Page 63 of A Witch and Her Dragon
Was I wrong?
“Well,” I start, “maybe—”
The curtains around my bed are flung open, and Maeve stands there, Poppy lingering behind her. Isis is coiled around Maeve’s throat like a necklace, the top half of her body glistening black, her underbelly more vibrant red than Lyra’s hair. It still gives me a shiver to see how casuallyMaeve lets the snake slither across her, but I’m trying to warm up to Isis. Yuki is still hesitant around her as well, but Juniper, like Lyra, seems fearless around the snake. Maeve has promised that Isis will do us—and Juniper—no harm, but I’m not yet convinced.
“You just need to talk to him, Alina,” Maeve says, voice taking on a firm tone. She crosses her arms and pops a hip, her vibrant purple eyes homing in on me. “Tell him exactly how you feel, and ask if he feels the same way. That’s the only way you’re going to get the truth out of him.”
I blink up at her, lips open in surprise, and she tips her head.
“You two aren’t nearly as secretive as you think you are,” she says. “Also, don’t trust Lyra’s opinions. She’s in one messy relationship after another.”
“Hey!” Lyra says.
Behind Maeve, Poppy giggles and says, “Well, it’s true.”
“Doesn’t mean you have tosayit.” Lyra glares up at Maeve, and Isis hisses in response, making us both jump.
Maeve strokes a finger down Isis’s glossy black head, and the snake stops hissing and instead nestles herself into the divot at the base of Maeve’s throat. “I’m serious. You’ll drive yourself crazy trying to guess at his feelings—and besides, it’sRaelan. He’s like a block of stone. He’s good at hiding what he’s actually thinking.”
I slump my shoulders with a sigh. “I know. You’re right. It’s just...” I nibble on my lower lip, afraid of speaking the truth, of letting it take root in my heart. “What if he doesn’t feel the same way?”
“At least then you’ll know,” Poppy says. Her voice is quiet, and she stands a few steps behind Maeve, but even she has a point.
“And then you can either get with him or move on,” Maeve finishes. “It’s the waiting and wondering that’s the worst. It’s better to know.”
“I’m with them,” Lyra says, jutting a thumb toward Maeve and Poppy. She arches a fiery brow and says, “See? I have good opinions.”
Poppy laughs, and Maeve’s lips quirk up in one corner.
“Well?” Maeve tips her head at me, glossy purple-black hair tumbling over her shoulder in a sleek waterfall. “You gonna go talk to him or what?”
I TOUCH UP MY HAIR, swipe balm over my lips, and then go to stand before the door. My roommates huddle nearby, out of sight of the door, egging me on with whispers and waving.
Near my feet, Yuki looks up at me and says, “Whatever he says, I’m always here.”
I quickly kneel and pull Yuki into a hug, burying my face in his warm fur. He smells like home, like everything I’ve ever known. “Thank you,” I whisper. “You’ll always be my favorite, you know.”
“I know.” He whines softly and nuzzles his cool snout into the crook of my neck, then pulls away.
My heart thunders in my chest as I stand and face the door again, and I have to remind myself that this is Raelan I’m about to confront. Iknowhim—or what he’s allowedme to know, at least. He’s not a stranger. Not anymore. I can do this.
With a steadying breath, I open the door.
The air is much cooler out here than in our room, and goose bumps immediately rise along my arms. But perhaps that’s only partly because of the cold. I think the sight of Raelan is partially responsible.
He’s standing with his back to me, hands clasped behind him. His face is turned up to the stained glass window, as it often is, and when I step into the corridor, he turns his head slightly. It’s early evening, and the sun is setting. Golden light streams through the glass, limning his profile in warm yellow orange. His jaw is sharp, and I remember drawing my fingertips across his face, feeling the roughness of his stubble against my skin.
Raelan takes a visible breath, then turns fully to face me as I pull the door closed. “Your Highness.” He dips his head quickly, and it immediately sends a wave of cold anger through me.
Why is he acting like this?
“I want to talk to you,” I say, trying to keep my tone light.
Raelan straightens up. He levels his dark gaze on me. “Of course.”
When he makes no attempt to move, I gesture up the spiraling stairs toward his room. “Can we go somewhere more... private?”
As if to punctuate my point, two students come down the stairs at a quick clip, their boots thumping against the stone stairs.
