Page 14

Chapter 14

Kaya

“ S orry about the wine,” Devin says, surprising me.

“It’s all right.”

“I was just trying to take care of you.”

“I appreciate that, but I like to order for myself.” I don’t care that much. I’m just feeling grouchy. It isn’t fair to Devin. I resolve to cheer up and stop being a dark cloud on this perfectly nice evening. “But it is very good wine, isn’t it?”

He finishes his second cup. “Very. I wish we had some of this vintage at home.”

“What do you tend to have there?”

“More reds because of the weather.”

The server brings my cup of tea finally, and I give him a portion of my Kings and Plots winnings as a tip because I’m not mad about the wait. This place is incredibly busy, and I have been in this type of rush many, many times. I completely understand what the servers are feeling right now.

The chess game moves forward, and Devin nearly catches me out, but I manage to beat him.

“Well done, Kaya.”

I start to frown, but then clear my features. “Thank you.”

There’s just something condescending about his praise. It gets my hackles up, as Tully would say. Once again, I’m just being grouchy.

“Want to head outside for a little bit?” Devin asks. “I’d love to take a break from the noise.”

“I would love that.”

Outside, the stars are a dusting of sugar on the black sky. Spark and his mate, Moonpetal, are chasing one another through the new leaves of the oak that towers over the front of the tavern. Their little bursts of flame are bright in the near dark.

Devin chuckles and eyes me. “Is it safe for them to be doing that in a tree?”

“We can keep an eye on them and call for Laini and Tully if need be.”

Devin takes my hand, and I start to pull away, but stop. This is fine. This is what one does on a date, right? I honestly have never really been on a date. I’ve only been with one person in my life, and that was a clumsy youthful tumble that did little to dispel the mysteries that surround love and lovemaking. I basically know nothing.

He leans against the tavern wall and pulls me gently against him.

“I am so happy your friends introduced us, Kaya. You’re beautiful. I think we suit one another. What do you think?” With one hand, he brushes my hair away from my face, and with the other, he braces my back so I’m firmly pressed into his chest.

“I do, yes.” My cheeks are hot, but not because I’m aroused. It’s more like I feel uncomfortable. But I’m not sure. Is this how it’s supposed to feel?

His mouth is close, and I’m not so ignorant that I don’t know what he is physically hinting at. Even though I’m not feeling swoony or anything, I want to give him a chance, so I tip my head back and shut my eyes.

His kiss begins nicely enough, but his mouth turns rough and demanding, his tongue driving between my lips before I’m ready. I pull away, and he looks confused as to why.

“Thank you for the fun game of chess,” I say. “I’m going to head home now.”

As I start to leave, he grabs my arm. Anger darts through my body. I whirl around and jam my knee into his stones. He shouts, releases his hold on me, and doubles over. I stumble backward and fall onto my back.

A whoosh sounds behind me, and I leap to my feet as Cyrus lands in his wild, fully dragon form.