Page 28 of Dragon Heir

True makes a low sound in his throat and then turns around, holding the box up. “It’s safe.”

“Who’s it from?” I can’t even muster anger at True while looking down at the dress-corset thing. It’s too colorful and mesmerizing to my eyes. True fiddles with the packaging and pulls out the card.

When I open it with a finger, I find a card inside but no name. The card simply has a picture of leaves blowing in the wind, and inside, it says, “I’m sorry.”

Chapter Eleven

I finger-comb my long hair, then step back and admire myself in the looking glass. My eyes look silver and almost as if they’re glowing. I’ve always had strange eyes that changed color at random, and now they seem to be alight with my excitement. I’ve never worn something this sexy in my life! I hold back a squeal and fight the urge to throw on a cape when my heart flips with anxiety as I imagine the look on my roommates’ faces when they see me in the gifted garment. True says it’s a traditional Queen’s Day gown, the gems representing scales and the feathers a tail.

My muscular legs are on full display—as well as the bottom of my butt cheeks. Strategically placed gemstones encrust the sheer bodice. They’re too big to be real, huge and colorful like costume jewelry, but gorgeous and sparkling like the finest cut diamonds.

The gems only cover my nipples and pubic area, while the rest of me peeks through the stretchy, sheer material of the garment. Feathers flow down from my back, trailing to the floor.

The only person I can think who would send this to me is Sinetar, which makes me wonder if maybe I’ll see him tonight. I preen in front of the looking glass, running my hand over my curves, imagining the fire that would blaze in his purple eyes as he drank me in. I shiver, my nipples pebbling painfully and heat throbbing between my thighs so hard I gasp aloud. I’m not sure what I’ll do if I see him tonight. I was planning to go have fun with the boys, but just the thought of my professor seeing me in this scandalous garment he chose for me sends a forbidden thrill through me.

I dab a drop of scented oil on my wrist, rubbing it behind each ear. This night isn’t about my teacher crush.

If either of my roommates dance with me, they’ll smell the subtle fragrance and know I put it on for them. My heart flutters at the thought, but I don’t wipe it off. Maybe it is too much, but I’m not going back now. I’m ready.

I snuff my light and head for the door. As I step into the hall, Pax stands from the sofa and turns, catching sight of me. The smile drops from his face, his eyes widen, and he swallows hard. His gaze moves slowly, agonizingly, from my hair to my face, my throat, my chest, my belly and hips, my legs, the heeled shoes I found in the box with the dress.

Now I’m the one who can’t swallow.

I want to turn and flee back to my room, to dive back under the blankets and never come out. But I hear a rustle in the hall behind me, and I know True just stepped out of his room. I can’t run away without looking like a scared little girl. And I want them to see me as a woman, like their other conquests.

Pax swallows again, his throat working before he croaks out, “You look…”

He breaks off, not finishing his sentence. He looks gorgeous himself, clad in a pair of brown trousers and a sea-green muslin shirt tied loosely at the neck. The color perfectly matches his beautiful eyes, and his blonde hair is combed neatly back, not obscuring them as usual.

“You too,” I say lightly, taking my time walking to join him. I let myself enjoy his gaze, bask in his appreciation. I might even add a little sway in my hips.

He rises and comes to meet me at the end of the hall. “Happy Queen’s Day,” he says, his expression soft and almost sad. He takes both my hands in his, and my breath hitches when he leans in. But he only brushes a gentle kiss across my cheekbone before pulling back and giving me a small smile.

His gaze flits over my shoulder, and I turn to see True standing in the hall watching us. His face is hidden in shadow, but I think I catch a glimpse of pain in his expression before he turns away.

“Are you ready?” I ask, gesturing for him to join us.

“Almost,” he says, ducking back into his room. A moment later, his light goes out, and he joins us.

“We got something for you,” he says, stepping from the hall into the light of the living room. He pulls a small, round box from his pocket and hands it to me, his eyes not meeting mine.

The intricately carved pink and white marble box is lovely but understated, the exact opposite of my ostentatious dress.

“Oh, wow,” I breathe, running my thumb over the swirling design etched in the lid. “It’s beautiful! Thank you.”

“Open it,” Pax says, his voice soft.

“There’s more?” I ask, darting a glance at them. “You didn’t have to get me anything. I didn’t get you anything. We never did presents back home. I didn’t even think of it.”

“You don’t give other people presents on Queen’s Day, Vynessa,” True says as he shuffles his feet and shoves his hands into his pockets, making his biceps bulge deliciously. This big man’s bashfulness at giving me a gift makes me smile as I twist the lid.

It comes off after a tug, revealing tiny folds of satin. I push them aside with one finger, my heart suddenly thundering in my chest. A faint red glow meets my eyes a second before I uncover the ring. It’s a beautiful silvery white band with a shimmering red stone set into it. The stone is large for the band, the size of a tiny bird’s egg but a translucent red that gives off soft pulses of light.

“What is it?” I murmur, holding it up by the band.

“Can I put it on you?” True asks, his voice husky.

Pax takes my hand, and a pang of longing passes through me at his tender touch. He’s touching me as if I’m something precious.