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I can’t hide the grin on my face as I pick up the glass of pinot and take a sip, “Damn, that’s smooth.” I whisper, eagerly swallowing another small sip.
The flight attendant comes back into view as she proceeds to the middle of the room, providing us with a safety demonstration, highlighting the emergency exits, and reminding us to fasten our seatbelts.
As she leaves, I notice Darian’s demeanor change as his impressive form relaxes into his seat, and he takes a long, drawn out sip of his wine, tossing me a knowing wink when he catches me staring at his mouth.
My heart skips a beat, and my cheeks warm.
I’m in so much trouble.
The pilot’s voice crackles through the audio system, but his words are garbled and difficult to comprehend. I give up trying to decipher the message and instead turn my attention to the window as we taxi toward the runway.
The plane’s engines grow louder, and my stomach flutters in response. It’s a familiar sensation that always accompanies takeoff.
Gripping the arms of my chair, My eyes squeeze shut as I take a deep breath, feeling the engines roar as we mark our final turn to the runway.
I startle at a sudden intrusion into my personal space, and my eyes snap wide open to find Darian leaning over me. His hands rest on either side of my body, his face mere inches away from mine. His mismatched gaze captures my attention completely as I forget how to breathe.
A surge of warmth spreads through me like wildfire amidst an ocean of tinder, igniting a deep fire within my core. It’s as if he’s sucked the air from the plane itself as his proximity overwhelms me and my cheeks flush deeply.
No one has ever affected me like this in my life, and it’s equally infuriating as it is concerning.
His large hands brush against the sides of my hips, their slow movement sending shivers down my spine and my heart pounds in my throat. With a deliberate and measured pace, his fingertips gradually make their way into my lap, intensifying the electric tension between us.
What is he...?
A rush of heat engulfs my entire body, making it feel as though I’m being consumed by the scorching intensity of the sun as I squeeze my thighs together. In the midst of this overwhelming sensation, I hear a subtle click that pulls my attention downward.
To my surprise, Darian has securely fastened my seatbelt in my lap and I blink down at the metal clasp before lifting my gaze to his.
The aircraft surges forward as a faint smirk graces his lips, amusement dancing in his mismatched eyes as he settles back into his seat as if nothing out of the ordinary just occurred.
The heat in my cheeks burns hotter, and I’m momentarily lost for words, both bewildered and flustered by his actions.
Stupid girl.
As we reach cruising altitude, after Darian and I have stretched our legs, he sets up a movie on one of the large wall-mounted TVs. Time seems to fly as the film progresses, and before I know it, the end credits start rolling marking the halfway point of our flight.
Deciding this is a good opportunity to stretch my legs and move around a bit, I push to my feet to alleviate some of the stiffness that has settled in my muscles.
Not wanting to trouble Heather for drinks any further, I opt to retrieve the pinot myself, glancing at Darian, a mischievous smile.
“Wine?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
He nods, extending his glass toward me and I playfully swipe it from his grasp before moving to the mini bar, a slight sway in my step. Like a sixth sense, I feel Darian following close behind as I open the bottle of wine, pouring its contents into our awaiting cups.
We stand there for a moment and I lean back against the bar, taking a long, leisurely sip and curiosity fueled by the wine emboldens me.
“So, do you have any family living in the realm you’re from?”
Darian’s gaze falls to the floor, his expression turning distant.
My heart drops as I’m certain my first question to get to know him ultimately ruined the lighthearted mood.
There’s a heaviness in the cabin and his voice carries a hint of sorrow as he speaks, “I have no blood relatives,” he begins, “Caspian killed our parents and nearly took my life as well. The only family I have left are my closest friends, the ones I consider my true brothers. That said, with the magic being bound, outside of Val, I don’t know what’s come of them in recent years.”
I swallow hard. “Caspian... he killed your...” I whisper softly, trailing off as I struggle to comprehend the scars he bears, both visible and not.
Darian’s features harden as he no doubt recalls the memories. “Yes,” he says, “Caspian is responsible for the loss of our parents, my eye, and these scars. I should have died that day.”
