“And tried to use this opportunity to get closer to you,” Tynan said.
“I don’t think he did.”
“I know what I saw.”
I shook my head, too exhausted to argue. Tynan watched me for a long moment before picking me up, bridal style.
“What are you doing? I can walk.”
“You’re still in shock.”
“Put me down. I’m serious. What would people think?” I tried to force him to let go of me.
“I don’t care about other people,” Tynan said.
My arms wrapped around his neck, and I inhaled his dark and dangerous scent. His closeness and primal masculinity acted like a drug, infusing my bloodstream with a need I never knew before. I craved the sense of security that I had with him. His hot body melted me from within and I could not get enough, even if I was too embarrassed to admit it. I looked further into the valley trying to process the wave of emotions that his words stirred within me.
We were by Grace’s house when Tynan placed me carefully on the ground, before opening the front door for me. I stood watching him for a long moment, before looking away. I pushed the door open and abruptly stopped. Inside, Frid was picking up the plates and pieces of food that were scattered all over the floor. The kitchen table was lying in the middle of the room, folded like a tumbled house of cards.
“What... what happened?” I asked, pausing in the doorway.
Victor appeared from the second bedroom looking disheveled, his eyes burning bright and his hair more tousled than usual.
I could hear a quiet laugh behind me and glanced back at Tynan who covered his eyes with his hand.
“The table was pretty old, it just collapsed,” Victor said.
I glanced back at Frid, who avoided looking at me. Justthen the realization of what must have happened hit me, and I felt like my whole face turned beet red.
“Do you want to tell us something?” Tynan closed the door behind us.
“About?” Victor raked his hand through his hair.
“Come on. Do you really want me to say it?” Tynan crossed his arms on his chest.
“We are together! Alright?” Frid threw the kitchen rag on the floor and got up.
“Alright,” I whispered, too embarrassed to say anything else.
“I didn’t know I had to ask for your permission.” Frid looked straight at Tynan, her head raised high.
Ignoring Frid’s words, Tynan walked straight to Victor who did not take his eyes off him, not even for a moment.
“Don’t. Mess it up!” Tynan said, and the signs of relief appeared all over Victor’s face.
The wind just died down when Frid, Tynan, Sol, and Victor got to their seats on the raised platform that overlooked the spacious area in front of the castle. At that point, I had heard so much about Dreich that I was curious to see it.
“What is this for?” I turned to Frid, who held Victor’s hand on her knees.
“This is an annual competition in combat skills. The clan warriors are showing to the leader what they have mastered this whole year,” Frid responded.
“Did you have to do that too?”
“Yeah. Every year.” Frid extended her neck, looking at the people on the stands.
I leaned back on my bench and stole a quick glance toward Tynan. Contrary to the way I felt about everything in Darragh, it did not seem like he liked to be a part of any of the traditions. Not for the first time, I wondered what growing up here was like for him.
Solomon was flirting with a pretty, dark eyed girl who sat beside him, and his demeanor had completely changed. I couldn't help overhearing his words, and my cheeks flushed when I realized how inappropriate the conversation was.
