Page 46 of The Heart of the Dragon

Magic.

A wide smile broke out on Rose’s face when she caught sight of him. My dragon growled in my head and I couldn't agree more.

The man smiled back at Rose, not knowing he was one wrong breath from death. "What a nice surprise." He pulled her into a tight hug, and she disappeared behind massive arms the size of tree trunks.

My hackles rose, and an urgent alarm bell went off inside me. A low warning growl slipped free before I could stop it, and the man's head shot up, his gaze connecting with mine. We both knew immediately. Neither was looking at a normal human male.

"What the?—?"

Kitra took several steps back, and Isaac grabbed my arm to block me from attacking. I jerked my arm free, hissing at the same time, "Do not touch me."

"Rose, get inside," the man commanded.

"I knew it!" Kitra exclaimed, and we all turned to stare at her. "What? You can't tell me you didn't sense something was off after that freakout in the car."

"What are you talking about?" Isaac asked.

"Rose, go inside. I will handle this," her father urged.

She struggled to get free from the man, and I was half a second away from biting his head off and I meant that in the most literal sense.

"Dad. What's wrong? These are my friends. They need your help."

Dad?

"We don't help their kind." He snarled at us as he tried once again to shove Rose behind him. But I was faster, and I caught her hand at the last second and pulled her back against me in a quick move that caught her father off guard.

"Let her go. We don't want any trouble from you, but she's my daughter. I will defend her until my last breath."

"That might be sooner than you think."

"Magnus!" Rose cried. "What is wrong with you? And Dad, what is going on with you?"

"I think your dad is about to show us his true colors." Isaac seemed flippant and unconcerned, but he was on edge and ready to attack at any moment as well. He'd already angled his body in a way that would protect Kitra, and I had Rose firmly in my arms.

"What do you want?" her father asked.

"Dad! For real. What is happening? They are with me, and I brought them here because they need your help. You help everyone."

"Not them."

"Why not?"

"Yeah, Dad," I said. "Why not?"

"Oh, for Goddess’ sake, we aren't going to get anywhere like this. Just say it. Your daughter is already well aware of who we are. It's you who we thought would be surprised."

A smile tugged at one corner of my mouth. Leave it to Kitra to get us to the point.

His eyes went wide as his gaze moved from his daughter to each one of us. "She can't know."

"Well, I do," Rose huffed. "These two are dragons, one of which I've seen a little too up close and personal when he shifted inside my cottage, and she is fae. But I know that because I've spent time with them. You haven't. So the more important question is, how doyouknow?"

Fierce pride rose inside me as Rose questioned her father. It was smart of her to ask questions first.

He scrubbed his hands over his face and let out a breath. "I had a feeling this day would come soon, but your mother disagreed. She thought we had more time."

Kitra stepped forward, and Isaac growled at her. "Don't move any closer to him.”

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