Page 48 of All's Fair in Love and Magic

“Oh, that’s easy. A spell is like a brick wall, but a charm is like a ribbon tied around an object. You can’t build a charm without a physical item to wrap it around and anchor it to, and they have to be compatible. Charms and runes are sort of sister magics, though runes can be used on people and charms can’t.”

“What drew you to runes?”

I smiled. “They were the easiest kind of magic I could do without blood. I could make weak runes much easier than I could make weak potions or spells. I could’ve gone with charms, but I knew if I ever wanted to use my blood, kickass runes were more useful than kickass charms as far as protecting myself and other people.”

Liam studied me. “What were you most interested in?”

“Potions,” I admitted. “But potions only affect people, so mastering them wouldn’t help me stay alive. Runes were my second choice anyway. I have fun with them.”

Someone showed up to drop off our food, temporarily pausing the conversation. We ate in peaceful quiet, with the sound of the rolling waves keeping us company.

Liam finished his food before I did, leaning back against the couch’s cushions. His gaze was focused on me, which was a little confusing considering his apparent disinterest in sitting close to me.

When I was done with my food, I set the box down beside me and followed his lead, resting against the back cushions of the couch more comfortably. Meeting his gaze, I waited for him to bring up whatever he wanted to talk about.

Was I excited to discuss our bond?

Not really.

Which is why I was making him take the lead, even though talking about his thoughts and feelings was clearly not something he’d had much practice with.

Oranypractice with.

A long moment passed.

Then another.

His ears reddened again.

Finally, he cleared his throat.

I’d totally won our stare-off.

“We need to talk about the bond,” he said.

“You already said that.”

“Right.” He cleared his throat again. “I may have left a few details out when I described heat.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “Like what?”

His ears reddened more. The color spread to his cheeks, too. “I wasn’t sure which aspects would apply, given that I’m not a full dragon.”

“Liam,” I warned. “If you’re dancing around the truth again, I swear on the wards that I will walk away right now.

“I’m not trying to dance around it. I just—I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen. Most of the dragon stuff doesn’t seem to apply to us. But I do need to warn you that the longer heat goes on without being sealed, the more it usually affects the dragons.”

“The dragons, meaning the men.”

He dipped his head.

My eyes narrowed. “What happens to them, exactly?”

“They sort of… lose their minds.”

I blinked.

He watched me warily.