And stares.
And stares some more.
“So… they’re better than the males?” I’m not going to press, even though he never actually responded. I have enough processing to do. One more bombshell might be the one that tips me into a grippy sock vacation and I’m too poor to afford that particular medical resort.
Well, at least he’s stopped staring. His gaze is on his boots now, and his ears are turning red again.
“I’m not sure how to explain. The feminine strength, the power you find in our worlds… it’s quieter, deeper than the masculine power. Masculine power is more… overt, obvious. It’s… it’s quieter, softer, unyielding. For that same reason, Females are far more deadly when they’re roused beyond just surface temper. So, I suppose, it depends on your definition of ‘better.’”
I ponder this. “Are Females powerful? Feared?”
He nods.
“Oh, then definitely better. I should visit immediately.” I’m only kidding but he pales considerably. “Or not. So,” I pause, “What brings youhere?”
He finally looks a little uncomfortable. “Well, now that there’s peace…”
“What?! There’s peace?”
“Is that not what I just said? Yes, there’s peace.There’s very little for me to do and Calida wanted to go on an adventure to find her person, I wanted to explore other worlds so, well, here we are.”
How can he just say that? He’s talking like he just, I don’t know… hopped in the car and drove a couple hours to get to the nearest city rather than leaping through realms from a place where magick and dragons exist, to a regular suburban city bookstore owned by a slightly questionable old lady, and run by a wannabe writer with ADHD and trauma issues.
Okay. Maybe I’mnotprocessing this as well as I initially thought.
“How, exactly, did that work?”
“How did what work?” He’s confused. That makes two of us. This relationship is off to a rough start.
I will not raise my voice. I will not raise my voice. Iwillnotraisemyvoice.
“Crossing the freaking galaxy?!”
Shit. Total party foul.
He seems to shrink into the chair.
I take in a deep breath. In-2-3-4. Hold, 2-3-4. Out 2-3-4.
I feel like I just kicked a puppy with the look he’s giving me.
“I’m sorry. This is just… it’s a lot, okay? I’m just a lowly book clerk. A college drop out. A failed writer. I live in an apartment owned by my boss, within walking distance of my loved, but very dead-end job – for which I am grossly overpaid. Now, I have a Fae… warrior… sitting in front of me, a dragon searching my store forsnackies, a box of cinders, that used to be books I was donating this week and, frankly, a fucking headache.”
In-2-3-4. Hold-2-3-4. Out-2-3-4.
“I have no idea how any of this works. Or where you came from. Or where you’re going. I don’t understand how you just ended up on my doorstep with a tiny dragon. I don’t understand how I can possibly be Calida’s person. I just…I don’t understand.” That was a lame ass finish. Go Casie.
“Oh. Of course.” He straightens. “It’s complicated and as simple as breathing. It’s just a matter of accessing the magick inside. I thought of what we needed to find and let it guide me. Although this… world… wasn’t what I expected to find.”
“What were you looking for, Flint?”
His eyes pin mine. They’re so beautiful. Fuck, I hate eye contact, but I can’t look away.
“I was looking for you.”
My heart surges and bounces down to my knees.
Oh, shit.
