Chapter 37

Dryden and Kael walked her to her room. "Duke, I'm home." Rika flopped onto her bed and hugged her bear.

"Wait..." Dryden froze, replaying her words in his head. "Did you call him Duke?"

Oops, he wasn't supposed to know that. Rika snuggled up to Duke, ignoring Dryden's question.

Dryden smiled, shaking his head. "Rika, can I talk to you alone for a moment?" Dryden asked Rika, his voice softening, and he glanced at Kael, who raised an eyebrow.

"You go out on a date with me and then push me away?" Kael sighed. "So cruel."

"Please." He stared at Kael.

"Oh fine," he huffed and walked away. "I need to get some training in after all that dessert, anyway. Goodbye, my lovelies." He waved.

"Did he just...? Never mind." Dryden shook his head and entered Rika's room, closing the door behind him.

Rika peeked at him, still hugging Duke. "What's wrong?"

Dryden sat on the edge of her bed and petted Duke's head. "There is something I wanted to talk to you about alone, but first things first. Did you call him Duke?" He couldn't hold back his smile, because he was certain he heard her.

"What of it?" She buried her face in Duke's.

His smile widened. "Nothing, I'm just happy the bear is named after me." He poked at the bear's ear. "But it's nice to know he can be here to comfort you whenever you need him. The bear proxy." He winked at her.

"Why does it sound like you're leaving me or something?" She peeked at him.

"I'm not the one who might leave soon; you are. His Highness promised to look for a way to send you home, so we don't know how long we have together. I'm hoping you'll take Duke with you, so you can remember me."

"As if I could ever forget you," Rika mumbled.

"Honestly, if given the chance, I'd go with you."

Her heart skipped a beat. Figured he liked me, but not that much. "Really?"

"Of course. Although if I could convince you to stay, that'd work for me too." Dryden leaned in closer and brushed her hair behind her ear, trying to look at her face. "How about you sit over here with me, and we can talk about the real reason I'm here right now." He patted the bed beside him.

"It wasn't to talk about my return home coming soon?" What's going on? Why do I need to sit up for it? Why does it feel like I'm in trouble for something?

"No, it wasn't; I just keep going off track, and I don't even want to bring this up." He sighed, shaking his head.

Rika gave Duke a kiss on the top of his head and set him aside before sitting beside Dryden. She took a deep breath, her hands clasped in her lap. "So, what's up?"

"I wanted to talk to you about the black rose mark on your neck."

She gasped, eyes wide as her hand flew to her neck where the mark was. I forgot about my scarf. Where'd it go? Her mind went blank as she tried to remember what had happened.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

Rika took another deep breath and told Dryden everything that had happened on her trip.

"So you didn't agree to it?" Dryden nodded to himself. "Should we try to get rid of it? Try to overwrite it?"

"You can do that?" The mark tingled as she thought about it.

"I can try to. I'm certain our connection is stronger than yours with Kael, even if he's somewhat redeemed himself, and proven to care about you."

"I have to ask, is what they said true? Do I have to have romantic feelings for him in the first place for it to succeed?"

Dryden cringed. "It's true, but that still doesn't mean you're in love with him or anything. Budding feelings, as long as they're mutual, could be enough to mark someone if they're a strong enough mage."

Still means they're there. You're not supposed to like the lunatic just because he keeps hanging around you, Rika!

"I can only speak from my end..." Dryden swallowed hard and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. He'd made a move on many women in the past, but he'd never felt this nervous before. "But I love you, Rika, and I'm hoping that's enough to help me overwrite it."

Rika's heart skipped a beat, and she swallowed hard. This definitely feels real. She gripped her hands in her lap, and glanced up at him, their eyes locking. "I'm certain my feelings for you are stronger than they are for him." At least they feel like they are to me. She bit her lip.

"May I try, then?" He motioned towards her neck, and she nodded.

Oh geez. First Kael, and now Dryden? Am I trying to unlock a harem ending? Then again, I only have Ferran's route left to unlock. Do I get to choose after? Will I get to go home? Wait, what's the point of a choice if I get the chance to go home?

Rika shook off her thoughts and turned her head to the side, exposing her neck as her cheeks flushed. Maybe if I focus on my feelings for Dryden, it'll help him.

Dryden pulled her closer and leaned in to kiss her neck, focusing on the mark.

"Oh." She quickly covered her mouth, cringing because she knew he heard the gasp from the tingling electricity he sent through her.

The mark heated up, nearly burning her skin.

"Ugh..."

Light erupted from the mark. Dryden went flying and hit his back on the dresser.

"Arg..." Dryden wobbled as he got to his feet, holding onto his head. "I didn't expect that. It's almost like the mark has a barrier on it or some sort of self-defence mechanism."

Rika cringed. "Is that your way of saying it didn't work?"

"Sadly, no." Dryden sighed and knelt down in front of her. "I'm so sorry, Rika. I really had hoped this would work, but Kael's too strong, and I've never heard of a mark having enough power to knock a grown man away like that." He took her hand in her lap and kissed the back of it.

"I have to ask, does this mean I have to be with Kael now?"

"Not exactly, but it did bind you two together. He probably even felt me trying to get rid of the mark. Considering the power behind it, I'd say it works to fend off other men, to an extent." He kept hold of her hand. "I wonder if things would've been different if I had marked you first. Would it have stopped him? Or is he so strong it would've happened no matter what?"

"No use wondering what if. What's done is done. Besides, if I go home and back into my body, this won't be here anyway." She touched the mark.

"Back in your body?" Dryden frowned. "This isn't you?"

"Not exactly, no. I definitely don't have these long red locks, at least." Rika twirled her hair around her finger. I wonder if I shouldn't have mentioned that.

Dryden nodded. "I see..."

"Disappointed?"

"No, but I am surprised, and curious." He kissed the back of her hand again. "I'd love to see the real you, but I guess that won't happen."

"Only if you came to my world." Rika laughed.

"If only," Dryden sighed and stood. "I should let you rest." He turned to leave and paused. "Hey, Rika." He leaned in close to her before she could lie back down.

"What's up?"

"I know it's my jealousy talking, but it irks me that I haven't acted yet when he has multiple times now." He glanced at her lips.

Wait, is he thinking what I think he is? Rika's heart raced. Should I let him?

"Just push me away if you don't want me to." He leaned in close, and she closed her eyes, so he went for it, his hand around the back of her head as his lips found hers.

"Mmm." Her toes curled.

Buzz. "Ouch!" Dryden jolted away from her and covered his mouth. "That damn mark! How'd it do that? Seriously, I wasn't touching it this time!"

Rika's jaw hung open. "Guessing that's not normal, then?" She lightly touched her lips.

"Not that I know of, but I can't say I've tried to kiss a marked woman before." Dryden cursed under his breath. "Are you okay? Did you get shocked, too?"

Rika shook her head no.

"Good. At least it was only on my side."

"Sorry..." She swallowed hard and bit her lip. If only I had stopped Kael from marking me.

"Not your fault. It was worth the shock." He winked at her. "Goodnight, bunny."

"Goodnight."