Page 13 of Mountains of Mist and Magic

He was standing close to her, closer than she'd ever been to any man before. His jaw was clean-shaven, and his skin was a few shades darker than hers.

But oh, his eyes. Julietta never realized how beautiful gray eyes could be. She looked at them now, drinking in their richness. She saw his pupils dilate and saw a flash of something she'd never seen before in a male's eyes. Desire? He couldn't...want her, could he?

“Don't go.”

His voice was monotone, with no inflection, no hint of passion or pleading. But in his eyes, she thought she detected something...more.

Her tongue suddenly felt tied to the roof of her mouth. No words came forth, and she just nodded. Triston gestured towards the table, and she sat, fiddling with her skirt so she'd have an excuse not to look at him.

He cleared his throat loudly, and Julietta finally looked up. Triston was back sitting across from her, his eyes still fiercely gray and intense.

“I know this was a shock to both of us, and I don't think that I behaved appropriately,” he said, his face blank as the words came out of his mouth. The phrasing sounded rehearsed, without a bit of sentimentality behind the hollow words.

She wanted to huff, but she was having trouble discerning her emotions again. Part of her wanted to smack him alongside the head, but another, more visceral part of her, wanted to run her fingers through his long, sun-bleached hair. She'd never found long hair on a man enticing before, but she found it incredibly attractive on Triston.

“Perhaps I did not as well,” she said demurely, trying not to stare at him too hard. “It was a surprise to me as well.”

“From your reaction, I gather there is another male in your life?” He frowned slightly when he said the words.

“Another? No, absolutely not!” Her cheeks reddened again. “I've never—I mean, there's been no one, I mean...” she trailed off, horrified that she'd let her inexperience slip.

“Ah...well...” Triston cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable by her proclamation. “At any rate, I think we should look more into this idea you had of breaking the bond. There is a way?”

Julietta stifled her disappointment. She didn't necessarily want to stay mated to Triston, but his insistence to sever their ties hurt her.

“Yes. Cressida and Cyrus were fate-bonded, but Cyrus managed to break their connection. He lost his powers for a long time afterwards, but he was successful.”

“What type of magic is required? I don't possess any.”

Julietta wondered if perhaps that was the reason the bond didn't seem to affect him as much. But Grayden didn't possess his full powers, yet he loved Renya prior to their bonding. Perhaps that was the difference?

“Honestly, I'm not sure—”

“Who would know?”

“I—Cyrus would. In the Sun Realm.”

Triston's brisk manner just cemented the fact that she wanted to see their bond broken as well.

“Understood. I'll leave in the morning.” He got up and started to exit the room.

“Wait—I'm coming too.”

Triston stopped in his tracks, turning back to face her. “I prefer to do this alone.”

“You've made that perfectly clear,” she retorted, feeling a slight pressure in her temples as a headache started. “But since it's my magic that will have to be sacrificed, since you have none, I'll be going too.”

“Fine. Be ready in the morning.”

“Fine.”

Chapter Nine

Phillippe's heart raced as he spotted his brother coming up the hill; Starlia was carrying Renya, and Grayden was on Lightning. He bounded down the courtyard, just as the pair entered the gates.

“Grayden!” He stomped over to his brother as Grayden dismounted. “I'm so glad you're back!”

Grayden rolled his shoulders and clapped Phillippe on the back, before heading over to Renya and helping her down from Starlia.

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