Page 29 of A Dawn Of Blood

“What kind of person areyou?” he repeats.

I let out a slightly awkward laugh, feeling this need to shift the focus away from myself. Then it hits me. “Um, I guess I’m the kind of person who likes using first dates to talk strategy. So, I thought that maybe you could tell me if this is something that regularly happens, that general messing with your plans.”

For a second, he just looks at me, his head tilting. Then he gives me a slow smile. “We’re not very high on his priority list. But…” He locks eyes with me, the look in them turning serious. “If he were to find out we had you, he’d never leave us alone.”

“Really?” I ask, leaning forward in interest.

“Really,” he replies with a nod. Then he lets out a laugh. “Now don’t get me wrong, normally I do like a woman who appreciates strategy talk, but what about…” He looks away for a second then turns his focus back onto me. “What about your plans for when all this is over? Is the Aurora the kind of person who goes dancing, hiking or is it something else entirely?”

“I only go hiking if there’s a big fat pizza waiting for me at the top of the hill.”

His eyebrows pull down in confusion. Then he gives me a slight smile. “Ah, you were joking.”

Now it’s my turn to frown. Wasn’t that obvious?

My gaze gets drawn by a movement of his hand, and for a second, I think he’s going to take mine. I freeze with discomfort, only to see him take his glass into his hand. He takes a sip.

There’s a moment of silence that makes me desperate to establish some kind of connection. I reach for his other hand, placing my palm on it and involuntarily making my Aurora tattoos glow.

He frowns again, his eyes fixing on my hand. I pull it away.

“What was it that you just did?” he asks.

“I’m sorry, I used my Aurora powers on you, but I only did it to get a better feel for you.”

He squints at me, but then, almost immediately, I watch his face light up. “You’re nervous,” he says, his lips tugging into a soft smile. A little smug, but warm and safe.

I frown, finding myself taken aback. “What?”

His smile grows bigger. “I’ve been wondering why you jumped straight to talking about the cause. At first, I thought it was just, you know, you being what you are.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “And now you think otherwise?” I demand, an eyebrow quirked.

He laughs. “I do. I think you’re nervous about being here with me, which, I have to say, I like a lot more than the other option.”

“The other option being?”

He lowers his voice. “Me not interesting you enough to take your mind off it.”

I roll my eyes, but I’m smiling. Relaxing. Maybe thisisa little uncomfortable, but we’ll get there. We always do.

Chapter 21

I’m on my way back from my date when I hear the chatter from the Main Hall and spot Alaric darting through the archway with this grin on his face.

Raising my eyebrows, I watch him come to a screeching halt. Obviously already having spotted me, he turns to face me. “Hurry,” he says, waving me over, “we’re about to play Thieves and Bloodhounds. Join us?”

And with that, he disappears, probably in the direction of his room to get the board for the game. I remain standing there for a moment, chuckling.

Then I glance at my watch. It’s nearly one AM and I have an early morning session with de Groot, but as always, I find it too hard to refuse a late night activity.

So I walk into the Main Hall, finding everyone but Nuala, Dryden and Finn lounging around the low tables, chatting and sipping their teas as they wait for Alaric to come back. There’s soft music in the background that’s only magnifying the noise.

Raven looks up to smile at me and I join her and Jaeger at their table.

“Have you seen Finn?” Nuala comes to ask us, bending a little forward so as not to have to raise her voice.

“Have you checked the pantry?” Jaeger asks, throwing me a wink.

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