Page 89 of The Dragon King

Talon didn’t come for me, and other than the stares he gave me whenever we were in the same vicinity, it seemed like he had no interest in doing so. When he said he wouldn’t give me more, he meant it.

That made me feel worse, because none of it seemed real anymore.

I collected a pile of rocks and gathered sticks from the countryside for a campfire, and Inferno lent his fire to light it. Then we sat across from each other in silence. Inferno had hunted when we’d made camp and eaten his catch whole.

I continued to eat the nuts and berries in my pack. It was enough for me, but probably because I didn’t have an appetite. My misery was like a cloud that constantly rained on me. I didn’t understand how a love could burn so hot and then turn to ash so quickly.

I FEEL YOUR SADNESS.

My eyes lifted from the campfire. “Sorry.”

YOU’VE BEEN SAD SINCE I ARRIVED.

“I would turn it off if I could.”

WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN YOU AND TALON? YOU ASKED ME TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE, BUT NOW YOU DON’T EVEN SPEAK.

My eyes moved back to the fire. “It’s complicated.”

WE’RE AN INTELLIGENT RACE.

“I didn’t mean you wouldn’t understand. I just mean… I don’t even know what happened. We were happy, and then I told him…” The humiliation always stopped me. When I told him how I felt, I’d expected him to say it back, and then we would make love in the tent…and everything would feel right. “I told him I loved him, and he didn’t say it back.”

Inferno said nothing.

“Said he didn’t want to take it any further than where we are.”

Inferno blinked, his eyes like orbs in the firelight.I’M NOT VERSED IN ROMANCE, SO I’M UNSURE WHAT TO SAY.

“You don’t need to say anything.”

BUT IF YOU LOVE HIM, THEN WHY DOES HIM NOT LOVING YOU CHANGE ANYTHING? LOVE IS UNEQUIVOCAL TO DRAGONS. IT IS INFINITE AND UNCONDITIONAL.

“Nothing will change the way I feel for him. But it’s hard to give yourself to someone completely while they only give a very small piece. And his reasoning…he says he doesn’t want to go further because he’ll probably die in the battle.”

THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE HE’S TRYING TO PROTECT YOU.

“By breaking my heart and destroying the time we have left together?” I asked incredulously.

GOOD POINT. BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU’RE THE ONE DESTROYING IT BY CHOOSING TO LEAVE.

I couldn’t believe Inferno, of all beings, would take Talon’s side. “The whole thing sounded like an excuse. He even admitted he never wanted our relationship to deepen the way it has. I think I was just someone he wanted to fuck, but it lasted longer than it should. And now I want a commitment when he doesn’t. So, he’s blaming it on the battle and other nonsense instead of just being straight with me. I left him because I’ve already given him too much, and I won’t give anymore.”

IN MY BRIEF INTERACTIONS WITH TALON, HE’S SEEMED LIKE A MAN WHO CUTS STRAIGHT TO THE CHASE AND DOESN’T PLAY GAMES. SO WHY WOULD HE MISLEAD YOU?

“Because I’ve been through a lot of shit, and he doesn’t want to kill me.” He couldn’t bring himself to say that I meant nothing to him, that I was just a woman he wanted to screw in the meantime, but not for a lifetime. He couldn’t dump me the way he did with other women because it was more complicated than that, so he played games instead.

DO YOU WANT ME TO EAT HIM?

“No.”

BURN HIM?

“I appreciate the offer, but no.”

I CAN TAKE JUST AN ARM OR A LEG.

I smiled because I realized he was trying to make me laugh. “No, Inferno. I don’t think Khazmuda would like that.”

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