Page 91 of The Heart of the Dragon

I could see this was important for her, so I chose my words as carefully as possible. "Some do. Some don't. History shows that it grows naturally between fated mates. The pull is magnetic. You could resist it if you wanted to, but why would you?"

"You make this sound all too clinical."

"Did you feel clinical when we were back at my family home in Scotland? I did not get that impression from you at all."

She bit her lip and looked down, and without her saying another word I knew there was nothing clinical about what we shared for her either. There were so many things I wanted to say to her, but more and more people were turning our way, and some had edged their way closer to our table. It was time to go.

"We need to get out of here," I whispered, nodding my head to the side.

She followed the movement, and her eyes widened as she noticed people around us were paying too much attention.

I grabbed her hand and pulled her from her chair and towards me. I angled my body so I stayed between her and all the nosy onlookers. I had no doubt that my presence with her at the market would not go unnoticed or unreported. Which was exactly what I wanted. If my uncle thought I was simply in town sowing some oats, he would not realize I was plotting against him.

"Time to go somewhere a lot more private," I whispered at her ear. It had been too long since I'd touched her, and my skin was starting to burn with need for her. It had to be affecting her too.

"The—the castle?" she whisper asked.

"No. I'm taking you somewhere secret. That no one else knows about. So I can show you more about being fated mates and what it means."

She rolled her eyes. "Great. So what you're really saying is that I'm being kidnapped?"

I couldn't help but laugh when I looked her in the eyes. "Payback's a bitch, little flower."

Chapter

Thirty-Four

Rose

By the timewe arrived at Magnus's home, I felt like my skin was stretched too tight. I'd lost track of time and all I could think about was lying down and taking a nap.

"If I look as bad as I feel, I'm sorry," I whispered, collapsing onto the first chair that I came across inside. As much as I wanted to look around and explore his private space, the nausea rolling through me would not allow it.

Magnus smiled softly. "It's partially the effects of the glamour spell. It takes more magic than you think to keep it in place and also takes some getting used to. One of the many reasons glamour magic is not my favorite. The fact you aren't sick yet though, is a good sign."

"Oh great. Nice to know it could be worse." I pressed my head against the back of the chair and kept my eyes squeezed shut. I hadn't mentioned yet that the room was spinning, but as long as I couldn't see it, then it wasn't actually happening.

Magnus disappeared into another room but returned moments later with a glass of water in hand. "Here drink this. Until you get used to the magic in your body and all around you, you should pay careful attention to staying hydrated.”

I sat up to drink and he crouched down next to me and brushed my hair up and over my ears.

"I kind of miss the ears. They were cute."

I smirked at him. "I didn't even get a chance to see them. Or the wings."

"Speaking of. How does your back feel? Any phantom itching?"

I shook my head and downed the rest of the water. "I'm just really tired."

"C'mon." He reached underneath my shoulders and my knees and lifted me into his arms, again acting as if I weighed nothing. Since no one had ever carried me anywhere, I found it the strangest feeling that made my belly swoop each time he did it. "You should nap, but not out here."

"Aww," I frowned. "That was a pretty comfortable spot."

"If you think so, then you're going to love the bedroom. I took more care in how I furnished it, making sure it was perfect for whatever I needed."

"I don't know why, but I assumed you lived in the castle."

"I did. And do at times. I grew up there. And technically, I still have my own wing there. But as big as the castle is, a dragon needs a lot of space and the freedom to turn as much as possible. That's not allowed on castle grounds."

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