Page 63 of The Heart of the Dragon

"I'm sure I can accommodate that. There are a lot of rooms in this house. I'll be right back."

I started to stop him and clamped my mouth shut. There was so much information being thrown at me, that if I could actually get some time curled up in this window to think through everything I'd learned, then I had to take it. I needed it.

Too much had happened in a short amount of time and I had a lot to process. Normally, just seeing Magnus morph into a giant dragon would have been too much. But these people had rapid fire hit me all day long.

"How is this?" I turned in time to see him squeeze an enormous plush round chair through the doorway and cross the room.

"Wow. That's perfect."

"I grabbed some extra blankets and pillows as well. You should have plenty of materials to build whatever you need. But if you want something else just let me know." With that, he turned and walked back to the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Giving you the peace and quiet you asked for." My heart stuttered at the simple kindness. Not just now but pretty much all day long. For a volatile dragon, he'd been amazingly accommodating.

"What made you pick this room for me?"

"It reminds me of your cottage. The wood beams, the view of the ocean, the soft green on the walls, the plants..."

He’d taken notice of all of that, both here and there. It struck me hard. I was so used to being alone and fading into the background, I often forgot that I wasn't the only one capable of noticing my surroundings.

"Thank you," I said simply, hoping he understood how truly grateful I was.

He grunted and flatly closed the door behind him, enclosing me into the peace and quiet I'd asked for. What if he?—

I sprinted for the door and turned the knob, relieved to find it unlocked. For a second, I'd thought maybe he'd locked me in and that's why he'd so easily left me behind. I eased it closed again and leaned back against it while taking in more details of the room.

There were beautiful paintings on the wall in gilded gold frames that looked quite expensive. And the far wall was covered in what looked to be thousands of books on rows and rows of shelves. Normally, that would be my first destination, but today I wanted to focus on all the information swirling in my head.

I had a decision to make.

I sat on the big round chair in front of the window and sank into the plush cushions and soft fabric. I wrapped one of the blankets around me and fixated on a dark spot out in the ocean. A tiny island I'd guess. I tried to imagine living here and couldn't. A house this size would be far too big to live alone. But if I wasn't alone...

I violently shook that thought from my head. I had no business going down that road. Right now I was supposed to be thinking about the impossible choice I'd been given. Follow Magnus into the unknown of the fae realm and maybe discover who and what I really was, or stay here and have whatever legacy I came from permanently revoked.

The time thing was the real clincher, and the hardest thing to wrap my mind around. Not that the knowledge that fae and dragons were real wasn't messing with my head too.

Two worlds basically running parallel to each other, but on different timelines. How was that even possible? No science course in college had gotten very deep into that kind of thing. That was an entirely different discipline that I'd had no interest in.

Now I was kicking myself for not at least dabbling in it. What could I have learned that would help me now? The decision I had to make mattered little on science and focused entirely on emotions. Particularly love and fear. Fear of the unknown, and the idea of never seeing my loved ones again.

I grabbed one of the pillows next to me and buried my face in it and screamed at the top of my lungs. Knowing I was adopted was one thing. But this...

I didn't think anyone had any reason to lie to me about who or what I was. But was I willing to give up finding out the truth without even trying? I wasn't sure I could stand to live the rest of my life not knowing, or not experiencing this opportunity.

Those thoughts continued to go around and around in my head for what felt like hours. I lost track of all time, and it wasn't untilthe sun was peeking above the horizon I realized exactly how long I'd been sitting there trying to decide.

And then I noticed something else. I was hungry. No. Ravenous. And not just for food.

"You should have called me sooner," a grumbling voice came from the now opened doorway, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin.

I clutched at my chest as my now racing heart rate beat more erratically. "Do not sneak up on me."

Magnus frowned. "I couldn't have made more noise coming up here if I'd tried." He entered carrying a tray of food, and while that was good, it wasn't what drew my attention. He placed the tray on the small table in the opposite corner and made his way over to the chair.

His nostrils flared and his eyes widened, and all I could think about was how good he looked standing over me.

"Sit with me," I invited, scooting over so his large frame would fit on one side of the chair.

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