Page 28 of Dance of the Phoenix (Cloak of the Vampire #3)

Ragnor

Ragnor traced Aileen’s figure with his hand as the two lay in bed, facing each other silently.

Ragnor could tell she was on edge, even though she was in his bed, showered and supposedly relaxed.

There was caution in her hazel eyes that had been there the entire day, ever since the morning training with Logan.

He’d debated whether he should broach that topic. Talking about her relationship with Logan had become a minefield. Ragnor did not want to go back to the way they had behaved before making up the night before.

But he also knew this couldn’t go on.

“Talk to me,” he murmured, drawing her eyes to his, his hand stopping on her waist.

She grimaced. “Ragnor . . .”

Her hesitation made a spark of anger light up inside him, but he pushed it away. “We can make an exchange,” he offered. “You tell me about Logan, and I’ll tell you about ...” This time, he hesitated, before he forced out, “Yulia.”

Just uttering the name made him feel all sorts of things, but he was determined. Because Aileen had been right. It had been unfair of him to ask her to tell him everything, when he refused to offer anything in return.

He could only hope that this would be enough.

Aileen stared at him for a few long moments before she said, “Logan and I dated for four years when we were in school.”

Since he already knew as much, the news didn’t come as a surprise. What made him tense was the fact that he had a hunch where this was going, and he didn’t know if he was truly ready to hear.

But when Aileen huddled closer to him, resting her head against his chest, and told him about this part of her convoluted history, all he could do was wrap his arms around her, lean his chin on top of her head, and listen.

“I’ve never been in love with him,” she told him quietly, “merely infatuated with his good looks and naivety. When the two of us met when we were thirteen years old, he was as ordinary as every boy while I ... was not.”

Squeezing her tightly, Ragnor remained silent, listening as Aileen finally opened up about the secret she’d been hiding for so long.