Crown Of Hearts
Chapter 23: attention and affection

Chapter 23: attention and affection

A soft frustrated sigh escaped Valerion’s lips as he looked at him longingly.

He could have Eamon in his arms if he wasn’t in chains and...if the man didn’t fear him. But he did and that changed things.

"Yes." Came his brief reply as their eyes met.

Eamon blinked, not expecting him to easily agree.

He recovered quickly from his shock.

"I am a man." He stated the obvious and Valerion smiled painfully as his eyes travelled up the length of his body.

"I know. I am surprised by all this as well." Valerion admitted.

"You don’t find men attractive. Do you?" Eamon asked his voice conflicted and Valerion smirked, not expecting the conversation to take this direction.

"No, not usually but...I certainly do find you attractive." Valerion admitted shamelessly and Eamon felt his ears burn up at the confession.

This dragon was...

He was lost for words as he tried to think of a response.

"I am not going to mate with you." Eamon declared, his voice as serious as he could make it.

Valerion smiled, surprisingly not offended by this man’s rejection.

"We will see." He nonchalantly replied, causing Eamon’s eyes to widen in surprise and shock.

He felt his cheeks heat up, his mind replaying the erotic dream he had earlier that day.

This dragon’s confidence was annoying and Eamon wished he could wipe that smirk off his face.

Wipe it off with a punch or a kiss?

His mind teased and Eamon averted his eyes from the dragon, totally flustered at his thoughts.

After battling his inner struggle and emerging victorious, Eamon looked at Valerion again, his face straight.

"What happened to your first mate?" He asked and Valerion frowned, his aura shifting from a relaxed one to a heavily guarded and intimidating one.

His eyes blazed with an emotion that made Eamon’s heart ache. It was something akin to pain.

"I don’t want to talk about it." Valerion replied, his voice final and Eamon didn’t press further.

It was evident from the sudden change in his demeanour. Something terrible had happened to his mate.

"Alright, I will leave." Eamon said and Valerion looked up, his eyes flashing with a panicked and pleading look that disappeared as fast as it had appeared, getting replaced with a numb calmness.

Valerion did not want him to leave and he bit down on his tongue to avoid asking him to stay.

This man’s presence was the only soothing remedy he needed to keep his painful memories at bay.

The day he had lost his wife and child was still etched into his mind, like a terrible nightmare he could not wake up from and Valerion cursed himself for being a fool to think that Eamon could want to stay with him a moment longer.

He was a beast afterall.

Valerion gritted his teeth as his eyes zeroed onto those sharp chocolate brown eyes that were looking back at him.

"Alright, you can go." Valerion forced the words out of his mouth, his voice much calmer than he had expected.

Eamon sighed softly as he leaned against the wall. He did not know why but leaving this man so soon was suddenly distasteful.

"I will stay for a few more minutes." Eamon replied and relief washed over Valerion only to be replaced with doubt a few seconds later.

Eamon had not stayed because he wanted to, maybe he just wanted to take in the sight of him looking vulnerable.

His mind raced and Valerion hated the possibility of it being true.

Why did he desperately want Eamon to like him?

It was an unreasonable wish on his part because Valerion had never cared for anyone’s attention.

People naturally paid him attention but he wanted this man to look at him longer than just a few seconds.

Valerion found himself desiring someone else’s attention for the first time in ages and he was unapologetic for that.

He wanted Eamon’s attention and... affection and he was going to get it!

His mood instantly brightened as his mind started to meticulously plan ways on how to capture Eamon’s attention and affection.

The silence was a surprisingly comfortable one and Eamon couldn’t help but wonder why the dragon had a faint smirk on his face as he looked at him.

He cleared his throat to break the silence.

"I will be on my way. Duty calls." He said and without waiting for Valerion’s response, Eamon turned and left.

He needed to find Damon and tell him of his findings.

Eamon found him helping his knight, Alexander take slow but steady steps in the gardens.

He greeted both of them and turned to Damon, his gaze suggesting that he needed to talk to him.

"It’s okay, you can trust Alexander." Damon encouraged and even though Eamon was hesitant to reveal his thoughts in the presence of a man he barely knew, he felt like he could strangely trust Alexander.

"Your theory checked out. I am indeed Valerion’s mate." Eamon spoke and Damon was less visibly surprised when compared to Alexander whose eyes were slightly wide.

"You are mated to Valerion Flameborn!?" Alexander asked Eamon, his voice low and his curiosity evident.

Eamon nodded, his expression grim.

"Yes." He confirmed.

"What are you going to do about it?" Damon asked the silent question that hung in the air and Eamon exhaled deeply.

"Honestly, I don’t know." He admitted.

"What do you think I should do about it?" Eamon asked Damon before briefly glancing at Alexander.

"You could indulge in some forbidden desires." Damon teased and Eamon’s cheeks turned a deep red as he glared at his friend.

Alexander muffled a chuckle while Damon grinned.

"That is not an option." Eamon blurted out, his voice as firm as he could make it.

"But you thought about it. Let’s be honest here, I hate the dragon but even I could agree that he is one fine male." Damon wriggled his brows suggestively and Eamon’s face burned while Alexander felt his jealousy stir.

Why was Damon looking at other men?

"Heavens help me but I swear I am going to punch you if you say another word on this topic, Damon." Eamon threatened, completely and utterly flustered.

Why had he asked for this man’s advice!?

Damon shrugged.

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