Chapter 15
Harlow
Holy shit balls!
Did we almost kiss? Did that just almost happen?
Did it, or was it my imagination?
I stand frozen in Drake’s living room, my heart hammering as I stare at the spot where his face was moments before. The air between us had crackled with something electric, something dangerous, and for one insane second, I thought he was going to lean down and cover my lips with his.
No! No way. It was just my imagination.
My overactive, traitorous imagination that apparently finds the brooding dragon shifter appealing despite every rational thought in my head screaming that he’s nothing but trouble.
I look back at Drake for a second, catching his narrowed eyes. He looks angry – with me. So nothing new, then.
Yep, he definitely didn’t want to kiss me. I’m an idiot for even thinking it.
I would have pushed him away and slapped him. I would not have kissed him back.
“Hide,” he whispers. “You can’t be seen in here. This would look bad. Go hide in my bedroom until they leave.”
I want to argue, to tell him I don’t need to hide from anyone, but the urgency in his voice stops me.
He is half dressed…make that, barely dressed.
He is also my Academy leader, and I’m just a lowly Tribute.
After what happened between Dani and Ash, this would look bad.
So, I hurry toward his bedroom, slipping inside just as there is another knock at the door.
I don’t quite close the bedroom door behind me, leaving just enough of a crack to hear what’s happening in the living room. For a moment, I think about hiding in the closet, but that seems too ridiculous even for this bizarre situation.
We didn’t do anything. I have nothing to feel bad about.
We haven’t slept together or kissed or…anything. Yet here I am, feeling distinctly like the other woman when it couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Amelia,” Drake says as he opens the door, and my heart sinks. It’s her. His primary rider. “What are you doing here?” he asks, sounding bored.
I sneak closer to the crack in the door, positioning myself so I can see into the living room without being spotted.
“I’m sorry to bother you,” Amelia says.
“Come inside,” Drake tells her.
“I’m here about the Tribute. I had that talk with her, as discussed, and it’s just that I don’t trust her not to mess this up.”
She starts pacing Drake’s living room, her hands clenched at her sides. She looks worried and upset.
“What happened to make you feel that way?” Drake asks, frowning.
“It was her whole attitude,” Amelia snarls. “I can’t believe this happened. I can’t believe your dragon mind-bonded with someone like her. She’s going to mess this up. You know that, right?”
Heat floods my cheeks at her dismissive tone. Like I’m some kind of incompetent child who can’t be trusted with basic instructions.
“She won’t,” Drake assures her. “Harlow is trustworthy. She—”
“Trustworthy?” Amelia interrupts, throwing her hands up. “That’s just it, I don’t trust her, Drake. She couldn’t even finish Sky’s Edge, and I’m meant to trust her with your life…with both our lives? I don’t like her. I have a bad feeling about this. She’s going to ruin everything.”
How can she say that? What the hell!?
“It’ll all work out. You’ll see,” Drake says in a placating tone.
“You’re wrong, Drake. She says she wants to return to the Mainland, but I don’t think it’s true. I think she plans on exposing the bond. She wants to stay. I—”
That does it!
“You’re spouting absolute bullshit!” I yell as I walk out of the bedroom. “How can you say all of that when you don’t even know me?” Both of them whirl toward me, Amelia’s eyes going wide with shock. “I’ve given you no reason to doubt me.” I lock eyes with Drake.
I’m pissed. Really, truly pissed at being talked about like I’m an idiot who can’t follow basic instructions. Even worse, like I’m a liar when I say I want to return to the Mainland. It’s bull, since my future is at stake too.
Amelia’s mouth falls open, and she takes a few steps back.
“What is this? What is she doing here?” Her gaze tracks over Drake and then back at me. “Are the two of you sleeping together?” She looks between us with growing horror. “You are, aren’t you? Is that why you let her off so easily? Is that why—?”
“Stop right there,” Drake tells her, his voice sharp. “It isn’t like that. Harlow is—”
“I can speak for myself,” I snap, walking toward Amelia. The audacity of this woman is unbelievable. “I was upset that Drake told you about me. That’s why I came here to talk with him. To talk! That’s all!”
“Why can’t you get it through your thick skull that he had to tell his primary rider what was going on?” she asks, her eyes blazing.
My eyeballs almost roll back in my skull.
There it is again…primary rider. Like it’s some kind of royal title that makes her more important than everyone else.
I dislike her immensely. No, I don’t really know her, but I dislike the way she’s treating me.
Especially since I’ve given her absolutely no reason to act this way toward me. It’s irritating!
“Drake should have told me about you,” I say through gritted teeth. “I didn’t know you existed.” I shake my head.
“You don’t know a lot of things,” she snaps back.
That’s it. I’ve had enough of her superior attitude.
“Why are you being such a bitch?” The words come out in a rush. “I don’t get it. You don’t even know me, and yet you’ve already decided you have me all figured out. You don’t!”
Amelia’s face flushes red. “You’re going to ruin our lives.”
“I’m also part of this!” I shoot back, my voice rising.
“My future is also at stake. You keep forgetting that. I’ve also told you that I want to leave Draig Island.
I mean every word. I’m not lying. My life is there and not here.
I want the same thing as you: for me to get off this island and never come back.
We need to work together to make that happen. ”
“Harlow is right,” Drake interjects, his voice calm but firm. “I know you’re upset about this, Mels, but it is what it is. It’s all going to be fine.”
Mels? A nickname. I suppose they are friends who have known each other for years. They also share a bond. It still grates, even though it shouldn’t. I ignore it.
“I don’t like it,” Amelia says, but some of the fight has gone out of her voice.
“None of us like it,” I tell her, crossing my arms. “But I’m not an idiot. I know how to follow a basic plan. I will follow the plan. You’ll see.”
Amelia glares at me for a few charged moments, her eyes blazing with barely contained hostility. Then she sighs, her shoulders sagging just a little.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” she tells Drake.
“We have a plan,” I tell them both. “Let’s all stick to it, and everything will be fine.”
Amelia gives a tight nod, shoots me one more glare, then turns and leaves without another word. The apartment feels much larger once she’s gone, like her negative energy was sucking all the air out of the room.
I turn to face Drake, expecting… I don’t know what I’m expecting.
He crosses his arms and looks at me with a stern expression that I’m beginning to know too well.
“You know what to do, Tribute,” he says, his voice gruff. His jaw is tight, like he’s clenching his teeth.
“I do,” I tell him, lifting my chin. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
I turn on my heel and trip over the edge of his rug.
I pitch forward, certain I’m about to plant when his strong arms wrap around me, pulling me upright before I can fall.
Drake’s hands are warm on my arms, his chest solid against my back as he steadies me. When I look up at him over my shoulder, there’s the tiniest smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Careful, Harlow.”
Why do I have to be so damned clumsy? Why?
My heart skips several beats at that almost-smile. It transforms his entire face, making him look sexy. Too darned sexy. For just a moment, I forget that we’re supposed to be keeping our distance.
All I can think about is how good it feels to be in his arms.
Then reality crashes back, and I pull away from him, my cheeks burning.
“Thanks,” I mutter, not meeting his eyes.
“You aren’t cut out to be a dragon rider,” he tells me. The comment stings more than it should.
“I know,” I push out, practically running from his apartment, my heart racing and my thoughts in complete chaos.
The sooner I’m off this island, the better.
We have a plan and I’m sticking to it.
No matter what.
I refuse to be the weakest link.