Chapter 24 Calytrix
TWENTY-FOUR
CALYTRIX
Iturned, slamming the door behind me and nearly ran into Faolan. He backed up a few paces holding his hands up while carefully avoiding touching me.
I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly fell out of my head. “I wasn’t trying to touch you.”
“I didn’t suggest you were…”
“Then if you’ll excuse me—” I tried to step past him but he didn’t budge, and his massive size blocked the entire tiny hallway. “Can you move?”
“They’ve locked the door,” he said unceremoniously, nodding to the door to the room he was sharing with Alaric and Kol.
“Really?” I frowned, trying to peer around him.
“Yep. Kol and Alaric kicked Nyx out, then slammed the door and locked it so he wouldn’t come back.”
“Well, Nyx just tried to have a go at me in there.” I jabbed a thumb at the door behind me. “So I walked out.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” At least he was as sick of Nyx’s temper as I was.
I knew Nyx was just trying to keep us safe, but I didn’t want to even be here, so my sympathies were short.
“You can go in there if you want.” I slid to the side to create some room for him to squeeze by if he wanted.
He didn’t move. “Where’s your sister?”
“Kol took her with him.”
“Where are you going to sleep?” I didn’t mention I could easily get into the room with my sister and the other two with my magic if I wanted to. I half suspected he was going to leave, though. I didn’t want that, but I wouldn’t blame him. I was not entirely sure what duty kept him here.
“I guess in the hall.” He slid to a seat against the wall.
“Are you going to leave?”
He searched my face for a moment before shaking his head. “No…are you?”
“I’m not leaving Nova and striking out on my own.”
“Good.” He leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
“I’m going to go see if the innkeeper has another room.”
“It’s the middle of the night.”
“Then why don’t we try the doors?” I stepped over him, making my best effort not to touch him so he didn’t freak out.
He opened one eye as I did, swallowing hard.
I smirked, going around the corner to try the handles.
They were all locked, of course, but I decided to sneak in and see if they were occupied.
If they weren’t, the innkeeper would never know if we used one.
The first had two snoring fae, and the second some kind of sex ritual I wouldn’t ask any questions about. At least I hoped it was sex.
I popped over to the room at the end of the hall and found a tiny, empty room shoved into the tip of the roof space. It had slanted walls and was barely tall enough to stand, but there was a bed, and it didn’t smell damp. Perfect.
I pushed off my leathers and the shirt of leather armor I wore, leaving myself in only my underclothes before pulling down the quilt. Before I could slip into bed, the knob twisted but didn’t move, as I’d left it locked.
“I know you’re in there,” Faolan hissed. I thought about not responding, but he added, “I’ll break down the door and send Nyx into another tizzy if you don’t.”
I sighed and pulled it open. “What?”
“Were you going out the window?”
I laughed, gesturing at myself. “Like this? Hardly.”
He dragged his gaze down my body, cursing low. My entire body reacted to the way he looked at me. I wanted it and hated it simultaneously, knowing he wouldn’t act on it.
“I’m going to sleep. Goodnight.” I grabbed the door to slam it.
He put his foot there before I could get it closed. “I’m coming in.”
My heart jumped to my throat. “I thought you were sleeping in the hall?”
“I can’t in good conscience leave you without a guard. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you.”
“I thought it was inappropriate for us to be alone.”
“I think that’s gone out the window considering your sister is alone with her betrothed and Kol.” Faolan stepped closer, like he could intimidate me out of the way.
I stood my ground, not because I objected to him sleeping in here but because I wasn’t going to just give into him. “I think I can fend for myself.”
“Then I’ll get Nyx.”
“You’re the one who’s trying to stay away from me so hard. Why insist now?”
He picked me up before I could move or get to my knife, setting me down further in the room while kicking the door closed behind him.
I sputtered, reeling between anger and the burn from his hands on my bare skin. “Oh, now you can touch me?”
“No.” He closed his eyes, swaying a little.
“You’re still drunk.” I reached for him, wondering if he’d let me touch him.
“I wasn’t going to argue in the hall and draw more attention to us.” He’d backed up against the door, tried to stand up fully, and knocked his head. “Fuck. Did you find the room for the small folk?”
“It’s the only one empty. Are you complaining?” My head was too spinny to argue.
“No.” He slid to a seat.
“Are you really going to try and sleep there? You don’t even fit in the room.” There was no space for him to stretch out on the floor either, as the bed took up most of the angled room.
“I’m not going to sleep.”
“You’re going to be useless tomorrow, hungover without any rest.” The world spun around me, but it wasn’t as bad as when we got interrupted by Nyx.
“You should lay down before you fall over.” He reached out thoughtlessly but quickly pulled his hand away before it made contact.
“Make me.”
He groaned, and I smiled. “Why do you want to make this worse on us? I know you understand.”
“Why would the God of Light put us together if it didn’t mean something? What if Alaric is wrong?”
“You don’t know the future King like he does. Alaric isn’t wrong.”
“It still doesn’t make sense why you won’t touch me?” I took a step towards him, leaving him nowhere to escape to. He couldn’t even get the door open without bumping into me, and maybe it was bad, but I needed more answers.
He hesitated for a minute. “Because it’s only a matter of time before our magic melds.”
I laughed. “For the God of Light’s sake, that’s not how it works.”
He gave me a flat look. “How do you think it works?”
“We have to use magic together.” I’d first heard about those blessed to be a ryder when I was young, and I was captivated.
As I grew up, I would dream of it as my perfect escape from the life I was doomed to.
It is irony at its finest to get my dream and have my betrothal ruin it.
“It’s a process, isn’t it? It doesn’t just click.
With some pairs, I heard it takes months or years, and that’s with training in their magic for most of their life. ”
“You seem to know a lot about it.” He eyed me.
“I know a bit.” I wouldn’t tell him I’d had any yearning for that kind of life. “Have you even had training in your magic? Considering you’re draft dodging?”
Confusion washed over his expression. “Draft dodging?”
“I know all dragons have to go to the First Kingdom to be trained, no exceptions, so I’m guessing the King doesn’t know about you being a dragon if you can just leave without being hunted down.”
He tore his gaze away from mine. “I’m not from the Twelve Kingdoms. This wasn’t a thing where I’m from. We aren’t called like they are here. We don’t have ryders there.”
“How can that be? Doesn’t the call stretch time and any distance?”
“Not where I’m from. There are magics that block those bonds.”
“Old magic?” I asked, since I knew of no other kind capable of such.
Astonishment showed on his face. “I thought speak of old magic was forbidden here?”
It was my turn to give him a look. “Pot, kettle.”
“I wasn’t born here. We have different ways. I told you.” He looked me over again before putting his head in his arms. “Will you at least put your clothes back on or something?”
“No, I’m not sleeping in my leathers.”
“Then get in bed,” he growled.
“Am I making you uncomfortable?” I teased.
“Uncomfortable isn’t the word I would use.” He exhaled sharply.
I lifted a brow. “Is that why you won’t touch me?”
“Partly.”
I laughed again. “And the other part?”
“I explained it to you. I don’t want it to harden our bond.”
I risked another step towards him while he couldn’t see, but I’d forgotten about the dragon hearing.
His head snapped up. “Please don’t.”
“Why?” I sunk down to kneel between his feet.
“Because I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to resist you.” His hands balled into fists.
My lips twitched, and I fought a smile. “I won’t press. But come sleep in the bed. You need sleep.”
“I’ll take the floor. I’ll be fine.”
“Fine.” I didn’t know why I retreated, but I pushed to my feet and got into bed.
He moved after a few moments, trying to find space on the floor. I held out a pillow, and he took it. I closed my eyes, but the room spun, and I knew I’d be sick if I stayed that way, so I sat up.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just dizzy. It’s nothing.”
He sat up and hit the wall again. “Goddess, damn this tiny room.”
I giggled and then clapped a hand over my mouth. “I’m sorry. It’s not funny.”
“It’s a little funny,” he admitted.
I shoved out of bed because sitting wasn’t working either.
This time, he didn’t try and move, even as I brushed past his shoulder. I flung open the window leaning on the sill while I sucked in fresh air.
“That bad?”
“Not when I’m standing.” I gripped the edge, swaying. “How long ago did I have that last drink?”
“It’s only been a candle mark or so.”
I groaned because, knowing my body, it would be another hour at least before I could rest. “Remind me never to drink again.”
He laughed. “Do you need a bucket?”
“Don’t laugh! I drank as much as a couple of dragons, and you’re both twice my size!”
“We also burn it off faster than you do, so we have to drink more.” He sounded a little apologetic.
I huffed. “You should have warned me.”
“Sounds like an error in judgment on your part, Trix.”
“I wasn’t allowed out at taverns, let alone drinking with dragons.” I hiccuped.
He laughed harder.
“I hate you a little.”
“Well, if there is one upside to tonight…” Faolan said playfully.
I turned on him to tell him off, forgot how small the room was, tripped, and ended up in his lap.
We both froze.