Chapter 129 — Find Somewhere Else

Chapter 129: Chapter 129 — Find Somewhere Else

~ Raven ~

Raven’s smile vanished.

She had been almost certain she knew the answer. Dante’s reaction on the combat court, followed by his attempts to escape the question, had told her enough.

Hearing him admit it was another matter.

He seemed to realise what he had said at the same moment she did. His jaw tightened, and Raven watched his expression darken as her own smile slowly returned.

He pointed at her, wide eyed.

"Don’t."

She blinked innocently. "I haven’t even said anything."

"Your face is saying plenty."

Raven swung down from the mare, managing it considerably better than she had mounted. Her legs felt unsteady when she landed, but that did nothing to diminish her enjoyment.

After all the times he had deliberately provoked her and walked away smiling, she had finally found something that made him uncomfortable.

She briefly thought of a certain white-haired bastard.

"Was it because of Cassian?"

Dante dismounted and gave her a look over the saddle.

"You’ve had your answer."

"So I have." Raven gathered the reins and continued with a shrug. "I suppose I’ll have to draw my own conclusions."

"You’ve managed that perfectly well without assistance."

"Bellringer did give me several options."

His eyes narrowed.

Raven tilted her head.

"I’m just wondering which one bothered you."

"Rivers."

She pressed her lips together, trying unsuccessfully to contain her smile.

For once, she decided to leave him alone before he found a way to turn it back on her. She led the mare toward the grass beneath the trees, and Dante followed with his horse.

The animals lowered their heads to graze while he studied her.

"What?" Raven asked.

"There’s still some white glow in your eyes."

Her smile faded a little.

"Still?"

"Just flecks." He stepped closer. "Stay still."

"Why?"

His hand rose toward her face, and she nearly pulled away before his fingers brushed a loose strand of hair off her cheek.

Raven went quiet.

He tucked it behind her ear carefully, then moved another strand away from her eyes. After the way he had ruffled her hair on the court, she had expected something else to complain about.

Instead, she found herself standing very still while he looked at her.

"I hate it when they do that," she said.

"Why?"

She shrugged, suddenly wishing she hadn’t mentioned it.

"They attract enough attention already. Add the white hair, and I might as well stop pretending I look normal."

Dante’s gaze stayed on hers.

"How much of a freak can one person be?" she added with a small laugh.

"They’re beautiful."

Raven stared at him, then laughed.

"Oh, fuck off."

He didn’t laugh with her.

She waited for the rest of the joke, but Dante simply watched her until her amusement faltered.

He had meant it.

Raven looked away, unsure what she was supposed to do with that.

A small smile appeared on his face.

"You have a lovely laugh."

She glanced back at him.

"When you’re not using your mouth to attack somebody."

"There it is." Raven shook her head with a small smile. "You were almost pleasant for a few seconds."

"And then you told me to fuck off."

"I thought it was necessary."

Another laugh escaped her, and his smile softened as he watched.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Dante glanced toward the trail they had raced down.

"You scared me."

Raven raised an eyebrow.

"I thought you’d just decided my eyes were beautiful."

He shook his head, smiling faintly.

"Not your eyes. The way you rode."

"I won."

"You nearly killed yourself winning."

"But I did win."

"Raven."

There was enough seriousness in his voice to make her pause.

"You told me you could barely ride, then took that descent at full speed. What were you going to do if she stumbled?"

Raven glanced at the mare, which was calmly tearing at a patch of grass.

She remembered the turn and the certainty that had carried her through it. Explaining that would only lead to questions she couldn’t answer.

"It worked."

"That isn’t a defence."

She looked back at him.

"Are you really lecturing me about being reckless?"

Dante opened his mouth, then stopped.

"You suggested the race," she reminded him.

"On the assumption that you had some interest in staying alive."

"And you’ve always been so sensible?"

He exhaled through his nose.

"Apparently, meeting you has forced me to become responsible."

"It doesn’t suit you."

"Neither does self-preservation."

Raven meant to answer, but she had become aware of how close he was standing.

His hand had dropped from her hair, but neither of them had moved away. Raven looked up and found him watching her, a faint smile still on his lips.

Her heart was beating too quickly. She blamed the race, though standing this close to him wasn’t helping.

Beside them, the horses grazed while they held the reins loosely. Leaves stirred overhead, shifting the afternoon light across Dante’s shoulder.

Without the arguing, Raven wasn’t sure where to look. She tried to hold his gaze, only to find herself glancing at his mouth.

The dream came back with such clarity that her fingers tightened: his lips against hers, her hands pulling him closer, how little she had wanted him to stop.

Don’t think about that.

Dante’s gaze dropped briefly to her mouth before returning to her eyes.

She waited for him to say something smug.

He didn’t.

Instead, he moved a little closer.

Warmth gathered beneath Raven’s ribs, and her wolf stirred. She had felt that pull around him before, but now it was difficult to think beyond how little space remained between them.

She could step back.

Dante wasn’t holding her. There was nothing stopping her from making some cutting remark and returning to her horse.

Raven stayed where she was.

His breathing changed, and she heard it over the rustle of leaves. He looked at her for another moment, close enough now that she had to tip her chin up to hold his gaze.

Then his eyes moved to her mouth again.

Her pulse quickened.

He can probably hear that.

For once, the thought didn’t make her want to retreat.

Dante leaned toward her slowly, giving her time to turn away. Raven’s fingers tightened around the reins, but she found herself lifting her face instead.

His breath touched her cheek.

Her eyes began to close—

"Oh, for fuck’s sake."

Raven jerked back.

Dante’s head snapped upward, and she followed his gaze into the branches above them.

Cassian Blade lay stretched along a thick limb, one leg hanging over the side and an arm tucked beneath his head.

He was looking directly at them.

Raven froze.

How long has he been there?

She hadn’t looked up when they stopped beneath the trees. She hadn’t thought to look anywhere except at Dante.

The race. The bet. His answer.

Her face grew hot.

Dante stared up at Cassian, who returned the look without moving. His brows were drawn together, his expression tired and thoroughly unimpressed.

Raven opened her mouth, though she had no idea what she intended to say.

Beside her, Dante’s jaw tightened.

Cassian looked between them before either could speak.

"Could you two not find somewhere else to do your bullshit?"