Page 44 of Guardian's Dilemma

“I can. What better way to convince your coven that not all dragons are evil than for us to turn up together, friendly as can be?”

I considered. Actually considered it.

For a mad second, I thought it could work. Maybe if I could talk to Douglas first, who knew I was as passionate about ridding the world of evil as anybody could possibly be, then I could convince him I was telling the truth. He could talk to Glimmer and see for himself. He could feel the magic that Glimmer gave out, which was so different from the other dragons’ magic, cleaner, purer, kinder. He would know I was telling the truth. Then, somehow, between us, we could find a way to convince the Council. And Glimmer would be beside me the whole time, living proof that some dragons had a soul.

Reason overcame me, though.

“It’s a bad idea.”

Glimmer sighed. “Are you going?”

“Yes.”

“Then whether it’s a bad idea or not is irrelevant, isn’t it?”

“Huh?”

He stood, and I was forced to look up at him. I didn’t like that. I stood to match him and felt a flash of satisfaction that, now,hewas looking up atme.

He spoke so calmly that it almost sounded reasonable.

“I can’t let you go without me. You might not believe it yet but youaremy fated mate. My dragon believes it. I can’t let you go off into danger without me. My dragon won’t let that happen.”

“What do you mean your dragon won’t let you?Youare the dragon.” I was practically growling. “Just control yourself.”

“I am. I will. But if something happens to you, I won’t be able to. Better that I’m there with you, that we face this together, right?”

I didn’t like the idea.

Glimmer kept talking.

“You can’t hope to convince him on your own. I’ll come with you and wait nearby. Nobody will even know I’m there.”

My mistake was to agree to that. I should have known better.

???

I told Glimmer to wait across town but he wouldn’t. The second mistake I made was to accept that. It should have told me everything I needed to know: Glimmer was coming with me, right into the training grounds.

I tried to get him to wait at the end of the street, or to wait in the car, but he just refused. He looked at me out of those lovely blue eyes as though I were the one who was mad for suggesting it.

“Seriously, Glimmer, you’ll be hurt if you go in there.”

“No, I won’t.”

“You will. There are two dozenridirein there. You barely managed to get away from six.”

“They were fuelled by blood magic, though.”

“Don’t remind me.”

I shook my head. We were outside the training grounds and if I drove a further five metres forwards, there would be no turning back. We’d be seen by the security cameras and then we’d have to go on.

Beside me, I could feel his magic. It wasn’t as soft and warm as before and I missed it, even though I knew that was irrational. This magic felt far more… defensive.

It was that which made me sure he was telling the truth. He wasn’t here to fight. He was here to protect.

We’d had a long journey together and we’d talked. Well, we’d tried. Getting a dragon and aridireto open up to each other wasn’t easy. I’d been told all my life that dragons were cruel and vindictive, greedy and possessive. Being faced with a dragon who wasn’t like that was… unsettling.

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