Page 10 of Knight's End
I wondered if he was nervous. I was. Sitting in front of him made my stomach swoop with jitters just as much as the rise and fall of his gargoyle did. I knew him, but I didn’t. I knew his bird-self, a silly companion I’d grown fond of. But I didn’t really know Blue—the man. Not compared to the knights that I’d known for years.
I think he felt nervous too, because though I felt his excitement as he grew against me, he carefully backed his hips away, like he was embarrassed.
I sent him a mental image of us kissing. Of his hand sliding into my shirt and cupping my breast.
He sent me one back of him yanking my shirt down to my waist, freeing my breasts, placing his mouth on my nipples.
A rush of heat went through me.
“Whoa!” Connor yelled from his gargoyle beside us. “Do you want us all to crash? Don’t be sending those thoughts midair!”
I giggled, “Guess you thought-projected that to the whole group.”
Dammit,Blue thought at me.I wish I had a handle on this thought-talk thing. It’s difficult.
You’ll get there.
Our naughty thought exchange ended, but I tried to get to know him a little, by asking questions as he tried to steer his stubborn gargoyle in a circle.
What is your favorite childhood memory?
Blue pictured the day he arrived at the barracks on the border, far from his father. I watched him look at his own youthful expression in the mirror when he arrived and placed his few belongings under a window. He’d been skinny then. He hadn’t had much muscle tone or any tattoos—those clearly came from his time in the military. But his young face was still handsome with his thick black brows, straight nose, and thick lips. I had never pictured him without his beard, but his jawline was strong, with just a hint of stubble.
How old were you?
Sixteen.
Blue’s thoughts from that memory rolled through both of us as his commanding officer arrived and he stood at attention. He was a disgraced prince, not powerful enough to inherit. He watched the judgement in the officer’s eyes, tensing.
“Well, you’re a skinny mite, we’re gonna need to change that. But, no worries, you’ll be prime pickings for the brothel ladies in no time. Just lay off Halea, she’s mine. She tells you different, she’s just trying to piss me off.”
Blue’s shock had been complete. But his memory of the hope and immediate fondness for his commanding officer shone through the memory.
“I’m here to work hard, sir,” Blue had said.
“Good. You can go for a run, then meet me in the practice ring.”
The memory faded.
I squeezed Blue’s hand.Thank you for sharing.
Will … would you mind sharing something?Blue’s thoughts lacked the confident bravado of his words. His joking persona was gone, and inside, in his thoughts, I felt like I might be getting a hint of the real him, the insecure man beneath the mask of happiness.
I thought for a minute, deciding between memories. But ultimately I picked the first memory I had of Avia playing with me. I’d hovered over her cradle, trying yet another round of peekaboo. Her little brown hair had still had tiny baby curls at the end. Her little double chin had been adorable. And that day, that random day, I’d snuck into her nursery and away from my studies. I tried peekaboo for the millionth time—she’d been disinterested, or napping, or crying, every other time. But that day was the first time she giggled. My sweet little sister had laughed at me, and it had been a soul-stealing sound—that sweet, hiccup-sounding baby laughter.
Anyone who could hear that giggle and not fall immediately in love is a gargoyle,I thought at Blue.
You and your sister got along then?
I nodded.I used to joke that Avia was my better half. The good sister. She’s always been sweet and perfect. I was always a bit pig-headed. But she was so thoughtful. She used to give all the servants flowers on their birthday.
I brought up a memory of that and showed Blue an eight-year-old version of my sister, skipping down the hall and giving a daffodil to a maid who was up on a stepstool, dusting a painting. The simple flower had brought tears to the woman’s eyes.
I … don’t really know anyone like that,Blue admitted.
She’s one of a kind,I thought longingly. My chest ached a bit for her. And while Blue couldn’t feel my sadness, I guess I still projected my thoughts. My mind shifted to the last moment I’d seen her, when she’d been snatched by Blue’s shapeshifting dragon brother, before being carried off into the sky.
His hands tightened on my waist.
