too long.

I had joined Zane's group simply because he was strong enough to reel me in if my dragon went out of control.

Lingering in Red Vine and forming connections... there was a danger there.

But as I looked at Tobias's hopeful face, I made a snap decision to break that rule.

"Sure, there's the Moonlight Inn, the Rustic Retreat, and the Cozy Cabin Lodge," Tobias began reciting, rattling off the names of the local inns without missing a beat.

“The Moonlight Inn is nice because it's close to the library. That's where I work, by the way. I'm the junior librarian," Tobias said proudly, a hint of enthusiasm in his voice that I couldn't help but admire.

It was clear he liked his job.

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