SWORN TO THE ALPHA KING

[32.2] THE RACE

[LORD GRAYDON]

I couldn't help but watch her.

Every part of me beckoned me to look away, but despite staring at the  pages of the book I was reading, my gaze kept shifting upwards, watching the human stare pointlessly out of the window, her lips pursed in a straight thin line. Loose strands of her full curls floating effortlessly in the wind.

I couldn't tell what she was thinking, but I didn't need to, in order to sense her aura and to see she was visibly angry-

no, anger was not it. There was a slight shake in her clenched fists that had been balled tightly in her lap.

Fear? Could it?

I could always sense fear between the lines of her fiery emotions, but she was good at hiding it. But now, even with a mask of anger on, the rushing beat of her heart and the stale look in her eyes that were usually filled with so much curiosity and boldness had simply dissolved.

For a moment, I felt I was just looking at a reflection, like the person herself was far from just a seat away.

Perhaps I had been too hard on her.

No- my jaw clenched shifting slightly. My gaze zeroed on the pages. I shouldn't be swayed by her look of innocence. I had been fooled once, and once was already too many. I couldn't keep letting this ridiculous infatuation with a human leave me looking like fool.

I cringed, a stressed hand running through my hair, trying to stop the feeling of stupidity resurfacing  at the memory of my actions. To the extent of visiting her last night.

"Kneeling, before her like a knight," I mumbled, unable to believe at my own actions, I shook my head, fingers trailing down my face- "Graydon."

"My Lord-"

My gaze tore from my book, meeting hers for the first time since the ride began. I stared at her blankly, and she blinked back, seemingly confused-

"What?" I found myself barking in unwarranted defense.

Her gaze shifted away slightly, gulping softly, "I thought you said something."

The air between us thickened, and my fingers gripped The edges of my book tighter as I looked away from her large doe eyes, "No."

I could hear her breathe out softly, the light lift of a scent filling my nostrils for a moment, but I did not look. Not for a good minute later. When my gaze trailed back to her, she had returned to her pointless stare out the window.

I think she was dreaming.

Humans do that a lot.

I do not understand  how one merely closes their eyes and picture moments and stories, forming and weaving, talk less having them wide open  in broad daylight and still being somewhere else.

Daydreaming.

I would never feel this.

Monsters don't dream.

I cracked a fraction of a smile at this. I know this is what she would have said to me, had we been speaking. My lips returned to their light scowl, a tight tick in my jaw as I glanced back between the pages, still dreadfully oblivious to what was being written, my mind far gone.