Page 45 of Alan

“All of that is quite fascinating, but none of it is what I wished to ask.” His blue eyes sparkled even in dim light. “And I agree with you when it comes to toilet paper, by the way.”

“Whew. Because that is a serious deal breaker. I’m just saying.”

“What I meant to ask,” he laughed, “was whether you believe you’re ready to… Meet my dragon.”

The question knocked me sideways. “You know, in the outside world, that would only be a euphemism,” I murmured. There I was, trying to use humor to deflect from a situation I had no idea how to navigate.

“I sense your confusion,” he replied. “Perhaps it was too soon to suggest it.”

“No, no,” I insisted, squeezing his hand. “No, it wasn’t too soon. But I think you have to admit, this would be a little overwhelming for anybody. So many things happening at once.”

“Aye, I’m sure of it.”

We reached the mouth of the cave, and the curtain of roots and branches and vines opened up on a bright, sunshiny day. I pulled him aside, away from the others as they started the hike to the mountain.

The rueful look on his face made me regret my reaction. I took both of his hands then, staring up into his eyes. Willing him to believe me. “Yes. I want to meet your dragon. I want to know all about you, every last bit. There might still be times when I balk at first, since… I mean, a dragon. I was raised to believe you were just a myth. But believe me, I’m trying to adjust.”

“And you’ve done wonderfully well in a very short amount of time.” Once we were alone, the others having already started out, he flashed a sexy smirk before peeling off his tight shirt.

“Ooh,” I grinned. “I didn’t know I would get a show.”

“It’s either this or destroy every stitch,” he explained.

I took each piece of clothing he handed over and tucked them into my backpack, which Selene had been kind enough to return.

It was the least she could do after sending witches out to find me.

No, not me. Keira. Her granddaughter. God, everything was so crazy all of a sudden.

I turned my attention to the embodiment of physical perfection standing before me. If there was a single flaw in his muscular physique, I’d be hard-pressed to find it. But I would be more than happy to keep looking…

“I appreciate the appreciation,” he winked.

My face flushed. “Oh. I forgot you can sort of feel what I’m thinking.”

“Lass, anyone with eyes would be able to tell what you’re thinking.” His smile faded. “Are you ready?”

“I am.” And even if I wasn’t, I would make myself ready. He needed me to be ready. “I love you.” I stunned myself with my exclamation, but damned if I didn’t feel it. Fully.

“No more than I love you,” he whispered as he took several steps away from me, giving himself plenty of space on all sides. My hands curled into tight, sweaty fists. I was about to see a real, live dragon for the first time.

When the shift came over him, it was not gradual. Not like it was in the movies, on TV. He didn’t cry out in agony as his body morphed into something new. He seemed almost to shimmer in front of me, and in the blink of an eye, a dragon stood where his human form had only just been.

His scales were a tawny color, a sort of brownish-orange, and they glistened like jewels where the sun hit them. He spread his impressive wings, thrashed his horned tail—not threateningly, but almost like he was showing off. I bit back a smile.

His eyes were the same. That same deep blue I could nearly swim in, set on either side of his face. A hot gust of air exploded from his nostrils.

But he wasn’t kidding when he’d told me they didn’t breathe fire. Hot breath, I could deal with.

His eyes narrowed, his head bowed. As though he was asking me a question. I couldn’t connect with the dragon’s thoughts as easily as I could with his human consciousness, but I sensed what he wanted to know just the same.

“You’re beautiful,” I whispered.

And he was. This was not the fire-breathing, destructive, fearsome creature I would have expected only a few days back. I didn’t doubt he could be destructive and fearsome if he wanted to be, but he’d never be that way toward me.

I knew it as surely as I had ever known anything else.

I reached for him, my hand resting gingerly against the side of his face. It was smooth, warmer than I would have imagined.

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