It would be best for everyone involved if I kept my distance until Dash and Star figured out what they were or weren’t. I didn’t know how much they had talked, but it seemed to me that everyone was avoiding the situation, which helped no one.
I forced my expression to be blank as a pang hit me in the chest. “Maybe I am full of crap, but I’m not the one stringing two girls along.” There. Take that. I whirled around to stalk away, but Dash moved with blinding speed and latched onto my arm.
“Don’t walk away. We need to talk.”
I stiffened, my back going straight. “So you keep saying, but not until you put some clothes on.” I didn’t want to think about having any kind of serious conversation with him practically naked and my fingers itching to touch every bit.
“I don’t want things to be strained between us,” he murmured against my ear, making my stomach cartwheel regardless that I told it not to.
“Too late,” I mumbled.
He spun me around. “It doesn’t have to be like this between us. I can’t lose you.”
I opened my mouth to tell him I was never his to lose, but as my eyes connected with his, I knew it wasn’t true. “Are you saying that there is nothing between Star and you? That you don’t have feelings for her?”
His hand moved to the back of his neck in a gesture I recognized from him. He was uncertain. “Look, I know this is totally messed up. I never thought past finding her and my family. I never planned to have these feelings for you. It just happened.”
“Typical Dash. One day at a time. Tomorrow doesn’t matter.”
“That’s not fair, Freckles. I don’t know Star. She isn’t the same girl I grew up with, but I know you, and I fought too damn hard to keep you alive.”
“Well, the good news is I don’t need you to fight my battles anymore. I got it covered.”
“See, this is exactly what I don’t want. I would never hurt you, you must know that.”
Not intentionally, but playing with my emotions hurt me. Not being with, or being able to touch him like I wanted to hurt me. “We don’t always get what we want.”
Placing his hands on either side of my hips, he bent forward, our eyes locking. “You’re being unreasonable. Just give me some time to figure this out.”
“Oh, you’ve got all the time in the world, but that doesn’t mean I am going to be waiting around while you make up your mind. If you don’t know that I’m the one you want, then we have nothing more to discuss.” I stepped out of his embrace and gathered my stuff.
Star chose that moment to stroll in, not knowing what she had just walked in on. “Oh, my God. It took me forever to find you. I thought you’d disappeared.” Her eyes volleyed between Dash and me, the tension between us as thick as cake but nowhere as sweet. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
I pasted on a reassuring smile. “You’re not. I was just leaving. He’s all yours.” No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop the sourness from seeping into my voice.
“Charlotte,” Dash called.
I kept on walking. The truth, I was getting good at walking away.
I cursed Dash all the way down the rocky path, mumbling and muttering under my breath like a lunatic. The people of Eberus were going to think I was insane, but what did I care.
Letting the breeze dry my hair, the damp red curls hung heavy down my back. I wasn’t in a hurry to get back to the empty house, so I wandered the little town, taking it all in during the day. I was impressed. If I could settle into a town one day, Eberus was in the lead. It was the first place in the Heights I’d seen that had character and promise. Even the Institute with all its advances lacked warmth and coziness.
“Did you sleep well?” a voice to my right asked, sneaking up on me.
I shielded my eyes from the sun and glanced up to see Orion. He stepped in time with my easy strides, and I smiled. “I did. Thank you again for your hospitality. My friend had a rough few days. She isn’t used to the Heights or sleeping on the ground.”
“One of the Institute’s?” he assumed correctly.
I nodded.
“They’re looking for you.”
My boot hit a rock, sending it skipping across the ground. “I know. I’m one of the founders’ daughters.”
Orion didn’t seem surprised by this knowledge. “Are you now? Well, isn’t that interesting. Makes sense why they wouldn’t want you traipsing around the Heights with the Slayer.”
“He really isn’t that bad,” I said, jumping to Dash’s defense.
He thought on it for a moment, the sun picking up on caramel highlights in his ponytail. “He must care for you, since he allows you to see another side of him, the one he keeps buried deep.”
I snorted.
Orion arched a coffee-colored brow. “Do I sense a bit of trouble in paradise?”
“Where Dash is involved, there is always trouble.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “I knew I would like you, Kamama. You hungry? We could drink a pot of coffee and bash the Slayer.”
I stopped walking. “You said the magic word.”
“Dash?” he guessed.
“Coffee. I haven’t had a cup in over a hundred years. Serious withdrawals.”
“I know the feeling. It wasn’t easy to replicate, but we’ve done a passable job. I’ll let you be the judge.”
The café on the corner looked like the bar in Hurst—a little rough around the edges—but it had all the makings, including freshly baked goods. “I think I just died and went to heaven.” I sighed. The smell of bread and muffins made my stomach rumble, but it was the bitter scent of coffee that hit my weak spot.
Orion delivered.
I took my first sip, closed my eyes, and savored the smooth, hot liquid with a moan of blissful appreciation. “Yep. I’ve definitely died.” With a stack of little pastries in front of me and a cup of hot coffee, I started to think Eberus was pure magic.
I was on my second delectable flaky treat when Orion asked, “You want to tell me what is eating at you, little Kamama?”
I hadn’t even realized that I had zoned out, not until the sound of his voice brought me back and what a voice he had. “I like the way you say that. I shouldn’t, but it sounds so exotic.”
Orion grinned, and it was lethal. “Maybe I was wrong about you.”
He was older than Dash, mid to late twenties, but age wasn’t a problem in the Heights. Lack of people was. If Dash decided he wanted to give it a shot with Star to see if something was still there, where did that leave me? Why the hell should I wait around until he decided to make up his mind?
I’d already left them alone, more or less shoving them together. Smart move, Charlotte. Way to fight for what you want. I wasn’t a quitter and didn’t accept defeat easily, and yet here I was giving up, feeling sorry for myself. I needed a kick in the butt.
I tilted my head to the side. What did Orion think he was mistaken about? Most people would consider me transparent, unable to hide my emotions. “How so?” I asked.
“The Slayer made it clear that you weren’t available.”
“And just when did he do that?”