Page 42 of Guardian's Dilemma

My dragon nudged at me from inside. The waywehad defeated theridire, it reminded me.

Behind me, Glenwise asked, “Was that all?” in a way that suggested Rhod and I had very inconveniently interrupted his day, and Rhod might be more Somerville than I thought because he drew himself up and looked down his nose at our medic.

“Yes, thank you, Glenwise. That will be all.”

I left them to it and continued along the corridor, pushing protection spells out and layering them up. It was easier to move and to create magic, but I was still weaker than I liked. I’d need to come back anyway. Besides, I was getting antsy, wanting to return to my mate. I hoped that he had stayed in the cottage like he’d said he would, but I couldn’t be sure. My dragon was getting impatient to return to him but I just needed to set eyes on all my clan first. Maybe Rhod with his clipboard had the same instinct.

I’d find Isabella, her daughter, Matilda, and Conley, check they were unharmed and then return to my mate.

Chapter 17: Kingsley

Ididn’t hear Glimmer arrive back at the cottage but I sensed him. The feel of his magic radiated out and, much as I hated to admit it, my body relaxed just a little.

I had never really been afraid before. Sure, I’d tracked dragons and that came with a natural risk. I’d even fought people and shifters, out in the real world. It was just that I’d always had my armour strapped to me and my sword in my hand and I felt naked without them. Not that I wanted to think about that armour, thank you very much. I had not processed that yet and I wanted to ignore it for as long as possible.

I’d also always assumed I had back-up.

I’d never had to be afraid because I was aridireand we could hunt alone because we were powerful and careful, but we rarely did. I had always had my coven one call away, an emergency beacon ready to send out if I needed them, and a team ofridireready to come and help me.

I didn’t know how to feel now that I had called for help and had been… disappointed.

It meant that my body had been tense for hours while Glimmer had been away, acutely aware that I was vulnerable if any of the dragons found this cottage.

“It’s me,” said Glimmer as he opened the door. As though it could be anyone else.

“Hey,” I said.

He came in and I waited for him to sit. He watched me the whole time he moved across the room and settled into the chair just a little way away from me. I couldn’t help but feel as though I was the centre of his world right then, and that made me feel even stranger. The feelings squirmed inside me and I couldn’t catch hold of one for long enough to identify what it was.

“Are you healing?” he asked.

“Yes, thank you.”

I scanned his form. He was dressed, so I couldn’t see the wounds on his stomach.

In the end, I had to ask, “You?”

“Yes.”

I should have left it at that. Should have trusted him. Or maybe I shouldn’t have cared one way or the other.

I didn’t leave it, though. I said, “Let me see,” and gestured at his shirt, telling him to lift it.

A small smile played at the corner of his mouth in a distracting way and he raised his shirt to reveal his lean chest. The skin was pale and flawless. I let out a deep breath. Perhaps because the last time I’d seen his chest, it had been covered in blood and there had been pain and magic lodged in it, but I hadn’t properly taken in how toned Glimmer was.

He was.

I cleared my throat and looked away, hoping that I hadn’t been ogling him.

When I caught his eye and he still had that little smile in the corner of his mouth, though, I realised that I probably had been.

As he dropped his shirt down, I saw the flash of gold and realised that he was wearing the necklace that he’d had earlier. The one he’d gone back for.

It reminded me that he was a dragon. For some reason, it was hard to remember that when he was sitting in front of me, looking beautiful and human and radiating a soft, warm magic. Normally, being around a dragon would turn my blood cold. It was hard to reconcile.

He was unlike any dragon I’d ever met. He’d be unlike any dragon my coven had ever met. Maybe he was unique.

“What is it?” he asked, tilting his head to one side.

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