Page 37 of Owen

“I did warn you,” I reminded her in as gentle a tone as possible. “I told you of our existence.”

“Okay, sure, but there’s a difference between knowing you exist and seeing one of you with your wings spread out. I mean, it’s a pretty big difference.”

“Fair enough. Though you wouldn’t have received such a shock if you hadn’t run away.”

“I didn’t know what else to do. I thought you were crazy. I thought you were gonna hurt me. I mean, what’s a guy capable of if he believes a story like the one you told?”

“Now you know. I’m capable of turning into that which you saw outside.”

“A dragon,” she whispered, eyes wide.

“A dragon,” I confirmed.

“Are you really that old?”

“A thousand years, give or take a few. All of us are.”

“And the witches really did entrust their treasure to you? Because of people like my however-many-time-great-grandfather?”

“Something close to that. We came here—the witches and I, Dallas, Isla, and Leslie—because the dragons who’ve lived here all this time found an ancient book all but buried in their collection. In the book is a series of runes which tell parts of the history which none of us have been privy to before now. They speak of the treasure, how the coven had nowhere to hide it. But something about what Hecate and the rest have deciphered has bothered me since I first heard it, and now I understand why it’s stuck in my head so.”

“What is it?” She sat up, that analytical, questioning mind of hers already moving along. All it needed was the hint of a challenge, and she was ready.

“That’s it?” I asked. “You ran from me not thirty minutes ago, and now you wish to know more about us?”

Her shoulders slumped. “Owen, I’m still trying to work this all out for myself. I know I feel what you were talking about earlier. The connection. It doesn’t make any sense when I look at it analytically. If one of my friends told me they were in love with a guy they had literally just met that night—I mean, actually in love, considering taking things much further, commitment and all that—I wouldn’t be thrilled about it. I’d warn them against it, in fact.”

“I suppose that’s understandable.”

“But now? Being on the inside of this, knowing what it feels like and how sure I was in my soul that you were the one for me—before you told me about the dragon thing—”

“You were sure in your soul?” I repeated.

Her smile was a bit shy, her cheeks turning pink. “Yes. I was. Hearing about you being a dragon shocked me. I was heartbroken. I only wanted to be with you, or at least to keep my memories of us being together even if I never got to see you again after today. Now I know you weren’t kidding. You really are a dragon.” She raised an eyebrow. “Is your dragon inside you right now?”

“Always. It’s like what I would imagine you felt when Hecate was inside your head.”

She winced. “That must be maddening.”

“It’s the way my life has always been, for many centuries.” That reminded me. “I have to speak with Pierce. He’s one of the clan who split off and came here. I need to ask him something.”

“I’m going with you. I wouldn’t miss this for anything. Just think, people who were really here all this time! The things I could learn!”

Yes. They were here all this time, which was exactly what had perturbed me so.

14

Pierce eyed me warily. “Are you certain we can talk about this in front of her?”

“Oh, come on.” Jasmine, his mate, elbowed him. “You could talk about it in front of me, couldn’t you? And I’m not one of your kind.”

No, she wasn’t. She didn’t look like she was one of my kind, either. She looked like she might be something else. Something other than human. She was special, sort of sparkly, moving with fluid grace. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her.

What the hell had I walked into?

“All right,” he said. “I know when I’m beaten. What is it you’re asking, then?”

Owen folded his arms, looking stern. “Do you remember the specifics of coming here? When you arrived, you ken. Were you greeted by the coven?”

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