Page 28 of Owen

This was all we’d ever have.

11

By the time the kiss ended, I knew two things.

One, that I would move heaven and earth to ensure no one touched Molly’s memory.

Two, that she was the fated mate I had waited my entire life to find. There would never be another. There could never be.

If only she knew who I was. What I was. It was one thing for a lass to fall in love with a man—even very suddenly, as was the case for us. It was an entirely different situation for her to accept the presence of a dragon in her life. Especially when she’d already scoffed at the very idea of our existence.

She was breathless, a dazed smile on her swollen, glistening lips. How I longed to taste them again. How I longed to taste more of her. What I would’ve given for the chance to indulge myself in her sweetness. Just being with her, touching her cheek, her throat, her hair, was a gift.

Was I selfish to want more? Did it even matter? My dragon knew what he wanted, and he wanted her.She is ours. She is the one we’ve waited for.

He didn’t need to tell me. I knew it.

What I did not know, not yet, was whether she would see things as I did once she knew everything about me.

The poor, sweet dear. Still dazed, the pulse pounding in her throat when I brushed my lips against it. “Owen, what’s happening to us?” she whispered.

“I know not whether you would believe it if I explained it to you.” I held her face in my hands, memorizing her beauty, her goodness, the light shining in her eyes. “And before I try, I must speak to Hecate. She will see there’s no need to erase your memory once I’m through with her.”

The light which had already been present intensified until it all but broke my heart. She was so full of joy. How unfair of me to allow this brief interlude when she knew not who I was. What a fool I’d been, how selfish.

How she would hate me when she learned the truth.

“You think she’ll listen? Really? I mean, I’ll sign anything you give me. I’ll swear on a stack of bibles. I’ll never breathe a word of anything I’ve seen or heard, I promise.”

It was all so easy for her. “I know you do, lass. I’ll tell her so. She’s a fair-minded person, even if she’s nothing but a witch.”

“A powerful witch.”

“How do you know?”

She snickered. “If she’s not powerful, I would hate to meet one who really was.”

I grinned. “She is. One of the most powerful I’ve ever known.”

“Oh?” Her eyes widened. “You know a lot of witches?”

“Not… many. I’ve known a few. My family and hers have a bit of a history.”

Her forehead creased. “I feel like there’s still a lot you’re not telling me. I wish you would.”

“I will. I promise. Just not right at this very minute. There’s something I need to settle first.” I stood, my chest tightening at the sight of her falling face. “Can I leave you here for a short time? I swear, you’ll be safe. No one will enter the room until I do. No one will do anything to you.”

The utter lack of hesitation before her firm, trusting nod left a lump in my throat. “Sure. I’ll stay put. It might be nice to wash up a little, besides.”

“Good idea. Do that.” Anything to keep her occupied. “Take a shower, even. Whatever helps. I’ll speak to everyone, and this will all work out. I’m certain of it.”

“I trust you.”

And she did, and that only tortured me further. I wanted to tell her. I wanted so very much to tell her. Why couldn’t I get the words out? What difference did it make whether she found out then or an hour from then that I’d been lying all along?

That I was a dragon?

She loved me now. I felt it. I relished it and wished I had more time in which to do so. It was selfish, and I knew it. But I couldn’t bear the thought of losing that love and trust. Not yet.

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