Chapter 19
I couldn’t open my eyes. Least I didn’t want to open them. I should get up, I grumbled. But I couldn’t move my body. My eyes were heavy, gritty, and too damn tired to even blink; after forcing my heavy hand to move, I wiped my face. I was uncoordinated, stifling a groan. What the hell happened last night? I palmed my forehead and forced one eyelid open, to instantly close them at the sight of bright light. Breathing hard, I tasted the vile aftermath of last night, dinner, wine and—I don’t even want to know. Had I thrown up? I half clawed my hair, unknotting my twisted locks; it was tangled and loose. Loose? Whoa. Where were the clips, the hair pins? My fingers sought aimlessly through my hair coming up empty of any; I groaned to peek. My room.
My room?
How the brown dragons, did I get to my room? I yawned at the knowledge. My tongue was stuck to the roof of my mouth, trying to find some saliva to wake myself better. I pushed as hard as I could too sit-up. My head hung forward, in need of falling off, but for the neck, holding it in place; there was no hope it was going anywhere, even if I didn’t want the sickening feeling running through my body. I peeked and saw to my surprise, a brown trunk at the end of my bed. How did that get here? Why was it here? I rolled my head—bad move. Everything twisted and hazed, which had me fall to the pillow.
A low humming echoed, and I flicked my hand to make it go away
“I’ll do it later …” I managed in a croaked voice.
My head was pounding, and the hazy voice slowly eased enough for me to unclog my memory. The festive, the party. Yes, the Royals. I remember meeting them, least at the beginning I remember meeting them. Then—Karson.
“Uh …ouh.” I palmed my head. Shit. Karson! Double crap. I gazed around my room bleary eyed and dazed. Last night, Karson told me to go to bed, I didn’t. Crap. I got wine. I got drunk and, Connor? That had me pause in my state of panic.
Connor Dalton.
Tall, good-looking, perfect to hold and dance with, to talk to, laugh with, and joke around. My mind filled with funny moments. We had stolen a bottle of wine off the main table.
“Ver’Rah Harlow Red.” He called it.
I had to laugh because it sounded wrong and not like wine at all. The smile remained as I filtered on the memory, stumbling along, talking aimlessly to all the Royals and then—Karson.
I forced myself to sit.
We had run into Karson, his heavy frown was dark; Tora stared at me as if I were amusing, but it was Connor, who made it even more humorous, pulling me away and laughing so hard I couldn’t even think. What the hell happened? Did I say something I shouldn’t? Did I do something? Karson was glaring at Connor. Then, there was laughing and dancing. My mind lingered on Connor. He was strong, careful, and graceful as he smiled endlessly as I did. He was a gentleman, helping me up when I fell down; he was holding me. Staring into his eyes, those eyes, deep brown saucy chocolate eyes. I was touching his face, reaching up, and then.
I blinked.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Did we kiss?
Did we … I pulled the covers back. Dressed. The coral white dress was where it should be, a little crinkled now that I had slept in it. What the hell happened? I rubbed my eyes, and trying to find some answer, I spotted my shoes at the door, placed there safely. And my hair clamps, on my desk. My eyes fell on the trunk. How did that get there? Trying to remember when I had encountered this trunk. It was before Connor, even Karson. The Sapherian Queen. She gave me the trunk full of clothes, and here it was. Still didn’t explain how it got in my room. The small flashes of images were nothing to the big picture. My lids were beyond heavy. I rubbed my head and turned to the side table.
Eleven thirty!
Was I seeing that right?
It was eleven thirty.
I stood, unsteady as I was; I gazed out the window. Sure enough, it was near noon. Sun was out, the birds were singing, clouds rolling in the horizon across a perfect summer blue sky; and to my surprise, several Ryders were in the Combat Yards.
Damn it. Combat.
I turned, too fast and found my head spinning. Slumping to the bed, I rolled over with a groan. “Later …” I mumbled into the pillow. “I’ll do it later.” I groaned and rolled my head. “Just a few more minutes.”
It was later, past midday when I rolled over. I forced myself to stumble to the shower room. I need to wake up, I need to go and tell Karson I won’t be working out.
Once in the shower, the heat and the smell of soap suds un-fogged my tangled thoughts from last night. Karson, Corbin, even Connor flashed in my mind, endlessly with Connor. Who was he? A Ryder of Em’Adels, who wore a long coat, a dark angel who became my partner in crime of laughter and wine. He was there for me; more than I realised, and he was everything I could have needed. But did we sleep together? The question had stirred before, but I hadn’t thought it through. Did we kiss? And how did I get to my room? How did that trunk get to my room? What time did I return to my room? Oh, crap. Karson knew I had been drinking. That was the look. The dark look he gave me, which was tripled with anger when he saw Connor. Tora was smiling, watching me with a look of intrigue. Hmmm … Tora. She was the reason I drank in the first place. It was her fault. I laughed aloud with that thought, hearing the echoes bounce off the shower room walls. Yeah, right. It was Karson mostly. He made me feel like a child. His mixed signals confused me, touching me, to not touching me, to leaning in to kiss me—days ago. But he openly kissed Tora all night. Least from what I can remember.
Clunk.
The water was protesting. Damn. I need to stop using so much of the water. Part of my hazy brain said a limit set in place for a reason; I couldn’t hold the knowledge for long.
I pulled on the standard clothes of Draeos, leggings, brown tunic and a green leather skirt. Hmm … Green, just like the Em’Adels. Connor, he wore a green tie, though he had it undone. I remember winding my fingers through it and tugging it. Had I pulled it from him, had I removed it, his shirt? Mmm … His shirt. It was a collard shirt, more and more men were starting to wear those types of shirts; twice as dashing when I made the collar sit up, fuzzed his hair. The spiked bronze hair wouldn’t go flat. He laughed and gazed at me with those brown eyes, sharing another drink, and didn’t stop with the flirting, teasing touches, hugs and … was there more? Did we share a bed? From the memories, it was clear we had a connection, always smiling, watching, and laughing. His actions suggested he was enjoying himself, amused with me. Taking in my body, I puzzled if more happened. To have been with him intimately, did we share in each other? A smile touched my lips, only to frown instantly. That wasn’t fair if we did. I couldn’t remember. I glared at the mirror. My face was puffy, more noticeable under my eyes, sleep was what I needed, and my hair was tangled around my shoulders. I quickly twisted it into a side braid. I was as good as I was going to look. Now, I had to face Karson.
On my way to find Karson, I stopped at the Dinner Hall to check if he was there. It was half noon, many Royals were gathering for lunch as I too did the same. Fruit and water was what I needed. I’ll visit Karson in a moment. With a scan of the room, I knew he wasn’t here. I didn’t want to stomach anything and sipped my water at the first table that wasn’t crowded. Closing my eyes, I pressed my thumb and forefinger to my temple to shift the pounding in my skull.
I’m not drinking wine ever again. Never. Ever. Ever will I drink wine like that.
The chatter around the room was loud, the Royals for the most part showed no sign of their night’s events, and I was sure many others were drunk like me. Odd. Why would they look fresh and ready, and I was a mess and wanted more sleep. Maybe that was why they were Royals, which was why they were so good at what they do. Some glanced at me with smiles on their lips, knowing smiles and wide eyes. What did I do last night? Who? Popped into my mind. Oh, crap. I hope I didn’t get into too much trouble. I was dancing with Connor a lot. I was showing him dances in Plumridge and he was showing me how to dance like the Ryders; elegant and perfect. I laughed, unabl
e to hide the smile, which made my head throb, and I leaned forward.
Never. Ever. Ever.
“I see you’re a little over the limit this fine lunch time.”
I peeked to the speaker, a smile spreading on both of us; embracing the stranger before me.
“You’re here.” I croaked. “What the hell happened?” I asked as he gave a tight squeeze to the hug as he sat beside me. I darted a look around the tables of guest, to stare at those brown eyes. He appeared like the rest of the Royals, unaffected by the night’s events; and I was sure he drank as much as I did, if not more. He was male, so maybe he was used to drinking that much. But still, no sign of a sore head, or puffy eyes. He was happy, perfect.
“Well, how much do you remember?” He asked, resting his elbows on the table; keeping his eyes on me.
“Um … you were on the balcony. Something about having a party … it’s all fuzzy.”
“Yes, drinking would do that to you. You and I had our own shindig.” A warm smile showed; watching his lashes blink, I was distracted by them. “You danced, laughed and danced some more, and finally, it all became too much just on the rise of the sun.”
“Dawn! I didn’t get to my room until dawn?” Oh, crap. Karson is going to be so mad with me. “Did we run into Karson?”
Connor smiled, he tilted his head; that wide smile was reassuring. “Don’t worry; your secret is safe with me.” He tapped his chest with two fingers, keeping my secret.
“Hu.” What secret?
“You were a little unsure about a certain someone who made you go crazy and you realised it was a mistake.”
“Oh. Right. I told you about that?” My cheeks flushed.
“Yup. You told me all about it on the balcony.”
“Which is why you had to drag me away from Karson with the strength of ten dragon claws.”
“Something like that. It’s okay. You were happy at least. You have a laugh of an angel.”
“Um … anything else embarrassing?”
“No. It was all in fun and laughter.” He winked, and I relaxed with a smile.
His warm brown eyes penetrated into mine, and in the haze of my head; all I could think was. Did we kiss? Did we do more than kiss? Was there a lot of kissing? My eyes fell on his lips, supple, well defined lips that said—I would like those to kiss me. The bottom lip was fuller; the curve at the corner was not quite a smile, making it a secret look on his mouth.
“Um … did … we …”
He placed his finger on my mouth. “You were nothing but huggable, lovable, and laughable.”
“Meaning?”
“You hugged everyone a good night ten times, and stayed with me.”
“So. We … Um … did we do anything …private?”
Again, his finger was on my lips; my breath caught on his touch as he leant closer. Scents stirred my senses, oak, pine, leather, forest, earthy and all things … him.
“I would never disrespect a lady of the 1st house.” He whispered. I blinked, focusing on his words. No, he isn’t going to kiss me.
“Hu …”
He chuckled, tucking a stray strand of hair around my ear. “No, we didn’t do anything hasty … though you hugged me a lot and kept calling me an angel.”
“Hmm …” I smiled. “I remember that.” I glanced at my goblet of water, sipping it slowly. “So, can you tell me how the trunk got to my room?”
“You wanted to drag it there yourself, managed for a while, but I added some mânã to your lifting skill and you were happy about how much lighter it was.”
“You helped me put it there?”
“Yeah, it was just after the first bottle of wine.”
“First?” I stared at him wide eyed, while swallowing my mouthful of water, painfully. There was more than one?
“We had three all up.”
“OH, my Drae’Gon. No wonder my head feels so awful.” I pressed my hands to my brow, half resting, and trying to push the pain away.
“Hmmm …” Connor shifted in his seat. “I did help drink half of it, if that helps your pain.”
He was amused as I peeked from the corner of my eye. I sat taller, and reached for my water to clear my throat before asking my next question.
“So. How did I get to my room?”
“I carried you.”
“Gugh!” I gagged on the water. Swallowing hard, Connor instinctively patted my back with concern.
“You laughed and cried for the last time on the top tower that it was all too much to watch the sun rise.”
“Oh, crap! You must think I’m pathetic.”
“No. I wouldn’t think that, no matter how many glasses of wine you could drink in a row.”
He touched my heated cheek. The image of Karson doing this same thing the other day flashed in my mind. Here it was magnified, intense and happening. I might just be hazy, but I could swear an electric current from his touch.
“So … when we ran into Karson … did he say anything? No, wait, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know. I’ll discover the truth soon enough.”
“Relax Rehema. Nothing bad happened. I just pulled you away.”
“With magic?”
“Beside the point. You were upset for a reason, and I understand. You needed someone to talk to, and thankfully, I’m a good listener.”
“Oh, no. Now I have to get another mentor don’t I?”
“What!” Connor blinked at my outburst.
“Because of what happened … me … him … it’s all out in the open, isn’t it.”
“No. I told you. Kept your secret. And you have not stuffed up whatever weird relationship you held with him. You should be good to continue your apprenticeship.”
“I should? You mean you don’t know for sure.”
“Well, Karson takes a lot to piss off and doubt he’d walk away from one small moment.”
“Takes a lot? You sure we’re talking about the same man?”
“Well, I got the rest of your story in the courtyard. Doubt he even knew what your intentions were.”
“What did I tell you exactly?”
“The basics. You liked him, he played your feelings, and didn’t give reasons why he was doing it, and you saw him with Tora; end of basic.” Connor turned his eyes away. “Besides, I was there to listen, help out.” He sounded vague, hurt, but not showing it completely.
Was he going to leave? Not talk to me anymore? Did I want that? No. I didn’t. I liked Connor. Strange, I had only just met him, but I liked him.
“You’re right about one thing,” I said after a moment.
“Hmmm … what’s that?”
“That I can continue my training as it was. He mentors’, I learn. I’m released from all that was said. No more mix up.”
“You sure?”
I nodded. “Positive.”
His infectious smile mimicked on my lips.
“I’m glad to hear that.” He winked smoothly, shifting his hand, retrieving a vial from inside his coat. Why he was wearing a thick coat was amazing; it wasn’t cold. “And this will help with your awful headache.” He handed me the vial, his fingers brushed mine before slipping his hand away. Holding up the vial of yellow liquid, I frowned at the contents. “You have to take it all in one go. No gagging or it won’t work.”
“Right.”
It wasn’t easy swallowing it in one go. As soon as it touched my tongue, I wanted to throw it up. Connor laughed; with a raised finger, he made sure I swallowed it. I chased the remaining taste with a cup of water. Once I was sure my mouth wasn’t about to burn, I gave him another embrace. “Thank you. For being there, and for this.”
He tightened his hold, “Anytime.” He slipped his arm away and I reluctantly turned to my bowl of fruit, as he did the same. After a few mouthfuls of his roasted lunch, he turned to me.
“I don’t know if you remember me talking to you last night, but I’m here for the two months while the Em’Adels are working on codes and clauses. You wouldn’t mind if I hung ar
ound you?”
My body tingled.
“That would be great. But I have to wait until after class. Maybe in the evening hours.”
“It’s the holidays.”
“Yeah. I know. But I have to work with Karson.” I raised a brow and he knitted his together. “He’s my mentor, because I’m so far behind. Don’t you remember me telling you that?”
“I do. Though, there wasn’t much else spoken about Karson on him training you. I just didn’t think you would be working all the time.”
“Every day. No rest for me.”
“Damn, that’s not any fun.” His smile was sad. “Have to bug you after class then.”
“That’d be neat. And least now I’m cured.”
“Cured?”
“Yeah. No more feelings for … you know who. An angel saved me.”
His smile mimicked mine.
“Hmmm … you did tell me that part a lot too.”
“See, there was communicating.”
He finished his meal and pushed the tray forward. He propped his hand under his jaw line to turn his face to me. Drinking in his chiselled features. The word perfect came to my mind often. I was thankful we didn’t share a bed, but a little sad that we didn’t. Not remembering aside, I found it would have been nice, to have his hands along my body, on my skin. The flush of my cheeks had me look away. Trying to still my nerves and my desire, I said the first thing that came to mind.
“Did you make that potion?”
“Yeah, my trade secret.” He winked.
“It’s good stuff. I can’t get any of my potions to work.”
“Maybe it’s not you, but your trainer,” Connor chuckled.
“It’s me. I’m pretty sure I’m the worst tutelage Karson has ever had. I got a little distracted. But I should apologise to you.”
“For what. I had a good night, got the same stone-cold stare from my former mentor, and managed to tease and hug his tutelage to no end.” His wink had my heart flutter.
How he managed that was a mystery. Corbin winked at me before, I didn’t go weak at the knees, and even when I was sitting next to Karson in the meditation garden. I didn’t even feel this connection with him, or even Bronson back when he was sort of nice. Not even Milton. Now that I thought about it, I realised I had never felt like this with anyone. There was something here I couldn’t explain, and all I wanted, was to reach out and touch his arm. I covered my need with a question.
“That’s right. He was your mentor before. Don’t you like him anymore?”
“Well, like has its levels. He did break your heart. Headache potions are one thing, but broken hearts. Not sure how to fix one of those.” His grin would suggest otherwise.
“I didn’t get a broken heart. It was just a mix up, on my part—big time.”
“Maybe.” Connor shrugged. “He shouldn’t have treated you like that. He knew you were having these thoughts, feelings. He played your emotions, and I guess I don’t think it’s fair on you. You are young.”
“I’m not that young.” I pang of fear leaped into me.
“For him. Yes.” He parted his mouth ready to add more and closed it.
“Well, it was stupid of me to think what I was thinking. He’s a teacher—my mentor. I shouldn’t have even tried to like him.”
“Well, it’s not that you can’t. All girls have trouble. But you didn’t act on your desire. He did. And that isn’t fair on you.”
“So, that’s why you hate him?”
“No. That’s not why I hate him.” He was amused, less angered. “But I’ve added it to my list.”
“Did I tell you every single detail of my feelings last night?”
“Yeah, pretty much. Though, you did reminisce about your father for a good two hours. Nice man he was. And a shame he isn’t here for me to talk with.” He tilted his head, the hue of his eyes captivated me instantly, the outer rim was darker, black with flecks of almond hues in his autumn brown eyes, which had me melting.
“Did I cry? I bet that made you want to run away.”
“Never. And no. You didn’t cry. You were talkative and laughable; tripping over your own two feet, which was when the hugging became constant.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“Please. No more sorrys’. You were most entertaining, but welcoming.”
“Hmmm … I don’t remember any of that. Are you sure, I didn’t do anything bad. I mean— anything?”
“Positive. You were a delight. That one small moment where I had to drag you away, and everything was back to normal. Promise. Your secret is safe, cross my heart.” His fingers crossed his chest, which had me take in his coat and vest. He was well defined, not overly broad. Only a few Ryders were as broad and muscled as Karson, most resembled Connor. A strong physique, masculine, not skinny, or brawny, perfectly built with strength.
I slid my hand across the table, touching his hand. A surge of warmth and a buzz hummed inside of me. “You are an angel. Thank you.”
He turned his hand around to squeeze my fingers in his palm. “My pleasure. And if you wish to do it tonight. I’m sure we can get a crate of wine if you like.”
“Oh, no. No wine for me, ever again.” I rubbed my temple. The throb was less, and I realised his potion was working. Not as tired or hazy, but more alert.
Hearing Connor chuckle had me smile. True happiness reflected to me. I didn’t understand where my feelings for Karson went. I liked him yesterday; I even had an argument with La’Kera about liking him forever. Now, I was seeing Connor. Taking in his handsome features, defined and cheeky, with a hint of that something else all Ryders had. Connor reached over and brushed the strand of hair around my ear. His placid features were watching me, reading my emotions as I blushed and pressed my lips together, and hiding a smile and the tingle that his touch made.
“There you are.” The voice startled me, turning to see the one person I was meant to be looking for. My brain was sluggish. Oh, crap—Karson!