Page 69 of Resurgent

The silence isn't awkward anymore, which is new.

Glancing at her, I can’t help but admire how stunning she looks, the sunlight catching in her hair, and the faintest smile still tugging at her mouth.

I wonder what it would be like to—

I take half a step closer.

A low growl rolls through the air and I nearly jump out of my skin.

I look around, but I see nothing.

Then I see a crimson and black dragon watching us from across the courtyard.

I swallow hard.

Right, her dragon. Her extremely protective and perceptive dragon.

I subtly move back to where I was, but not subtly enough for Annalise not to notice.

"Something wrong?"

"Nope."

Her eyes narrow like she’s ready to force it out of me, but I smile back innocently. "Absolutely nothing."

She clearly doesn't believe me.

We reach the barracks, and I swear for a brief second, a panicked look flashes across her face.

“I’m not following you, I swear. I’m barracks E too. Room 223.”

"You've got to be kidding."

"What?"

“Our rooms are in the same hall,” she laughs, though it’s more like the one I heard for the first part of our mission. “I’m room 212.”

We’re not neighbors by any means, but we’re close.

"Guess we're neighbors."

"Apparently."

She pulls out her phone. “I’m actually going up to Matt’s room to wait for him, but give me your number."

Far faster than I’m ready to say goodbye, she’s done typing and saving me as a contact.

"Now you can text me when you inevitably realize I was right about the cinnamon crisps."

"I will never admit that."

"You will."

"Never."

She smiles.

"I'll see you later, Theo."