(Author's note: This scene is with the real Chase Dubois)
Tilly Ann POV
I stormed off after Chase left, murmured an excuse about dragon practice and excused myself.
A knock came at my door the next day.
"Go away!"
Another knock.
The door flew open instead. I turned around, ready to fling the thirteenth-century vase at the intruder—but came face to face with my best friends.
I dropped the vase. "Girls, I'm not going to practice."
Electra and Jovina stood there, already in their riding leathers.
"Dragon practice is not really optional," Electra announced. "And even if it was, you are not hiding from Talia 'raccoon-face' Goodworm."
"We heard about Talia and her thieving little hands," Jovina added. "She couldn't keep them off Chase. Such a wench!" Coming from Jovina, that was the highest cuss word she could use.
"More like a cunt," Electra said, opening my wardrobe to grab my riding outfit.
"Electra!" Jovina yelled, and we all started laughing.
"I swear to the Creator, you are a bad influence on Electra." Jovina grabbed my boot from the corner, and together they started dressing me.
"Bad influence? She is a bad influence on me." I told Jovina.
"Now, before you set something on fire with your mind, tell us all about Chase Dubois. We heard he mouthed off to Lady Alphonse on your behalf," Jovina said. Practically blushing.
"Good. Someone had to put that wicked old bat in her place." Electra grabbed my hand and brought it to my face. "Oh Tilly, he is Prince Charming, isn't he? Coming to your rescue, putting Talia What's-Her-Face in her place. Publicly kissing you…"
"...to your father's face," Jovina added.
"And his father," Electra added. "So scandalous!"
"Oh Tilly. You love him, don't you?" Jovina asked, her big brown eyes fixed on my face.
My face went hot. If I didn't know better, I'd say I was blushing. But I wasn't the blushing type. And he probably doesn't feel the same.
I stood up and opened my wardrobe to grab my riding whip "Enough of Chase." I said changing the conversation. I wished my heart could listen to that. Could have enough of him.
"The dragon bonding ceremony is two days away. Let's focus on that. Not on my infuriating family guest."
"Infuriating?" Jovina poked my side. "We're all out of sympathy for you, princess. You got defended and kissed by a Lycan prince in public. That's a win."
"Girls! Focus!"
"Fine," Electra said. "Let's focus on the bonding ceremony. Rumor has it that the Lycan Alpha is only making this deal with our kingdom to get himself a dragon. We need to ensure you successfully bond with one during the ceremony. Because no dragon… no incredibly dreamy wolf prince!"
"Ellie!" Jovina cautioned. "Don't say that to her. Don't worry, Tills. I'm sure he will love you regardless of dragon or no dragon."
"Girls. Can we focus on something other than my ridiculously - handsome - very sexy, probably the love of my life fiancee?" I said and they all stared at me.
Fuck. It was getting too difficult to hide.
I walked out of the room without saying another word. What was the point? I will just fumble some more.
They ran after me.
"No! Tell us more" Electra yelled. "Have you met his brother yet?! Slow down, Tills, this is important. Do you think he wants a wife too?!"
I rolled my eyes and kept walking to the training ground.
---
Dragon practice was brutal, as always. Afterward, I was sweaty, covered in soot. My mood was terrible.
I skipped my bath. I needed air.
My feet carried me up the familiar path to the Highfalls, the tallest cliff in the world. The roar of falling water was usually calming.
Except it wasn't calming today.
Because there, at the very edge of the stone overlook, was Chase.
His wheelchair was parked dangerously close to the drop. He was just staring down into the misty abyss, motionless. The wind tugged at his dark hair.
My heart did a stupid, worried flip. I approached slowly. It was a bad idea to startle him.
"Okay. I don't think a dragon would survive that fall," I said, announcing myself. "Let alone a wolf."
He startled, his hands gripping the wheels tight. My heart squeezing.
He didn't look at me. "It's that deep, huh?" He asked.
"Yes." I walked closer, but not too close. "It's called the Isle of the Dragon. When a dragon is old and in too much pain to go on… they jump. Right here." I took a deliberate step back from the edge. "It hasn't happened in almost a hundred years. It takes a… a fucked-up amount of pain for a dragon to do that."
"Yeah," he murmured, almost lost in the waterfall's thunder. "I figured."
He finally wheeled himself back a few feet. The tension in my shoulders loosened a fraction.
Our eyes locked. His blues against my greens. And held.
Neither of us moved. Neither of us spoke. The waterfall roared between us, and for once, the silence felt like something other than a war.