Page 72 of Dragon Unleashed

If only Chano and I were like them. Instead, another night of studying alone for me. Rock and roll.

“Thursday, same time,” Silas barks, leaving us to gather our stuff and get washed up.

Slowly I drag myself out of the changing rooms, surprised to see Zephyr waiting. My arms ache with the effort I put in tonight. I rub my biceps and crick my neck. The cold air sure as hell doesn’t help.

Zephyr steps up behind me, his clever fingers almost instantly finding the knot under my shoulder blade.

Bliss.

He puts an arm over my shoulder, and we walk back along the lantern-lit paths toward the dorms.

I miss this. I miss the easy touch of someone you’re comfortable with. I miss the giggles, the laughter. The hugs. I miss Chano. But Zephyr’s familiar vanilla scent is calming. I lean into him, shivering against the cold, and he pulls me into his side.

“Zephyr Engill, what in all the hells do you think you’re doing?” a familiar voice hisses.

Zephyr flinches and instantly lets me go. I glance up to see Professor Allegra’s puce face. In a flash she’s gone, her professor’s robe billowing out behind her like a witch’s cloak.

“Satyr shit,” he mutters. “I have to go fix this. Unless… Do you need me to stay, Lore?”

Hellfire. Bonding with my allegiance doesn’t mean flirting. No matter how lonely I am, it’s not okay to wreck his relationship. I wrap my arms around myself and shake my head, offering him a sad smile.

“Go, Zephyr. I’ll get myself back. I’m…I’m just lonely. It was nice spending time with you.”

He opens his mouth to reply but I give him a little wave and break into a jog, taking the shortcut across the grass and back to my empty room.

I’m just lonely.

Chapter Thirty-five: Zephyr

Lorelei’s scent lingers on me as I strip in my bathroom. Holding my hoodie to my face, I inhale, and my dick springs to life. That girl. Sex on a stick and she doesn’t even know it.

I can’t rock up to Alice’s rooms smelling like Lorelei. Alice needs time to cool off anyway, and she won’t thank me for turning up in sweatpants. She loves my fashion sense. And school gym kit is not where it’s at. I tuck the hoodie under my pillow. No need to wash it. Not yet.

Jumping in the shower, I peer down at the little guy. Not so little.

Never had any complaints, have we?

Holy hags, I’m talking to my dick.

Leaning against the tiled shower, I rub one out. Flirting with Lorelei felt so right. But she doesn’t want me. She said it herself. She’s just lonely. I spasm into my hand.

Fuuuck.

I can’t settle down with Alice. I’m nineteen, and she’s, what, late twenties, early thirties? I should probably know that stuff.Climbing out, I towel myself dry and pose in the mirror.Just look at those abs. Mmm-hmm.

Everything was better when I stuck to loving ’em and leaving ’em.

One little flirt with Lorelei and suddenly what I’m missing slams home. I never was a one-lady man. Alice will have to accept an open relationship, or we’re done.

I shrug on my favorite silk shirt and wriggle into a pair of skintight jeans. She won’t refuse me. No woman does.

Except Lorelei.

I pluck a single rose from the greenhouses en route to the staff accommodation. Alice might be more into commitment than me, but I can swing this. I’m Zephyr Engill after all. Alice is fun, good in the sack, has experience on her side, but she needs to understand where I’m coming from. It’s open relationship or nothing. Fingering the abolition stone in my pocket, I strut into the staff quarters. She’ll understand why, one way or another.

“It’s because of that little bitch you had your arm around, isn’t it?”

“No, Alice. This is because of me. Who I am.”

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