Page 41 of One Last Wish

“Don’t you want to stay for another?” he asked, confused.

“Nah, I need to check the eggs over. I’ll see you at work in the morning.” Darce called after me—he even mentioned the dragon eggs—but I pretended I didn’t hear him as I darted out of the bar.

He wasn’t the only one that could do fast exits

Chapter Twelve

Iwasn’t prepared tolearn about the people Darceloved, and it affected me more than I wanted to admit. If I had been smart and thought about it, of course he would have his own battles to fight. He wanted to be good enough for the person he loved. It was touching, but that person wasn’t me and it was never going to be me. I was fine with that because I’d never be capable of loving him back anyway.

What itdidclarify was that I might never get him in my bed. Well, not even mybed, really, but an alley or restroom. My desire for him was still a thick, undiminished need. If I didn’t get to feel and taste him, I was worried I’d always crave him. There had to be a way to break those walls of his down. Even if just for a night.

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IT WAS THE EVENINGof the midnight release. I think this was as close to nervous as I’d ever been. We’d sold over two hundred tickets, and had pre-ordered the books a few weeks ago so they would be ready for tonight.

I was stacking theFuture of Dawnbooks onto the display stand when Darce came over to give me a hand. I’d been off with him since our drink at Clover bar—I had no right to be, and I knew it—but my desire for him had gotten the better of me.

“Are you ever going to tell me what I've done wrong?” he asked, reaching for the same book as me in the box. Sparks shot down my fingers, and when I looked down at my hand, I froze. It was glowing very slightly.Fuck, not now, brain.I was stressed, but I didn’t have time for a meltdown at the moment.

“Shit! Sorry!” I recoiled, hoping he hadn’t noticed my freak out. Gazing back at my hand, I held it under the light. Thankfully, I wasn’t glowing anymore. Whatever my brain had pictured, had stopped.

“No, that was my fault. I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Your hand? Does it hurt?” Shit! I was holding it like I’d burnt it or something.

“Oh, no. I’m all good,” I stressed, moving to unpack a different box of books.

“Where do you want the large book poster, Alora?” Theo called from the bottom of the stairs. “Near the front door or by the stairs?”

“The stairs!” I called, looking at the time. It was only an hour until midnight, I needed to get changed into my outfit. “Can you finish this display while I get changed?” I asked Darce.

“Yeah, then will youtalkto me? You’ve been avoiding me as much asTheothe last few days.”

“My head is a bit crazy at the moment,” I admitted. Absent-mindedly, I reached out to touch his arm and accidentally brushed the skin on his wrist.

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