Page 49 of A Witch and Her Dragon
“Thanks, Tristan,” she says.
Heat rises inside me at her use of his name.
“You want to watch the rest of the game with us?” she continues.
Tristan hesitates a moment, his eyes flicking between me and Alina. Finally, he smiles and says, “Absolutely.”
He sits beside me, and Alina reaches across my chest to offer him the pecans. Her scent drifts around me, and a floaty strand of her hair brushes my chin.
And I know she’s doing it all on purpose, driving me crazy like this just because she can.
But at least I’m between them now, in the spot right beside her.
In the spot where I belong, whether it’s painful for me or not.
Chapter 23
Alina
SAMHAIN IS QUICKLY APPROACHING, AND it’s different and exciting seeing Coven Crest transform in the days leading up to the festival, which is to be held here on the grounds. The air has grown colder and smells of rich soil, decaying leaves, and woodsmoke from the fires burning nonstop in the castle and outbuildings. Even now, as I sit in the library with Maeve, the giant hearth crackles, sending out sparks and red-orange light, bathing us in warmth as we work on our papers.
I dip my quill into my inkwell, then tap off the excess ink. I’m writing a paper for Magical History and Ethics—exploring the morality of communicating with the dead—and it’s slow going. Even now, my gaze is drawn up from my parchment and across the library, to the closed double doors. I know Raelan is standing on the other side, my dutiful sentinel.
He’s not kissed me again, has not even given me the opportunity to do so. I dream of him most nights, though the types of dreams vary. Last night I dreamt of riding upon his back as he flew through the clouds high over the wilds of Elarwyn, the wind in my hair and sunlight on my skin. It was so thrilling I woke with my heart thundering in my chest. And I wished it were Poppy who’d dreamt it instead—maybe then I could hope it would one day come true, as so many of her dreams seem to.
Across from me at the small two-person table, Maeve tips her head and says, “You’re distracted today.”
I think to deny it, but I’ve learned Maeve is much too perceptive to be so easily tricked.
With a sigh, I set down my quill and prop my cheek on a fist. “I can’t seem to get Raelan out of my head. He’s driving me crazy.”
Maeve blinks her beautiful purple eyes and says simply, “I know. Do you wanna talk about it yet?”
One of my shoulders lifts in a shrug. “I’m not sure there’s anything to talk about.”
“Well...” Maeve sets her quill down and focuses in on me. “You could start with what happened that night you went to his room.”
My stomach flares with heat at the reminder of that night. I can still feel Raelan’s body against mine as he pressed me against the wall, my legs about his waist, our mouths hungering for each other. I haven’t told the girls any of this—though I’m not quite sure why. Lyra has certainly begged me enough. Perhaps it’s because I grew up withoutany siblings or even close friends. I learned at a young age to keep things to myself lest my parents and grandfather discover what I was up to and put a swift stop to it.
But maybe Maeve will understand. She won’t judge. And it would feelsogood to finally get this secret off my chest.
I glance around at the other students dotted through the library, but no one is paying us any attention. They’re all busy working on their own papers or flipping through heavy school tomes. One boy is asleep in an armchair by the roaring fire, head tipped back and mouth hanging open. The librarian makes quick work of waking him, sending a dribble of water splashing across his face with a flick of her water magic. The students around him laugh as he jerks awake.
With a soft sigh, I look down at the table and whisper, “Raelan and I kissed.”
I’m not sure how I expect Maeve to react, but when I look up at her, she’s simply smiling that knowing smile. Her long hair is pulled up in a sleek ponytail, and it glistens in the firelight. “I had a feeling. You two have been different since that day.”
Of course she noticed.
She arches a dark brow. “But why’s that bothering you now?” Her knowing gaze quickly assesses me. “You’re on edge. I can feel the static in your energy field.”
A sigh slips from my lips. “I don’t understand what’s going on with him. He kisses me like he wants me, and then he pulls away just as suddenly and acts like nothing happened between us.” I shift to rub my temple with myfingers. A headache is starting to bloom behind my ears. “He’s driving me mad.”
Maeve hums thoughtfully. “I think it makes sense.”
My eyes narrow. “How?”
“He’s your knight.” She shrugs nonchalantly. “I’m sure he can get in a lot of trouble for getting involved with you. He could probably lose his position on the guard, right?”
