It was terrifying.But for the first time since Carlyle had died, Emory felt something that wasn’t fear or caution when it came to the future.
He felt hope.
* * * *
GRAHAM WAS TRYING TOmake an effort, but he kind of regretted it.He’d thought that spending more time in the living room would show the mages and their dragons that he was trying, and maybe it did, but it also meant that he was exposed to them.Right now, the people in the room with him were watching him like he was a fish in a bowl, and it made him want to scream and run.
At least not everyone was there.Things would have been even more awkward if Tyne had been.Graham imagined that he would’ve tried to kill him with his gaze, and knowing him, he just might have succeeded.But Graham was safe, even though Penley, Ansley, and Keylon were all staring at him.When they’d come in, they’d been talking about watching a few episodes of a TV show, but even though the TV was on, they were almost exclusively watching Graham, which was kind of annoying.Graham had heard about the show, and he wanted to know what the fuss was about.
“You know that the TV is on, right?”he asked.
Keylon quickly turned back to the screen, but Ansley and Penley continued staring.They’d be harder to distract.
“I can go back to my room if you want me to,” Graham offered.
Penley shook his head instantly.“Why would you do that?”
“So you can watch your show.”
Penley grabbed the remote.He paused the show, and all three of them went back to watching Graham.
Great.That was even worse than it had been before.
Graham groaned.“Look, I’m trying to make an effort, but you’re not making it easy on me.This is weird.”
“We’re just not used to seeing you around the castle,” Ansley pointed out.
“I have dinner with you every day.Hell, I also have breakfast and lunch with you every day.How can you not be used to seeing me around the castle when you see me at least three times a day?”
“You have your meals with us because you feel like you have to,” Penley said.“Even when you watched a movie with us, you did it because you felt like you couldn’t say no when I asked.This is different.Something about you is different.”
Graham looked away.He was pretty sure his cheeks were bright red.“I’m not any different.”
“I bet I know what’s different,” Ansley teased.“It probably has to do with a handsome dragon.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”But Graham knew it was a lost cause.He wasn’t surprised that people had noticed how much time he and Emory were spending together.It was bound to happen, considering they all lived together.He just hadn’t expected anyone to confront him over it.At least these three weren’t accusing him of trying to hurt Emory the way Tyne would have.He was still convinced that Graham had a reason to be here that went beyond him needing a place to stay.
Penley twisted his body, tucking one of his legs under himself so he could watch Graham more easily.They were sitting on the same couch, while Ansley and Keylon had chosen another one.All three men were staring, though, and Graham wondered if they’d try to stop him if he ran.
Probably.
He sighed.“What do you want to know?”
“How are things going with Emory?”Penley asked.
“There’s nothing going on with Emory.We’re friends, and I worry about him after what happened.That’s all.”
“That’s understandable, but anyone can tell there’s something more.You don’t worry about me or anyone else the way you do about Emory.”
“You weren’t almost killed by Carlyle like he was,” Graham pointed out.
Keylon snorted.“Sorry, but I’m pretty sure weallwere almost killed by Carlyle.”
“You all have someone who worries about you already.I can’t exactly fuss over you the way your dragon is supposed to.”
“But you can do that with Emory?”
“I can do it because he doesn’t have anyone who’s going to do it.”