“Yeah, dragons…” he smiled.
Another moment of silence. The tension was so thick in the air that one could cut it with a knife.
“Viggo…” She didn’t know how to continue her sentence, so she simply let the sound of his name hang in the air.
“Lily…”
He bit the inside of his cheek again. He fought the urge to reach a hand and touch her arm, or her shoulder, or her hair… anything. Instead, he took an unconscious step towards her.
His skin radiated heat. She was enveloped by his warmth and his masculine scent. The closeness made her forget how good things had been between her and Eric since he had come back from London. She rose on her tiptoes and whispered against his lips: “Just this once…”
“No…”
But even as he said “no”, he leaned forward, making it easier for her to press her lips to his. It was a quick, closed-lip kiss, but it was intense. It was over before it started, and if their lips hadn’t burned so hot and their palms hadn’t been clammy with sweat, they could have doubted that it ever happened. Delyse immediately put some distance between them, because if she didn’t do it, then she knew she wouldn’t resist. Viggo cleared his throat and turned his back to her, determined not to let her see the sadness and hurt in his eyes. He couldn’t have her, yet he wanted her even more with each passing day. They waited for the others in complete silence, neither of them capable, or willing, to make any kind of conversation. The tension hanging between them had turned to guilt.
***
Eric hesitated before leaving his office. The door was open, and all he had to do was step over the threshold, and he’d be in the hallway. Lily and Viggo were waiting for him at the end of the hallway, near the stairs. He could smell them and hear them even though they kept their voices down. Astrid and Finn had disappeared God knew where, and the three of them would have to wait if they wanted to have lunch in town. He had promised Lily he would take her to see the island, and lunch was a great opportunity to do just that while also spending some quality time with the members of his clan and help Lily adapt to her new position as the Fyrstur’s bride.
He furrowed his brows. Why was he hesitating? There was something in the air. If he tilted his head back and sniffed, he could almost figure out what it was. Tension? Fear? Arousal? That was just ridiculous. Then it happened… Those simple words, so small, yet so significant, leaving Lily’s lips in a tiny whisper. So tiny that he almost missed it.
“Just this once…”
Eric stepped over the threshold in time to see Viggo whisper a strangled “no” before she rose on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. He didn’t pull back. In fact, he closed his eyes. It was over in a second, and when they parted and stepped away from each other, Eric made sure he was back in his office. They hadn’t heard or noticed him, he was sure of it. Too caught up in their little exchange, in what they felt for each other… Too preoccupied by the fact that what they had just done was wrong. Yes, Eric knew now: that strange thing he felt and smelled in the air was guilt. Their guilt. Was this the first time they had kissed? Had Viggo kissed his bride before, while he was gone? What else had they done?
He shook his head and rubbed his temples. No. It couldn’t be. He didn’t know Lily for long enough, but he did know Viggo. His Annarr would never betray him. Unless…
“Unless he loves her.”
Eric leaned with his back against the wall for a couple of minutes and let the information sink in. Lily was so sweet, so fragile, so innocent. She wasn’t capable of something like that. On the other hand, if she and Viggo had done more than just kiss, he had to admit he, Eric, had pushed her a bit. He knew very well he hadn’t been the best husband so far, ignoring her and not letting her draw him into a proper conversation. He knew he was rough. It was in his nature, and he knew he couldn’t change it. He didn’t want to, actually. Being the Alpha of an ancient dragon clan came with responsibilities. He had to be a true leader. Viggo, on the other hand… As the Beta, Viggo didn’t need to seem uncaring and unmovable. He could afford to show his emotions. He could afford to hold a woman gently and kiss her hair sweetly without fearing his clan’s judgment. Eric’s heart clenched at the thought. As he stayed there, against the wall, for five more minutes, he tried to calm down his heart enough to think with his brain. In the end, the worst realization of all was that Lily did need and deserve a man like Viggo.
When he came out of the office and walked towards his bride and his Beta, Eric was a different person, but he didn’t let it show. He ignored their unease, plastered a smile on his face, and asked them if they were ready to go.
“I don’t know about you,” he said while wrapping an arm around Lily’s shoulders, “but I’m starving.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Council Meeting
Eric held the door open for her, and Delyse entered the impressive building in central London which hosted the headquarters of the Council of the Six Factions. Wide-eyed, she looked at the tall ceiling and stared at the elegantly dressed people, humans and shifters, going about their business. Excitement grew in her heart as she realized her father had worked here for the better part of his life. Now, he was waiting for them upstairs, in the conference room, where he had gathered all the other members of the Council, along with their personal advisers and her two friends, Avelyn and Amelia. She smiled when she remembered she would see them again in a few minutes, and she almost bolted to the elevator. Fortunately, Eric took her hand and stopped her before she made a fool of herself.
“You look lovely, by the way,” he whispered as they stepped inside the elevator.
“Thank you.”
Delyse was wearing a black, high-waist pencil skirt, and a white shirt. Black pumps made her legs look longer than ever, and her blond hair was gathered up in a complicated updo. Astrid had insisted to braid it and twist it until she was satisfied with the result. She was wearing minimal make-up, just enough to make her sky-blue eyes pop. Eric didn’t look bad either. He was wearing a smart suit that fit perfectly over his tall, strong body, and his raven hair was tied in a low, classy ponytail. Anyone who looked their way had to stop for a second, sigh, and think how amazing they were together.
Delyse took his arm the moment they stepped out of the elevator. It was for support and for courage. She hadn’t seen her father in years, but that wasn’t what made her so nervous. She knew the conference room would be packed with the most important people in the world, and the meeting that was about to start would pretty much decide the fate of both humans and shifters.
“Relax,” Eric said, his hand on the door knob. “We’re going to be fine.”
She nodded, and he opened the door. When they entered the room, all eyes turned on them. They were five minutes late, but it had all been because the driver who had taken them from the airport to central London had moved like a snail. Eric started shaking hands, smiling, and exchanging pleasantries with everyone, so Delyse found herself with a huge, fake smile plastered on her face, following his lead. The only time when her smile became genuine was when Avelyn and Amelia jumped on her and squeezed her between them in a group hug.
“Oh my God, finally!” said Avelyn. “I thought this guy forgot you at Alma Venus.”
Delyse laughed. “Well, he was busy sleeping, you know…”
“Look at you!” said Amelia. “All happy and married! To a dragon, no less.”