Chapter 4
1881 Words
DARREN
She looked at me with suspicion and I couldn’t blame her. It felt like the whole universe was against me. First, we met on that damn Alpha Island at the school where her mate senses were blocked and then coincidence after coincidence she was seeing me in the worst possible light. I needed to fix it and I needed to fix it fast.
“A wish?” Skylar raised her brow, “I am not crazy enough to promise someone like you to fulfil any wish of his. Judging by the books you read, I can guess what kind of wishes are on your mind!”
Ouch.
That was a bad idea to simply grab random books. But now I had to work with what I already had.
“Sky, Sky, Sky!” I chuckled, “Haven’t you heard the phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover?”
“It's really hard not to!” She rolled her eyes.
“That’s actually pretty insulting, you know?” I hovered over her, making her blush. The rosy colour suited her perfectly and my mind went to dangerous places for a second as I started to imagine the things I could do to her to bring more of that colour to her face. “I am writing an essay on mating rituals between different species. It’s a very important assignment and a huge part of my grade will depend on it.”
“Yeah, right…”, she did not sound too convinced but at least she started to doubt slightly.
“So, how about that wish?” I smiled at her brightly and Sky seemed perplexed for a moment.
“Fine!” She gave up finally and a grin spread over my face, “ But I will have my conditions!”
My grin faded. She was wary of me… It was sad, really. If she felt the bond, we would be making out in my room by now or planning our life together at least. But that stupid barrier blocked what she had to feel and now I was just some strange womaniser guy who wouldn’t leave her alone. Everything was going wrong…
“I am fine with that,” I decided to go with what she wanted. There was nothing over the top in my plans and the most important thing was to get her trust. I could have, of course, thrown her over my shoulder and gotten her out of the university to make her experience everything that I was experiencing, putting an end to this misunderstanding once and for all. But… where would be the fun in that?
Skylar was a challenge, a true gem… I was not used to that. Back at home women were always falling to my feet. Okay, some of them were playing hard to get. But it was always that – just a game, a prelude of sorts.
And Sky… She was not playing. She really did not want anything to do with me. It was actually funny that the first and only woman to react to me this way was my destined mate. Gods had a sick sense of humour.
“So, my first condition would be,” she rubbed her chin and somehow managed to look even cuter than before, “Nothing physical.”
“Done,” I furrowed my brows, “Again. Who do you think I am?”
“My second condition,” she completely ignored my question, “Nothing immoral.”
“Seriously?” I rolled my eyes, “Do you take me for some kind of…”
“Third condition,” she continued firmly, “Nothing that lasts forever. Or for a long period of time.”
“I agree only with forever,” I smirked and she clenched her lips, “Some wishes take longer.”
“My fourth condition,” she wanted to interject again but I motioned for her to stop.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” I smirked, “I think you had enough of condition. And we already covered that I will not make you do anything naughty. I also promise not to ask you anything dangerous. That’s a dragon word.”
For some reason, she did not look impressed. A word of a dragon was priceless. Everybody knew that. Once a dragon gave a word, he had to stick to it. That’s why we never threw around promises like that. You only gave a word to the people you appreciated the most or in a life and death situation.
Yet Skylar didn’t even flinch at that showcase of trust and respect on my part. She was a very unusual dragon…
“Anyway,” she sighed, “I need to go soon and I still haven’t found my books. So, what is that precious wish of yours?”
“It’s nothing much,” I smiled watching how the rays of the setting sun were playing on her face, painting her into even more vibrant colours. It seemed that her fiery hair would burst in flames every second and I loved it. “I want you to sit with me.”
She looked at me, slightly surprised, “I am sorry, what? Sit with you? Where?”
My signature smirk crawled back onto my lips, “Everywhere, Sky!”
Her lips parted in shock as she realised that I managed to trick her after all.
“I want you to sit with me at all the lessons, practices, meals, games, sports…that we have together. If there is a seat, you take the one next to me.”
“You can’t be serious!” she growled and I could swear I noticed fire flashing in her eyes. The dragoness in her was finally waking up!
“Of course, I can,” I sneered.
“Fine,” Sky gritted out, “But it can’t be forever. We already agreed to that. So, let’s say that it will last for a day…”
“Nope,” I shook my head, “I want a year!”
“That’s too long!” a little groan escaped her.
“Long? What’s a year for a dragon?!”
Skylar opened and closed her mouth a few times. I guess she did not like to lose a battle.
I tried to wipe my smug smile away, but it just kept being plastered over my face.
“Why would you even want that?!” she finally found the ability to speak again, “Isn’t there enough girls here for you? What the hell do you want from me?!”
This wasn’t going the way I was expecting. Something was off in her behaviour. It was an innocent flirt yet she took everything I did as a personal attack.
“It may come as a shock to you, but I didn’t come here looking for just any girl,” I locked our eyes, wishing to set things straight, “If I am completely honest, that was the last thing on my mind. But then I met you… and…”
“You fell in love at the first sight?” she snorted, not even realising the irony of what she just said.
“I liked you. Sue me,” I announced loudly. But to my surprise she said nothing. “And you have this completely wrong idea about me. Which is annoying.”
“I am not that wrong!” the girl in front of me chuckled.
“Yes, you are! Don't be so judgemental! I can prove my words.”
Her face flushed again.
“Judgemental? Me?!” her eyes narrowed, “I am just observant!”
“And what did you observe exactly that was so horrible?” I insisted, crossing my arms on my chest, challenging her.
“You hit on me and in just a few minutes you knocked on a siren’s door!” she hmphed.
“I did not knock on her door,” I pointed at Griffin who was watching everything that was going on from a safe distance with an opened mouth, “He did! And before you say something snarky, yes, he is very interested in your siren friend. He is a sea dragon and is naturally drawn to everything marine. I was there just as his wingman. That’s all.”
She pursed her lips but I took it as a good sign that she didn’t say anything else about the matter.
“But three seconds after that you were already throwing yourself at a fairy!” now the little dragon was looking at me triumphally.
“No,” I corrected her, “I wasn’t. She was throwing herself at me and there is a big difference! I am sorry, Skylar, but I am a very attractive man and things like these do happen to me. But it doesn’t make me a…”
“And you are a very humble man as well!” Sky burst out laughing and it was the most beautiful thing ever. It did not escape me that she didn’t seem angry at me anymore. And that was progress for us.
“At your service,” I winked at her, “Shall I help you with your books?”
She watched me for a few seconds, contemplating again. But in just a few seconds she produced a list before my eyes.
“Here,” she said nonchalantly, “I need all of these. It’s so nice of you to offer!”
She was sweet. Too sweet and I started to suspect things when she continued, “So, when you are done with them, just deliver them to my room! If I am not there, my roommate Deidra will take them. Thanks again!”
And with that, she turned away and went to the exit, leaving me alone to do her work. I watched her delicate frame move towards the huge library doors, hair swinging as she walked… Yes, gods knew what they were doing. I was going to marry that woman one day!
Just as if she heard me, she turned and looked at me one last time, waving goodbye and smirking.
“See you at the dinner!” I shouted and she rolled her eyes, “I’ll save you a seat!”
He facial expression changed and I winked at her, making her blush again. Gods, just how long would I be able to go on like this?!
She left and I went to Griffin who tried really hard not to say anything. But, of course, lost this battle very soon.
“Dude, you seriously don’t know how to handle your mate!” he chuckled and I wanted to hit him.
“Here,” I threw the list of books to him, “Consider this my present. Get the books and you get to see Deidra the siren again.”
That made him jump on the spot. I knew that he liked her more than he cared to admit.
“Grif,” I stopped him right before he left me, “Find out everything there is to know about Skylar. And do it fast.”
“Fine,” he agreed easily and rushed to look for the books.
And that’s when I saw him watching me from the distance…
- Writer
