AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"There's no music..." A crease forms between my eyebrows.
"We don't need it." I study him a moment, then place my hand in his.
His hand is warm, reassuring, as he pulls me to my feet. The room feels smaller, the air charged with something unspoken aswe step into the open space near the door. Loric's gaze is intense, his eyes a stormy silver that seem to see right through me, but it sends heat swirling through my middle, and makes my heart kick up the pace.
I swallow, trying to find my voice. "How do you dance without music?"
Loric's smirk deepens as he steps closer, his hand resting lightly on my waist. "You just feel it," he says, his breath fanning across my cheek. I can taste the wine on my lips, left there by him. It makes me crave more, but I don't dare try to kiss him again. I stay put, my hand hooked around his neck, the other clasped in his, and I let him guide me.
Our movements are slow and tentative as we start to sway, and I'm acutely aware of every point of contact, the heat of his hand through the fabric of my nightgown, the brush of his leg against mine.
"You're thinking too much," he whispers, and I realize I've been holding my breath.
"I'm not sure how to do this. I've never danced with anyone but Asmo, and that was very different."
He chuckles, a low, rich sound that sends warmth spreading through my chest. "If it helps, I'm not sure what I'm doing either," he confesses. "It just feels right."
His words hang in the air between us, and his grip tightens ever so slightly, pulling me a fraction closer. I let myself lean into him, my head resting against his shoulder. Loric's heartbeat is steady in my ear.
"Wow..." I say, as he pushes me out, twirling me halfway around. "Kiss a girl in the stairwell, and suddenly you're smitten."
He chuckles, my back pressing against his chest. Loric wraps his arm around my middle, pressing a soft kiss to my bare shoulder. "Not smitten. Notyet."
My cheeks flush at his words, but I feign indifference. His gaze drifts to the bestiary on the table and his movements become stiffer, until we stop swaying altogether.
"Have you figured out what you are yet?" he asks, his fingers toying with the strap of my gown, not taking it off my shoulder, but slipping up and down the length of it.
"Unfortunately, no, but Iamone step closer to figuring out what you are."
"Is that so?" He smiles against my shoulder, and I can practically hear the challenge in his voice. "What have you narrowed it down to?"
"That whatever we are, we're the same," I answer, trying to sound confident.
Loric hums thoughtfully, his grip on me tightening ever so slightly, intrigued by my deductions. "Why's that?"
"Because you wouldn't have been affected by me going into heat unless you were the same. It's likely why I never knew I had them, if I did at all."
Loric's smile widens as I turn to face him and he nods, seemingly impressed. "You've figured part of it out."
My eyes widen, taken aback by his acknowledgement. "So, you knew we were the same species this whole time?"
"No," he admits, running a hand through his unruly dark hair. "But I figured it out when I woke up next to you."
"Then what are we?" I step back, giving him room.
He narrows his eyes, weighing his head side-to-side. "I'll give you two guesses."
"Alright, fine..." I go to reach for the bestiary, but he puts his hand on it.
"From memory," he adds. I study Loric as he takes a seat on the bed's edge, his silver eyes flickering with a mix of emotions. He grabs the hem of my nightgown, tugging me closer until I'mstanding between his legs. The warmth of his body against mine sends shivers down my spine.
We could be phoenixes, which would explain how they controlled fire. I'd say fae, but they've all been banished and locked away in the shadow realm. Dragons are a solid possibility. They have talons, heats, mates, sharp teeth, and humanoid counterparts with the ability to control fire, along with a gift specific to their dragon. It would explain how Brenn and Loric have different abilities, but so can phoenixes, and a phoenix would be a lot more likely to help the king's daughter than a dragon, even if Loric admitted to there being some in the outer realm.
"Are we phoenixes?" I ask.
Loric shakes his head, breath caressing my skin. It sends a shiver down my spine as he trails a slow, deliberate path down the centerline of my body with his finger. "No."
Confusion furrows my brow, thoughts racing as I ponder the possibilities. "You're sure we're the same?"
