The door opened, and she looked up at a slightly disheveled Cobalt, glasses askew and hair ruffled as if he’d been running his hands through it.
“Yes?” He blinked a couple of times, and then his jaw dropped as she came into focus. “Sylvie? What are you doing here? It’s late.”
She shoved her hands in her pockets, not wanting to show any vulnerability. “Just, uh… wanted to see what you were up to.”
He looked at a clock nearby. “In the middle of the night?”
She felt warmth rush into her neck. “I couldn’t sleep.”
His expression softened as he stepped back, holding the door to the library open for her. “Well, you’re welcome to join me.
I’m glad you did.” His tone was warm and polite as he moved things off a nearby couch for her. It was ornate with dark wood and sumptuous red cushions. “It’s always nice to have company.”
“I hope I’m not bothering you.”
“Of course not.” He disappeared for a moment and returned with several pillows and blankets, which he handed to her on the couch. “Make yourself comfortable.”
She couldn’t believe how easy he was making this for her. He wasn’t bugging her with questions or making her feel odd for needing help or making her feel like an imposition.
He was making her feel… oddly safe.
It was something she wasn’t used to feeling, and as she positioned a pillow behind her head and curled up with a blanket, she wasn’t sure what to make of it.
“Did you want to do anything in particular?” His deep-blue eyes were patient, and he took a seat in the chair across from her, crossing his long, muscular legs in a relaxed posture.
“No.” She hoped her flush wasn’t showing much on her darker skin. She was more comfortable being fighter Sylvie. Sassy Sylvie. Not Sylvie who was afraid of being alone in the dark. “You can just go back to what you were doing.”
He studied her for a moment with those intelligent eyes, pushing his glasses slightly up on his nose and pressing his lips together. “I suppose so.”
She curled up on the couch, trying not to feel any disappointment. After all, he should focus on his work, not her, and she was just grateful not to be alone anymore.
“Or I could read you this new book I’ve been enjoying. It’s an account of the early adventures of Falsjäger, one of the ancient warriors of Drakkaris.”
“That sounds fine.” She nodded, making herself comfortable as he turned on a reading lamp and dimmed the other lights in the room.
“I find this is best for reading,” he said quietly, adjusting his glasses as he opened the book to the proper page.
She studied his handsome features in the low light as he read, his perfectly straight nose, high cheekbones, full but masculine lips.
As she did, something foreign welled up in her.
Something like longing?
The thought stunned her, but not enough to take her out of the moment, enjoying the quiet peace and safety he brought.
No one had ever made her feel like this. Treasured and safe. Valuable.
She cuddled into her blankets, enjoying the soothing sound of his voice, and slowly drifted off into sleep, dreaming of dragon wings and far-off skies.
Chapter 10
The sound of a muted thud cracked a hole in the hazy unconsciousness of Cobalt’s sleep. Immediately, he started upright in his chair, appraising his surroundings inside the library that had become his second home here on Earth.
Along with a slight crick in his neck resulting from poor posture, the first thing he noticed was the empty blanket on the couch across from him, the pillow lying on the ground. He looked around, and as expected, Sylvie was already gone.
Cobalt checked the clock on the far wall and noted that it was already late morning. How had he slept in so late?
It was no wonder she’d left. Though, a part of him ached to be there when she woke up, to see her big brown eyes illuminated by the morning sun pouring through the windows.
To be there by her side every morning, watching and keeping her safe.
Cobalt stretched then stood, shaking off any remaining sleepiness. He reached down to pick up the book that had fallen from his lap and set it neatly on top of the stack at his desk, a force of habit, and his mind wandered back to the events of last night.
Being alone in the library, trying to distract himself from the thought of her by devouring every possible book he hadn’t yet read. And then having her show up unexpectedly.
Sylvie had been so different last night, a side of her he’d never seen before. She seemed so guarded at first. Then gradually, she’d relaxed and fallen asleep as he’d read to her.
A part of him thought that maybe she wouldn’t let most people do that. That last night was special. Then again, maybe he was overthinking things as usual and getting his hopes up.
Certainly, someone who understood emotions better than he did would be able to read more into the whole event. But for now, he would just be glad for every moment he got to spend with Sylvie.
He left the library and plodded up the steps into the main hall that led into the kitchen and living room. Already, the house was alive with people doing things.
Cadmium and Casey were relaxing on the couch, watching something on the TV. To his right, Zinc and Leanne were huddled over a laptop, discussing what sounded like business plans for some online venture.
Beyond the kitchen, out on the patio, he spotted Sylvie and Chromium seated in side-by-side deck chairs, talking about something he couldn’t hear through the giant bay windows looking out onto the sprawling back yard of their mansion.
Cobalt would give anything to control his emotions better than he could right now, with the tightness forming in his chest as he simply watched Sylvie chat with his cousin.
Like a fly to a lamp, he gravitated toward the windows, curious to hear what they were saying, wanting to be near Sylvie but trying desperately to fight the unfamiliar feelings swirling inside him.
He watched as Chromium said something, and Sylvie laughed loudly enough for Cobalt to hear her inside the house. To add insult to injury, she touched Chromium’s shoulder for a moment. And even if logically Cobalt knew it was probably just a human gesture of familiarity, he couldn’t help feeling a twinge of anger at the sight of it.
What was wrong with him? Cobalt knew his cousin would never harm Sylvie. In fact, Chromium would most certainly make an ideal mate. Thoughtful, a good cook, protective, competent in every kind of physical activity…
Cobalt shook his head, attempting to abolish the thoughts from his head that were riling him up more with every passing second. He wanted to run from these feelings, retreat to the solace of logic and knowledge and learning. But he couldn’t, not after last night. Not after their time together out on the deck or in the shower.
Each moment alone with her was so precious it surpassed everything he’d previously experienced.
He just wanted to be around her. Share the same space with her, feel her warmth, breathe the same oxygen particles she breathed.
“What the hell are you waiting for, numbskull?”
The sudden interjection shook Cobalt from his own hypnosis of confusion, and he whirled around to see a very annoyed Mercury standing behind him, arms folded.
Granted, annoyed seemed to be the default expression Mercury wore these days.
“What are you talking about?” Cobalt feigned surprise as his mind immediately pieced together what Mercury was referring to.
“You’re pissing me off just standing there like some kid outside a candy shop window. Throw your hat in the ring.”
Cobalt had no clue what headwear had to do with anything right now. “I’m not wearing a ha—”
Mercury’s groan of consternation cut him off. “Get out there. Clearly, she’s on your mind.” Mercury unfolded his arms and walked up to come alongside him, staring blankly out at the horizon. “But then again, what could I possibly know about fighting to get what you want? I only had to t
ravel across the fucking galaxy just to fight you assholes one by one so I could get my mate.”
“You and I never fought.” Cobalt frowned.
“A minor detail.” Mercury waved his hand dismissively. “But your mate? She could be right there, ten feet from you, and you can’t even open a sliding glass door?”
Cobalt wanted to hope, but nothing had given him any inkling that his desires could become reality. He couldn’t help remembering what the oracle had told him the night they’d rescued Sylvie. She could belong to someone else. What if that someone was Chromium?
Cobalt watched Sylvie laugh at what Chromium said once again, feeling that awful jealousy tighten inside him.
What if he got in too deep, fell completely for Sylvie, just to have her ripped away from him?
“You know, more than half the time, what the oracle says and what she means are two entirely different things. That old biddy is more confusing than a smartphone.” Mercury had clearly been reading Cobalt’s mind.
“True,” Cobalt replied hesitantly.
“And as for Chromium, I wouldn’t worry about that,” Mercury said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Either way, you have to let Sylvie choose, and she can’t choose you if you hang back like a coward. So get out there and fight.”
It was foreign to Cobalt, the thought of acting boldly against all rational thought and with no logic to reassure him.
But perhaps Mercury was right.
Overanalyzing the whole situation wasn’t going to help anything. He had to put himself out there.
“Now get out there.” Mercury finished with a forceful slap on Cobalt’s shoulder.
Cobalt cracked his knuckles as Mercury meandered aimlessly away, then rushed upstairs to his room to put on something better than what he’d been sleeping in last night.
He was going to throw his “hat” in the ring.
His brain started working on the perfect plan.
Sylvie was enjoying being with Chromium, but couldn’t help wondering when Cobalt was going to get up and come out.
She liked Chromium. Being with him was comfortable, chill, friendly, and relaxed. The exact opposite of the constantly sexually charged environment whenever she was around Cobalt.
Still, she always found herself missing Cobalt’s presence and wondering when he would next be around.
“You shouldn’t hang around me that much,” Chromium said quietly, interrupting her thoughts. “I wonder if it’s making Cobalt jealous.”
“What? Of his cousin?” She made a dismissive noise and leaned back farther on the deck chair. “No way.”
“You’d be surprised.” Chromium’s words were cryptic, but he didn’t look eager to elaborate. His white hair glistened in the sun, and his features were so similar to Cobalt’s yet so different at the same time.
He had the same straight nose but with a small bump at the bridge, probably from an injury. Dragons had special healing, but maybe he’d been in enough intense fights to override even that. It didn’t mar his handsomeness at all. He had the same clean, smooth jaw and stubborn chin as Cobalt, with lips that were only slightly less full.
Of course, his very light, blue-green eyes that looked like creamy jade were a very different look as well, rimmed with light eyelashes. She tried to picture what he looked like with short hair, but couldn’t.
“Looking at me like that isn’t going to help,” he said mildly.
She straightened up. “What?”
Chromium sat and faced her. “Staring at me. Examining me. Someone watching might think you’re interested.”
“I’m not,” she said quickly, putting up both hands. “No way. You’re a bro.”
Chromium folded his arms, making the massive muscles flex. “I’m not your bro. I’m a man, and you’re an unmated female. While I like hanging out with you, you should at least be aware how it looks.”
She bit her lip. “I don’t think anyone would think anything of it.”
Chromium scooted forward, bringing his chair closer, bringing them a little closer. His gaze was intense, scrutinizing. “Do you care if they do?”
She shook her head a little too eagerly, Cobalt’s face in her mind. “No. I don’t care what anyone thinks. I hang out with who I want.”
He laughed, lying back on the chair again as she let out a sigh of relief. “I see. Even Cobalt? Would you want him to get the wrong idea?”
She shrugged, slight discomfort waving through her. She could still remember last night, how it felt to have him watching over her, how weird she felt that she had sought him out for comfort. How nice it was that he had been willing to give it.
But she didn’t really know what this thing was between them. A fling? A friendship with benefits? He was being kinder to her than anyone else, but there were also times when he held back.
“Cobalt and I… It’s not like that.”
“Hm.” Chromium narrowed his eyes, looking unconvinced.
She cleared her throat. “As for being unmated, I’ve heard people talk about it, but I don’t really understand. And the oracle wasn’t clear on that.”
“Most of the dragon hearts have mated a dragon,” Chromium said, raising an eyebrow. “I thought you were aware. It’s why we came here.”
“Huh. But isn’t that my choice?”
Chromium nodded. “Would it be so bad?”
“I don’t know. Why does it work that way?”
Chromium shrugged. “Who knows? It just does. Usually, dragons know when they meet their mate, but not always.”
“Oh.”
He sat up again, scooting closer. “So… you have any plans to mate anyone yet?”
She shook her head. “No.” Well… she liked Cobalt, but she hadn’t thought about that with him. There was something between them, chemistry and friendship, for sure. But it was too soon to consider the future. “No, no one.”
Chromium cocked his head curiously, even closer now, looming over her with his immense height. “You want to be mine?”
She was shocked by his frankness and tried to scoot her chair back. “Uh, no?”
“Why not?” Chromium’s expression was intense. “No reason not to consider it, right? No one you… care about?”
She didn’t know what to say. He almost seemed to be testing her.
The moment seemed frozen. Then Chromium listened for a moment and then sat back, a calm smile on his face. “Just kidding.”
Her heart was still pounding as she looked up to see Cobalt coming through the back door and onto the deck, a look of determination on his face, wind waving handsomely through his thick, bluish-gray hair.
Thank heavens he hadn’t seen the scene from a moment before. He would have misunderstood it for sure. Even if Chromium was obviously just joking…
He adjusted his glasses, and a muscle ticked in his jaw, showing that he was slightly irritated. “Chromium. Mind if I cut in?”
Chromium hefted himself up from the chair and stretched. “Of course, brother.” He patted Cobalt’s chair as he left the deck, heading inside to probably game or something, leaving Sylvie wondering what had just gone on.
“You okay? You’re looking a bit peaked.” Cobalt studied her.
“Just fine.” She ran a hand through her hair nervously. She liked being with Chromium. Hopefully, the next time they hung out, things would be back to normal. “Did you sleep well? I’m sorry I snuck out on you, but I was hungry and didn’t want to wake you.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t wake in time to get you breakfast.”
She rubbed her stomach playfully. “I got it on my own just fine. Well, from Chromium.”
There was an odd silence at that, and they both looked slightly awkward.
She gestured for him to take the place Chromium had vacated, and he did, looking pensive.
Cobalt was so handsome, so strong, so kind. She still felt nervous about him, but it was a completely different kind of nervous than she’d been feeling a moment before with Chromium.
The kind of nervous that said she just might be falling for this guy, against her better judgement.
They were literally from two different worlds. He was educated and rich, and she had nothing. He thought before he leapt, and she punched first and asked questions later. He probably thought she was coarse and stupid compared to him.
Though, he never made her feel that way.
But what if he only put up with her shenanigans for the sake of sexual tension? What if he was just too nice to say no? What if the sex was just that good because he was good at it?
So many questions, and Sylvie really didn’t like having things to think about.
“Did I interrupt something?” Cobalt asked, looking at the door Chromium had exited through.
Sylvie shrugged. “No. But I mean, you did cut in on purpose.”
He flushed slightly but nodded. “I suppose so.”
“You seemed tense as well.” She knitted her fingers together nervously. “Chromium said you might get jealous when we’re hanging out together… Is that true?”
He turned to her, and his deep-blue eyes were breathtakingly honest. “Yes. I do.”
“But he’s your cousin, so what’s that about?”
“Just watching out for you,” he said tightly. “You know, he’s your friend, but he’s still a male.”
She snorted and crossed her legs in aggravation. “That shouldn’t change anything. He’s just a friend.”
Cobalt moved over to her chair and sat next to her. She could smell his fresh, spicy, masculine scent, and it made her almost heady with lust.
No one else had ever had that effect on her.
“What about me?” Cobalt’s tone was serious. “Am I just your friend?”
“I… I’m not sure.” At his disappointed expression, she felt the need to clarify. “I mean, obviously we’re more than that, but I don’t know what. I haven’t really… had a lot of relationships, and I’m not good at looking at the future. I was hoping we could just not think about it and have fun.”
He let out a hoarse laugh and put a hand up to his face. “Not think about it. That’s an idea.”
She smiled up at him. “You should try it sometime.”
Cobalt Dragon (Dragon Guard of Drakkaris Book 5) Page 8
