“Oh,” she says, and it seems like her smile dims. “Becks is a good guy. If there’s anyone you want on your side against a demon, it’s him. He’s super powerful, and his protective instincts run deep. That’s a dragon shifter for you.”
I smile, thinking about the first night when he ran into my room when I screamed.
“I’m well acquainted with those instincts.”
She tilts her head. “Sounds like there’s a story there.”
“Not much of one,” I admit. “I saw his control slip once, during a snowstorm when he thought I was in danger. He was embarrassed that I saw his scales.”
The smile on Locklyn’s face does more than dim this time. It drops completely off her face. “He lost control of his shift?”
Shoot. Was I not supposed to tell anyone about it? I hope Becks won’t be mad that I did.
“It wasn’t a big deal,” I say, trying to brush it off. “It was just a flash of scale.”
Locklyn nods, but there’s a touch of something in her eyes that has me on edge. It feels like I’m missing something. But what?
“Anyway,” I say, stepping up onto the second-floor landing. “I should probably grab a shower and then head to bed. It’s getting late.”
“Of course,” Locklyn says with a nod.
I’m about to walk away when she says my name. I pause to find a genuine smile on her face, her expression hesitant, shy, even.
“I hope this isn’t weird to say, this whole situation is kind of bizarre, but I want you to know I’m really glad to have a sister. I always wanted one. We’ve lost a lot of time, but I’m looking forward to getting to know you.”
I nod, understanding. “Me too. Becks has told me so much about you, it almost seems like I know you already. He’s one of your biggest fans, you know.”
“The feeling is mutual. Like I said, he’s a good guy. A great one, in fact.”
“Agreed,” I say, feeling a little less scared about suddenly having a sister.
Twenty-One
BECKS
When I knock lightly on Haven’s door, her soft voice answers from the other side, telling me to come in. I step into her room to find her facing away from me, her hair still damp from a shower and hanging in loose waves, leaving a wet spot on her back. She doesn’t turn until the door clicks shut behind me, her eyes going a little wide when she spots me standing in her space. She must have been expecting someone else.
“Is now a bad time?” I ask, careful to pay attention to any micro-expressions that she doesn’t want me here.
A lot happened tonight, so she may want space, but it’s also why I felt compelled to check on her.
Locklyn has had far more time to come to terms with the fact that her sister is still alive. I’m sure their first meeting stirred up complicated feelings for her, but she has Talon.
For Haven, all this is fresher, more raw.
Then there was the other thing that happened tonight. The one that involved me.
We crossed a line tonight, and I don’t know how Haven feels about that. I thought I read the signals right—the lingering looks, the way she blushes when I tease her, the smile she gives me when I walk into a room. But maybe I was wrong. Maybe she was just caught up in the moment and doesn’t want anything to change between us.
That would be hard. Because it’s already changed for me. The more time I spend with her, the harder it is not to want more.
The timing sucks, but I’ve been dreaming about her lips for days. Tasting them only makes me want more.
More of her.
One taste and now I’m hooked.
If she only wants to be friends, I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it this time. I may have plenty of experience in that role, but with Haven, something tells me there’s no going back.
