Page 69 of A Witch and Her Dragon
“I refuse to believe you’re dangerous,” I whisper, then recall how fearsome he is, how absolutely powerful and awe-inspiring his dragon is. “Well, at least to me.”
Raelan shakes his head. “I can’t do it. Can’t endanger you. I won’t. It’s why I’m leaving.” He takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
Before I can say another word, he sweeps across the room and presses a kiss against my mouth, his lips hot and hard and trembling against mine.
I can feel his desire, his anguish, his struggle to control himself. I want to wrap him in my arms and tell him everything will be okay, that we’ll figure this out together.
But then he’s gone, his long black cloak swirling as he pulls open the door and vanishes into the stable, moving so quickly I have to catch my breath beforehurrying after him.
“Raelan!” I yell as I squeeze my way through the gap in the sliding barn door and step into the windswept evening. But he’s already swinging a leg over his horse and pulling his hood up against the chill.
And he doesn’t even glance back at me as his horse gallops from the courtyard, his cloak billowing behind him as he goes.
“Raelan!” I scream again, but my voice is carried away by the wind, and it takes another thirty seconds of staring after him into the dark before I realize that tears are leaving frigid tracks down my cheeks and ice is creeping across my skin.
“Please, Your Highness,” Sir Callahan says from behind me. “We should get you inside, where it’s warm.”
But I’m not sure I’ll ever be warm again. Because the man I want—the man I may very well love—just left me behind, and I don’t think he’s ever coming back again.
Chapter 30
Raelan
I RIDE THROUGH THE DARKNESS, my dragon eyes granting me night vision as we speed away from the academy and onto one of the soft dirt trails that meanders through the Mistwood. The wind rustles the pine trees and sends dead leaves skittering around Penelope’s hooves.
Every stride carries me farther from Alina, but the pain in my chest only grows.
At least now she knows the truth. Now she won’t ever have to wonder if I want her.
I want her more than anything. But this changes nothing.
Loosening my hold on the reins, I give Penelope her head, allowing her to set her own pace down the wooded path.
And though all I want is to turn around and gallop back, to sweep Alina into my arms and carry her far away, to a place where only the two of us exist, I don’t allowit. I keep my gaze forward, my face turned firmly away from the academy as it no doubt disappears in a haze of darkness behind us.
I do what I should have done long ago: I leave Alina behind, where she’s safe, where I’ll never be a danger to her again.
My dragon weeps angry tears of flame.
And it’s the most pain I’ve ever known.
Chapter 31
Alina
IT TAKES ME MUCH TOO long to find sleep, and I’m awoken much too quickly.
I’m dreaming of Raelan, of his slitted pupils and gold-flecked gaze, when something stirs me awake.
Around me, all is dark. Yuki sleeps at the end of the bed, curled into a ball with his fluffy tail over his face, snoring gently. Is he what woke me?
There’s a distant sound, down on the main floor. A knock.
My skin prickles, my heartbeat spiking.
It’s the middle of the night. Who could possibly be at our door?
Deep in my chest, I yearn for it to be Raelan. Perhaps he’s returned, having realized the error of his ways.
