Chapter Text
9
The last thing I expected when I woke up were his arms around me. Xaden was still snoring softly, holding me in an iron grip.
Last night someone threw a party, celebrating everyone who survived threshing. People were congratulating me for bonding right after the gauntlet. Apparently this was rare, and a sign of something great coming my way.
The rest of the night was a blur of loud music, too much liquor and god knows what else.
"Wake up." I shook Xaden's shoulder as I needed to get up but he wasn't moving even an inch. With a sigh I rested my head back on his arm and closed my eyes.
» I hope you're aware of who he is? « Tyra's voice in my head made me flinch a bit. I still wasn't used to her randomly voicing her thoughts. » just saying... I don't think it's wise to fall in love with him.. I'm not going to stop you either. «
That was how Tyra acted. She left her opinion and gave me the cold shoulder right after. Perhaps that's why I haven't developed a signet yet.
Sometimes it takes time, Dain told me, don't worry, with a dragon like that, it'll be epic.
I never asked for epic. All I wanted to be was a rider, and now I was bonded to a dragon who preferred swimming over flying.
Lost in thoughts I only noticed when Xaden woke up, after he moved. "Morning sleepy bear." I teased and he huffed, shifting to sit up a bit. "Next time you drink, don't assume I'll let you in." He side eyed me.
A blurred memory popped back up. Me knocking at his door way past midnight.
"Well.. you offered me to stay before the gauntlet. Don't blame me for wanting quiet after that party." I sat up as well and brushed my hair out of my face.
His dark eyes met mine and he shook his head. "You don't remember much, do you?" It sounded more like a statement than a fact.
"Not really.. did I do something stupid?" I asked, looking down on me, surprised to see I wore one of his pyjamas. "I couldn't exactly let you sleep in this flimsy dress, could I?" He asked dryly.
Right. The dress my roommate forced me to wear. I wasn't comfortable with it until the liquor was pumping through my system.
Xaden remained silent for a moment, before he spoke up again. "Do you even remember anything after you barged in here like you own that place, blondie?"
I rubbed my temples and shook my head. It was too blurred. "Awesome." He groaned. "So I have to deal with the memory of your bad kisses and you can't even remember."
I froze instantly, staring at him in horror. My jaw dropped as my head processed his words. Did I...? No. No, he was surely making it up.
"Don't look at me like that. You kissed me. Twice."