Not now. But god—he wanted more.
“I see scratches. No bites”—she tugged down his shirt—“but even so, I think you ought to go to the hospital.”
Collin exhaled slowly, lungs aching with a tremor. He let his head fall back against the tree.
Her breath still lingered on his skin. A ghost of warmth that refused to fade. It tugged at his thoughts, pulled him gently out of the memory of the panther, out of the blood and fear—and into a far more dangerous place.
Now, it was onlyher.
Every nerve was aware of her presence, the quiet space between them charged and trembling. Whatever had just happened in the forest felt impossibly far away. She was closer. She wasnow.
He looked at her. “I heard you hit Uriah.”
Dragonfly’s expression tightened. “Who told you?”
“Aries saw it in the courtyard,” Collin said. “Whatever he did, I’m sure he deserved it.”
Her posture eased. “I didn’t mean to hit him so hard... but he kissed me. And when I pushed him away—he did it again.”
Collin grinned lightly. “Then I’m guessing he was following Nic’s bad advice. You shouldn’t hold it against him.”
She frowned. “Why are you defending him?”
He shrugged, though a reckless tide was already stirring in his chest—bright and unwise. Maybe it was leftover adrenaline. Maybe it was her. Either way, the words came before he could weigh them.
“What if someone else kissed you?” he asked, his voice low. “Would you be opposed... if it were me?”
Dragonfly gasped. Her cheeks flushed deep red. “No! I mean—yes. I don’t...”
She shot up to her feet, flustered, and Collin scrambled after her.
“Wait—what does that mean?” he asked, reaching for her before she could flee.
“I’m leaving,” she said sharply, her glare cutting. She reached for her bow, but Collin was already there. His hand closed over it.
For a moment, neither let go.
The bow tensed between them, the wood a tight line stretched between their hands. Their eyes locked—his lit with longing, hers burning cold with fury. And beneath that—something else.
He let go first.
She spun away, breaking the tension with a sharp twist of her body. But it was too late. He’d seen it in her eyes. Just for a heartbeat, before she masked it—desire.
It caught him off guard, even though he’d dreamed of it.
Had she always felt something for him? Was it buried, waiting to be uncovered—or already burning, just hidden behind her pride?
Was she afraid? Or just unsure?
Did she know he was already hers?
Collin quickened his pace until he fell in beside her. She didn’t speed up. That felt like progress—if not forgiveness, at least permission.
Still, she said nothing. Her silence clung to her like armor. She wouldn’t meet his eyes. But there was color high in her cheeks—not just anger. Something else was burning under the surface.
The silence stretched too long. Collin cleared his throat. “You’re finishing school soon, right? Have you thought about apprenticeships?”
Dragonfly shrugged, gaze fixed ahead, her jaw set.
