Page 96 of Hoarded By the Dragon

Kalos has gotten me a whole set. A variety of sizes, materials, and shapes. Boar bristle and sable rounds, brights, flats, and filberts.

I’ll be the first to attest that nice tools aren’t required to be a skilled painter… but it sure makes it easier.

These are the tools of an artist.

“But I already have a workroom,” I say softly.

Kalos scoffs. “That’s a workroom. This is a studio.”

I stand stunned and start to blink rapidly at the sight of Griffin sitting in a new cat tower in the corner.

He fills in my silence with details. “If there’s anything I’ve missed, just let me know. And if you don’t like this room, you can choose another, but this does have an added benefit I’d like to show you.”

Kalos designed this room just for me.

“It’s perfect,” I say.

His shoulders drop in relief.

“Why? Why do this for me?” I ask.

Kalos stills and doesn’t answer immediately. The silence fills with all the options that my mind deems as possibilities in his smooth voice. Sweet reasons like wanting to foster my art to sexy reasons like wanting me to work closer to him and everything in between.

The one I refuse to hear is “It’s nothing.” Because this, this is something. He didn’t just buy a set of nice paints. He bought the best versions of the colors I already use. He devoted time and care to set everything up how I like it.

He got my cat a tower for fuck’s sake. This is not nothing!

Kalos’s brows furrow like he doesn’t know the right words to say.

“I think it’s time to have that talk,” I whisper.

Kalos nods, taking the change in topics in stride.

“It’s possible for a bond to form between us,” he says.

I blink. “A mating bond?”

Kalos leans back against the table, but the tension in his muscles belies his casual position.

“I consulted with a soul witch, and she says it may take some time, but it’s possible. It will require me opening up more to my dragon, but…” he trails off with a shrug. It’s possible for us to become mates.

“And what is this?” I gesture around us with a disbelieving smile. “Your way of convincing me to stay?”

The idea makes me giddy. No one has gone through the effort to make me stay. Nemo trying to keep me working with him doesn’t count. He wants me for my skills, not forme. I’m usually the one holding on tight, but here’s my dragon offering a hell of an olive branch whether he knows the right words to say or not.

He smiles back in chagrin. “Not only that. This is for you. Because you deserve a place to create. You deserve the room to explore what you want.” His golden gaze traps mine. “And maybe if you can let your destructive feelings go, I can do the same for mine.”

This is a new beginning for the both of us.

He clears his throat. “Healing my ability to bond may take more time than you’re willing to wait—”

“Okay,” I say. “I’ll stay.”

He gave me a studio and asks me for patience with his gazeandhis words. This is him putting it all out there.

“And you don’t have to beg me to make art. I’ve gotten a lot better at letting the guilt go and believing I deserve good things.” Or if not deserve, to fight for what I want. To fight forthis.

Kalos is my good thing. We deserve to be happy. I’ve paid my penance. Now it’s time to live.

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