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“Then it’s decided,” Ben announced as he smiled at the trio. “We’ll meet you at the Villa de Castra in a half hour. It’s just a few miles down the road and lined with old sycamore trees.”
Grant nodded. “I know the place, but why meet there?”
Ben set a hand on the small of my back and grinned. “Because I own it. If you’ll excuse us.”
We left the stupefied men, but they weren’t the only ones with shocked faces. I gaped up at Ben. “You own a villa?”
“It’s a small one,” he admitted.
“How big is a small one?”
“Only about a hundred acres.”
My mouth fell even closer to the ground. “And it’s all yours?”
He chuckled. “According to the title. It’s been in my family for over a century and was gifted to me on my father’s death. He knew I adored the place and also knew my mother wasn’t terribly fond of the sea air.
We reached Ferox who stamped his hoof against the ground. “I know,” Ben replied as he helped me into the carriage. “There’s an ample supply of grain in the stables at the villa. We just need to-”
Ferox shot forward and Ben tumbled into the seat beside me. The carriage zigged and zagged between the other vehicles, and we narrowly avoided a half dozen collisions before we finally exited the carriage park. The faces in the crowd were a blur, but I couldn’t help but notice one familiar one among the curious onlookers who watched us. It was Peter Munio, and it was unnerving to find him staring directly at us as we left.
As soon as my heart rate lowered, I loosened my grip on the side of the carriage and looked up at Ben. “So what does the name of your villa mean?”
His grin widened. “The House of Castle.”
I snorted. “I guess that’s to the point. So when were you going to tell me about this villa?”
“After the races today,” he revealed with a twinkle in his eyes. “I had planned to take you there for our dinner. The house is always open to my unexpected visits.”
“Your servants have to keep a twenty-four-hour vigil for your visits, don’t they?” I teased.
He shrugged. “I try to keep them on their toes, but many have been with the family longer than I and understand my oddities. I also have another reason for traveling to the villa. The manager crowed me the other day and informed me that the crop accountings were ready for my inspection. Checking the books is one of the few chances I have for escaping the city.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “You don’t act that busy.”
He leaned back and folded his arms over his chest. “My crows are delivered to my study desk, and I pick them up while you are sleeping and send off the replies before you’ve awoken. It helps pass the dark hours until you’re returned to me.”
My cheeks reddened somewhat and I turned my face away from him. “You really mean that?”
Ben leaned toward me and slid his arms around me. He lowered his voice to a gentle whisper. “Why shouldn’t I?”
“I-I don’t know.” I took a deep, heady breath. “It’s just. . .we’re so different.”
He froze. “How so?”
I pursed my lips. “You’re a rich, handsome dragon guy and I’m just, well, me.”
He set his hand on my bare left arm. “You forget that you’re something more. The Prima Staff wouldn’t have chosen you for nothing.”
I lay my hand over the top of his and sighed. “I wish I knew what that was. . .”
“What made you take out the flute earlier?” he asked me.
I furrowed my brow. “I felt something on my arm and when I looked down it was glowing. I had the feeling it wanted me to play it, so I did.”
“All the more proof that you were not chosen for nothing,” he chuckled as his warm breath wafted over me. He smelled like lilacs after a warm spring rain. “Even if you never find out, know that you’re already special to me.”
I turned around so we faced each other. His gentle gaze captured mine and his soft lips looked so tempting. I swallowed the growing lump in my throat. “You know, you should probably write some romance novels.”
