Page 153 of On Wings of Blood

“It took me long enough, but yeah, I think so.” I looked at him thoughtfully. “How long has this been going on, anyhow? You said you had a girlfriend before you came to Bloodwing.”

“How long? I met Florence when I was eight.”

I choked. “You’ve liked her since you wereeight?”

He shrugged, the blush returning. “More or less.”

“Did you ever think of, oh, I don’t know...Tellingher that you like her?”

He shook his head resolutely. “Nope. Not happening.”

I stared at him. “Let me get this straight. You’d rather go out with other girls instead of taking a chance and telling the one you actually like how you really feel?”

He nodded seriously. “Safer that way.”

I rolled my eyes. “I take it your last girlfriend didn’t exactly break your heart.”

He grinned. “Nope. I might have broken hers though. She was hoping I’d turn down my invitation to Bloodwing and stay with her. So were my parents. They always hoped I’d stay home and wind up with a nice dwarven girl.”

“But you wanted to go where Florence went?” I said softly.

He nodded. “I couldn’t let her go alone.” He paused. “And I won’t risk our friendship for something so stupid.”

“I wouldn’t exactly call it stupid, Naveen. Not if you really love her.” By the gods, listen to me, giving relationship advice as if I had any idea what I was talking about.

“Have you ever been in a similar position?” Naveen asked curiously.

I shook my head. “Definitely not. I mean there have been... people. Men. Sure. But they were basically just flings. I’ve never been in love.”

Naveen’s blush deepened. “I’m not even sure that’s what this is.”

“And you’ll never find out,” I teased. “Not if you never take a chance and tell her.”

He looked away. “I’ve thought of telling her at the Frostfire Festival. There’s a ball, you know. I’ll be there as part of the ensemble. I know Florence will have permission to go. Her grades are certainly good enough. I was thinking of asking her.”

“Yes, ask her,” I said immediately. “I’m sure she’ll say yes.” At least, I hoped she’d say yes. What if Florence liked someone else? I decided I’d try to ask her.

“You can’t tell her about any of this, Medra,” Naveen said, as if reading my mind. “Promise me.”

I nodded slowly. “Fine. I promise. I won’t, I swear it, Naveen. But life’s too short not to take chances. You’ve been waiting since you were eight. Why not just tell her and see what she says? What’s the worst that could happen?”

“The worst that could happen is I’d be destroying the best and longest friendship I’ve ever had,” he answered.

I laughed. But I could see he really was afraid. “I don’t think Florence would end a friendship over something like that. Do you?”

“If I knew how she’d react, I’d have done it a long time ago,” Naveen said morosely. “But I don’t. It’s a big risk.” He looked around the refectory and sighed. “At least this year we’re together as First Years. But next year...”

“Next year we’ll all be in different houses,” I said softly. “I get it.” We wouldn’t be seeing each other as often then. Unless we were lucky enough to all wind up together. “But then, isn’t that the reason why now is the perfect time to tell her?”

“She has a lot on her mind. She’s taking so many classes.” He ran his hands through his hair, leaving half of it standing on end.

I hid a grin.

A shadow fell across our table. I looked up to see Regan standing there. Two highblood girls were with her. I remembered their faces from that night at the bonfire. Larissa and Gretchen. Neither had seemed like the brightest candles in the room.

“What's so funny?” Regan said with false sweetness. “Care to share?”

I stiffened, my good mood instantly draining.

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