268
Lucy
We left the garden and headed down the quiet hallway toward the ballroom.
"Trent told me a bit," David said. "I'll have Hito talk to Duke more about the situation."
I worried my lip. "Is there any way to know for sure if someone has been assigned to watch Duke or me? And who they are?"
"What's on your mind?" David asked, his eyes reflecting a genuine curiosity.
"I just... I worry about Duke," I said.
David nodded. "He's been through a lot. But he's strong, Lucy. He's stubborn and cagey at times, but he's strong. He'll talk about it when he's ready."
"Cagey," I said. "Wary. I wonder if I'm being there enough for him."
"Hey," David said gently. "Duke knows that you love him. That when he's ready, you're all ears. He knows that because you're the first person he contacts when he needs to escape here. If it wasn't for him spending so much time with Hito, you'd probably always been the first person he tells when something goes wrong."
He cupped my face. "Don't think just because you can't fix it, you aren't helping, okay?"
I nodded. "I'll try. I just... I feel bad. Worse, actually, after everything Trent said and all my teasing about Tom..."
"Who is Tom?"
I explained how I met Tom and the fact that I was pretty sure Tom was interested in Duke, as well as the suspicion that he might be assigned to watch Duke.
"While it sounds possible that he's an agent, it's not usual that they'd use romantic interest as a method," David frowned. "I'll get with Trent and the Escort team to see what they've found out."
"As alpha, shouldn't you be getting alerted?"
He smiled. "You've been studying up. Yes, but politics, being as they are, there are some entities in the Council and beyond who don't bother with protocol when they can technically get away with it. I'm not twenty-one, so a lot of people don't recognize me as alpha yet if they know."
He scoffed. "This wasn't a problem when the twins took over because of Blue Moon's reputation, but that's neither here nor there. Anything that the Council can legitimately do to keep from me depends on who is involved with the situation. If Tom is an agent of a coven, it's likely that they just haven't told me yet or that he's on your campus for an entirely different reason."
"Like the hunters."
He nodded. "Ah, remind me to give a talisman. The shielding spell can be draining, and I don't want you to be defenseless."
"What about Duke?"
"Hito's already given him one. I have one for Michelle as well."
"Are Sarah and Amy not affected?"
"No," David said. "Or rather, no more that they'd be affected by any other magical item."
We arrived in the ballroom, and the instructor greeted us like normal. I changed shoes, and for a while, there was nothing else to think about but the music playing and following David's lead. It felt different now as if his Trial had changed more than just his eyes. There was a different kind of confidence behind his grace as he guided me through the Waltz. I could almost hear that song from my dream and smiled.
"What is it?" David asked.
"Just different."
He nodded. "Yes, it is."
As we twirled and glided across the polished floor, the movement felt easier. The nerves and the hesitance between us were gone.
"Your steps are getting smoother," David said with a smile. "You must really like the suit today."
I scowled at him. "It's just... easier now."
"I'm only teasing." He wiggled his eyebrows. "Though, wait until you see me in armor."
I bit my lip. "I think... I already have."
"You're going to have to tell me what you mean by that," he said, grinning.
"What's in it for me?"
He laughed and spun me around before drawing me close.
"I'll make you an offer you won't want to refuse." I cocked an eyebrow at him. "Chocolate."
I pouted at him. "That's unfair."
"I said you wouldn't want to refuse it," his eyes twinkled with amusement. "After dance dessert?"
I nodded, leaning into his arms as we finished the dance. For a moment, I let myself relax and think about how long it had been. It hadn't been that long. It was only September. My birthday had only been five months ago, yet my whole life had changed and changed again. I looked up at him and smiled.
"I have a request."
"Anything."
I bit my lip. "Could we... go somewhere for my birthday next year?"
He tilted his head. "You had somewhere in mind?"
I shook my head. "I just... I've never had a real birthday."
He nodded and stroked my cheek. "Well, I'll have to reserve something ultra special for your birthday then..."
The final notes of the Waltz lingered in the air as David and I came to a graceful halt. We stood in the center of the ballroom and bowed to each other as required.
"Thank you," I said, my eyes meeting David's.
"No, thank you," he replied, a whisper that echoed through the studio. "For being my partner in this dance."
I bit my lip, almost hearing the rest of what he felt, what he meant, and what one day I hoped I'd be ready to hear.
"That was marvelous!" Our instructor said. "You're improving so much. I can't wait to see you in the Tango."
We walked her out to the garage and waved her off before turning back to the kitchen. David tangled his fingers with mine.
"Is this okay?"
I nodded and squeezed his hand as we headed down the hallway toward the kitchen. He pulled out a few small containers, I grabbed spoons, and then he led me outside and around through a different path.
The moonlight played through the leaves, casting a dappled pattern on the ground as we headed toward the courtyard where we'd left Duke earlier.
Hunter twittered at us and hopped around. Duke's eyes widened as we came.
"Already done?"
"I asked to keep it short," David said, setting the containers on the table. "I thought... maybe you could use as much company as possible."
Duke's eyes glimmered like he would cry, but he said nothing, ducking his head as we settled at the table with him.
"... thanks." Duke looked up, a smile touching the corners of his lips. "How was the dance lesson?"
"Fantastic," David replied. "Lucy's improved a lot."
"She's always been a quick learner." Duke grinned at me. "Hopefully, that translates."
My face heated, but before I could scold him, David was talking again.
"It would make it easier to take you with me if you could pick up the languages quickly," he tilted his head. "Have you started taking a magical language yet?"
I blinked at them both and glared at Duke as he just continued to grin at me. His eyes sparkled.
"No... I don't know what that would mean."
"Witches, shifters, elves, fairies, and so on share a common language," David said, opening a container for me and passing it to me. I could see the chocolate mousse inside and beamed at him. "You should be taking at least the basics of it sometime this year, I think." He looked at Duke. "Have you started the class?"
"Maggie's been teaching me. He wants me to take other stuff at the Academy."
He nodded. "Makes sense. He wants to expand the potions lab, probably, before getting you in there with him."
He opened another container, then the third, before passing the third to Duke and handing him a spoon.
"Raspberry."
Duke took the spoon. "What are you buttering me up for?"
"To take the potion if you need it and stop worrying Lucy."
Duke scowled at him, but he didn't flinch as David placed a hand on his head. Duke's eyes widened and started to glow.
"You are safe here, Duke," David said, his voice taking on a richness that I could feel echoing through me, easing something I hadn't even realized was tense.
Duke's jaw trembled, and he nodded. David ruffled his hand and stood, taking the third container and spoon with him as his phone chimed.
"I've got a bit of work to catch up on," David said. "You two head to bed at a decent hour, alright?"
"I will do my best to convince him," I said.
David snickered. "Just strong-arm him. It's more effective. There are some pretty plush blankets in the living room. Have a pillow fortress sleepover."
He kissed my cheek gently before heading back inside. I looked back at Duke, watching him eat the dessert in his hand.
"You told him," Duke said. He shook his head, a playful smirk appearing. "Somehow, I shouldn't be surprised."
"He worries about you, too," I said, taking his hand. "And you do worry me, Duke."
He squeezed my hand. "Well, Alpha has spoken, we shouldn't disobey. What say you to roasting marshmallows and passing out in the living room?"
I smiled at him. "Sounds like fun."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
