My cheeks heat, but I try to push through my embarrassment. “I have no idea what he’ll decide, but I’m grateful I’m not in charge, because either decision seems to come with a lot of risks.”
“You didn’t answer about the Hollowborn.”
I keep my tone even. “It was just a silly moment. He was probably just playing with me.”
“Hewasdefinitely playing with you, I just want to make sure you know that,” Prince Lucien says, a possessive note to his voice.
I roll my eyes. “Whatever. It’s not like I’m going to fall for a Hollowborn, so let’s move on from the kiss.”
Prince Gareth suddenly sits up. “Speaking of the party, it’s getting late. We should probably go.”
I sigh.
The three men get up, and I climb to my feet. “Ebron and I might take the long way home.”
“You’ll go directly home,” Prince Gareth says, his tone leaving no room for disagreement.
“Try to make me,” I mutter, heading for Ebron.
Prince Gareth catches my arm. “Don’t think this little moment changes anything between us.”
I salute him sarcastically. “Yes, sir!” Then I yank my arm out of his hand.
Yes, these three men are more complicated than I thought, but no, we’re not suddenly going to become friends. A person can have good things about them while still being an asshole. Both things can be true. And these men are most certainly assholes.
7
Harper
We’re flying backto the academy, but there’s a thrumming under my skin. A need to do something other than return to the academy and take on the next task. I’m tired of the tension. I’m tired of the fighting. I just want to have a little fun.
“Ebron, want to play a little?”
He sounds amused in my mind as he says,What do you have in mind?
I stand on Ebron, arms out at both my sides, and close my eyes. It’s an incredible feeling. I love the air rushing all around me. I love the sensation of flying.
“Harper!” Prince Gareth shouts nearby.
Opening my eyes, I see him flying at our side, looking concerned. I send a thought to Ebron, grin at Prince Gareth, then leap off Ebron’s back. The air whips me, harder this time, so hard it’s painful, but I relish the feeling as adrenaline pumps through me. Below, the water rises up, a shockingly hard surface from such a far fall.
Then, Ebron is there, his solid body beneath me, and I fall hard onto his back, grinning like a mad woman as I realize all three men have dove down to catch me too. As we rise, they adjust their dragons’ directions to come up along with us.
“What the fuck!” Prince Gareth shouts angrily.
I smile back. “Come on. I’m just having a little fun.”
“That’s not fun,” Prince Alaric says, the scales of his white dragon flashing beneath the sunlight. “It’s reckless and dangerous.”
“What’s life without a little danger?” I say.
Prince Lucien’s golden dragon knocks into Ebron ever so slightly, and his gaze locks with mine. “You’re absolutely insane. You know that?”
I lift a brow. “Afraid of a little fun?”
He shakes his head of beautiful golden waves. “I’m not afraid of anything.”
“Try it then,” I challenge. Then I look at the others. “Try it.”
